Epilogue 2
Rhys
This rehearsal is a ruse.
Everyone here is my partner in crime. Tomas didn’t ask me to rap because he wanted to hear my voice. It was a sneaky way to lure my unsuspecting girlfriend onto the stage.
Other than Stasia, there’s a reason none of the girls are here.
Keira thinks we’re going for dinner at the Quintus Hotel after this.
She’s wrong. We’re celebrating our engagement party in style amongst friends at a private room of one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. Michaela is manning things there.
All the fiancées, wives, and kids are at the hotel.
My mom, Phoebe, and Oscar are also there.
Michaela texted me to confirm. The diehard New Yorker lives in LA now.
Her first year living in La La Land rivaled the craziest rollercoaster rides, but now she’s an influential force. Keira and her are as tight as sisters.
Along with a number of close friends, the Dennison brothers are on the invite list. Larkin is also part of the celebrations.
For tonight, he’ll step out of his role as omnipresent lord of the castle and he’ll just be another one of our esteemed guests.
He won’t be a regular Joe––not that that’s possible for a man in his position––as I had to concede to having two of his bodyguards posted at the private room’s door.
When I reach the last note of ‘Marry Me’, Keira’s beautiful face is covered in tears.
I’m not about to cut a single anytime soon, but thanks to Beckett who helped train my voice over the last three months, I’m able to carry a tune. Levi and I also practiced for hours to get it right. He was the perfect wingman.
Stasia, who approached my girl while I was singing my heart out, has an arm wrapped around her in a hug. That doesn’t prevent Keira from trembling like a leaf.
Beckett and Holt are on video duty.
Cello2Cello are my appointed photographers.
Noah approaches her.
Stasia takes a step aside.
Noah and Keira interlace fingers.
I’m still on one knee.
My best friend doesn’t say anything. He stares at his little sister.
“He loves you,” Noah says, jerking his head in my direction.
“Not as much as I love him.”
“You two belong together.”.
“We do,” Keira says. “You’re here, Noah. You’re finally here.”
“Rhys wanted to surprise you. I’m back in town for good, sis. It took a little longer than expected, but Los Angeles is my home now.”
Keira’s brow arch. “Really?”
Noah nods. “I figured I should be close by in case I become an uncle soon,” he says with a wink.
“I didn’t even pop the question yet, and you’re talking about babies.” I roll my eyes.
His apologetic gaze meets mine. “Sorry.”
“I’m still so shellshocked to process anything, anyway,” Keira says.
“Get out of the way before you do any more damage, Noah.” I shake my head.
He chuckles.
It’s not that I was looking for his approval, but I wanted Noah to be aware of my intentions in regard to his sister.
He was a hundred percent behind me. Giving who he is and what he means to me, I wanted him to be right by my side––like he always has been.
Not to mention, he’s Keira’s only living relative.
Noah has been back for three days. He’s been hiding at Shane’s place.
After the accident, he promised Keira he’d be back in LA once the production for the show wrapped up.
There was a kink in his plan. Hardcore fans refused to accept the end of an era.
To appease the hungry audience, the producers extended the show by one more season.
Noah told Keira he’d travel a bit before returning to LA.
That was also a ruse. Nothing would’ve prevented him from being here tonight.
I take Keira’s hand into mine.
“I want you to be by my side for the rest of my life.” I love this woman with all my heart. “Without you, Keira, this life is meaningless.”
“Oh, God, Rhys,” she says on the heel of a sob.
“I’ve had a thing for you for a long time, but I didn’t want to die because I went after the baby sister of a guy who could crush my skull with one hand.”
Everyone laughs.
“You’re making me sound like a monster, Hartford,” Noah says. “I’m not that scary.”
“Stop kidding yourself, buddy.” Beckett scoffs. “You’re the size of a tree and your hands are the size of a grizzly bear’s paw.”
Only pretty boy Beckett would have the balls to voice what the rest of us think.
Another round of laughs ensues.
Noah rubs a hand behind his neck. “Okay, maybe I’m a little intimidating.”
I shoot him a pointed look. “Quit butting into my proposal. I’ll be an old man by the time I pop the question.”
Keira giggles.
“Shit, I’m doing it again,” Noah says. “Sorry, man. I’m more excited than you are.”
Not quite as excited, but close.
“As I was saying.” I move my attention back to my girl.
“A year and a half ago when you landed at LAX, you knocked me off my feet and took my breath away. You were a different woman, but you were still Keira. It didn’t take long for you to become my world.
I can’t believe we’ve been going strong for a year and a half.
It feels like just yesterday I was taking you out on our first date. And look at us now…” My voice cracks.
“Rhys, I’ve tried a million times to figure out how to break free from the incessant stranglehold you’ve had on my heart––”
“Did you ever figure it out?”
She laughs. “No, I never did. For once, I’m glad I failed. My heart will always belong to you.”
“And mine to you,” I say. “My feelings for you consume me.”
“Oh, God, Rhys.”
“Keira Eve Weatherly, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, Rhys, I want to be your wife.” She shrieks before throwing herself into my arms, almost knocking me over. I catch her and straighten up. She cradles my head and bursts into tears, clinging onto me like I just rescued her from drowning.
I hold her tight.
My friends cheer, clap, stomp and holler.
After a moment, I drop her to her feet.
She sniffles and wipes away the tears streaming down her face.
“It’s about time you sealed the deal, Hartford, or else I was going after her,” Tomas says.
I shake my head at him.
Anders punches his arm.
I swear to God, he could be Collin Dennison’s twin brother.
I nod at Noah.
He steps forwards and hands me a small, black and gold box.
“I’m a little tall to be a ring bearer, but here I am carrying the ring,” he says.
I open the box and present Keira with the ring.
She gasps, her hands flying to her mouth.
When she lowers her hands, her jaw hangs open.
“Dear God, that is gorgeous,” she says.
“Yeah? You like it?”
“I freaking love it. It’s perfect. It’s beautiful. It’s stunning. It’s so me. How did you figure it out?”
“I have my ways.”
Stasia winks at me.
I needed a task force to figure out a style that best suited Keira’s taste and aesthetics.
While Arianne was helping Oscar figure out which style of ring to buy to pop the question, Michaela and Stasia were instrumental in helping me pin down the perfect ring for my girl.
It’s an six-carat pink oval cut diamond ring set in rose gold with pavé diamonds around the band.
I take it from the box and slide it onto her trembling finger.
More cheers, claps, stomps and hollers from my friends.
“Oh. My. God,” Keira says. “We’re getting married. We’re actually getting married.”
I tip her head back, forcing her eyes to lock with mine. “This is it, dimples, you’re stuck with me.”
“I want to be stuck with you, Rhys,” she says.
I take her lips in a tender kiss.
My Keira.
My forever.