Epilogue
Hunter
Four years later
Riley stands on her tiptoes so I can kiss her for luck before she takes her place in line. She looks stunning in her cap and gown, and I’m crazier about her now than the day we met.
Walking backward so I can capture this moment on my cell phone, I watch Riley blow me a kiss.
A big grin spreads across her face. I reach my hand up, pretend to catch it, and then tuck it into my shirt pocket.
She giggles. I’m stunned when I suddenly bump into someone, and my eyes widen as I turn to apologize.
When I look back at Riley, I shrug. She’s laughing so hard, and I can’t help thinking how beautiful she is.
Now I cross the expanse of lawn in search of Scott.
He went ahead to find us some good seats near the makeshift stage, because Riley requested lots of pictures, saying she won’t remember a thing.
I just settle into my seat when Pomp and Circumstance begins, signaling the graduates to start their walk to the stage.
Hearing that song makes me think of my graduation three years ago and everything we’ve been through since then.
My dad divorced my mother after the truth about Brady came out, but they still run the company together, claiming it’s a partnership rather than a marriage.
She tried to contact me several times over the years, begging me to forgive her.
When I didn’t answer my phone or messages, she stopped calling.
I can’t forgive her for hurting the people I love—Brady, Riley, and even Scott.
He never had the chance to know his son, and part of me thinks Brady would still be alive if she had just been honest with Scott.
Riley decided to sign the adoption papers after going to therapy with her dad.
She realized that it wasn’t fair for him to sacrifice his life to save hers.
He wasn’t in love with her mother, and it would have been wrong for him to stay just for the sake of the “child.” After all, it was only a few years ago when we made a pact to put the past behind us and move on.
She hasn’t had any contact with her mother since she moved to South Carolina, and that’s fine by me. To quote Riley’s exact words, “I don’t feel sorry for her; she got what she deserved. I lived in my own prison for years, and now she knows what it feels like.”
I officially asked Riley to marry me on our first Valentine’s Day. She said she had to “think” about it. She gave me her answer later that night as we were making love. It was Yes, Yes, Yes. I can’t help smiling when I think about it because I thought she was caught up in the moment. My bad.
When it was time to decide where we would have the wedding, I went online and browsed the fancy country clubs in the area, wanting to surprise her.
Imagine my surprise when she told me she wanted to get married on the beach, in the exact same spot where we had all our bonfires.
It was the most thoughtful and perfect wedding gift she could have given me, since this day is supposed to be all about her.
So, on Friday, June 30th, as the sun sets, Riley Hamilton will become my wife.
Afterwards, when we’re having our first dance as husband and wife, I know there will be a special someone peering through the blanket of stars, sending his love times a million.
The End