Epilogue
Cat
“ N ervous?” Blair asks. We’re getting ready in my room at the Montauk house. Theo’s throwing a birthday party tonight, a joint birthday for both of us.
“A little,” I say. I take a sip of champagne and run my hands down my sparkly dress. I wore it specifically because of the way Theo tried to take it off me when I put it on. “But,” I add. “Even if he says no, he’ll still have to go through the trouble of divorcing me.”
Blair laughs. “True. That would be a lot of effort. He’ll say yes, though.” She squeezes my shoulder. The ring Donny got her for their engagement glints on her finger. She always told me she didn’t need a ring, but I see her staring at it when she thinks no one is watching. She takes it off whenever she’s at the bar, which is less now that she’s a part owner and has a big role in a new show this fall.
A shout comes from downstairs. “Should we check that out?” she asks.
“We should probably make sure nothing is on fire,” I say.
When we get downstairs, my eyes widen. There’s a champagne fountain on the back deck and I can just spot a yacht docked off the beach. It’s festooned with lights and giant white balloons. A sign proclaims that fireworks start at ten p.m. Miles and Jonah are leaning on the railing, laughing at something.
“Oh no.” The words slip out. This is way too much.
Theo’s head whips around. “Oh yes,” he responds, with a devilish grin.
His gaze sharpens on my dress. He looks deadly handsome, in a tux with a bowtie, his hair pushed back, his green eyes bright. He’s tanner and leaner than usual, from an August spent swimming and tanning naked on the deck.
“We said low key,” I say, as we approach him.
“This is low key. I’m clothed, aren’t I?” He winks and I laugh. Blair drifts over to where Lane and Callie are helping themselves to champagne.
“Come with me,” Theo says. He grabs my hand and presses it against his side.
My heart tries to climb into my throat. Now is my chance. I let Theo lead me through the house and onto the part of the deck we don’t use.
He lets me go and surveys the landscape. He has no idea what I’m about to ask, and even though we’re already married, I’m terrified.
“Theo.” I clear my throat.
“Yes, princess?” He glances at me. His eyes are glinting with happiness. My heart pinches. How did I get this lucky?
“I have a question.” I pause, pressing a fist to my stomach.
“Yeah?” He smiles at me. It arrows straight to my heart.
“Will you marry me?” I wince. The words are rushed and awkward. “I planned something more eloquent, but I love you so much, and we started things backwards, and I really want to be with you forever—”
Theo’s hands lands on my shoulders, warm and strong. “Yes,” he says. He steps closer. “Actually, I’d planned to ask you tonight.”
A laugh bubbles up. “Of course you did. I guess I was nervous for nothing.”
“You thought I’d say no?” He’s grinning at me .
“I was nervous.” I scrunch my nose. “Don’t make fun.”
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” he says, his smile growing.
“I just really want you to know how important you are to me. I told you I wasn’t for winning, and you were persistent.” Theo’s eyes soften as he listens. “I’m grateful for that. Thank you for not giving up on us. I wanted to ask you to marry me so you know that I’m all in. I’ll meet you halfway. More than halfway if you need it. If you’re having a bad day, I’ll make up the difference. You can lean on me.” I swallow hard. My eyes are hot and my heart is pounding. “I love you, Theo Archer. Please be my husband. For real this time.” I blow out a breath. “That was the proposal I had planned.”
His thumbs rub over my shoulders. “That was a really good one. It’ll be hard to top it.” He pulls me into his chest. My hands press into the satin of his lapels. His lips drop to the crease of my neck. “I love you. More than I ever thought possible. You’re the bravest, smartest, most beautiful woman in the world. I’ll never let you go. Marry me.”
I shiver and stand on my tiptoes so I can whisper in his ear. “Yes.”
He captures my lips with his, kissing me like he always does—all in, showing me with his lips and tongue how much he wants me, pouring his essence into our kiss. I kiss him back, spearing my fingers into his soft hair, parting my lips so he can tangle his tongue with mine.
He pulls back and presses his forehead to mine. “Take off the ring,” he says.
“What?” I pull back and stare at him, my brows tugging together.
He’s smiling a secretive smile. He holds out his hand. “Trust me.”
I pull off the ring as he reaches into his pocket. A black box. A gold band with a small emerald the exact color of his eyes. I suck in a breath. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. He plucks the ugly diamond from my fingers and holds up the emerald ring. “Look at the inside,” he says.
I peer at the engraving. June 16. The day we first kissed that summer all those years ago. My eyes jerk to his.
“You remembered,” I say.
“I never forgot,” he responds, sliding the ring on my finger. I’m dazed as he kisses me. He’s more perfect than I ever imagined. And he’s mine. Forever.
“Did you get me a present?” he asks, whispering against my lips. “Because I got you one.”
“You first,” I say. I got him lunch with an economist he admires, a nerdy gift, but one I know he’ll love. They can talk about economic theory and spare us all the pain.
He points off the deck at a patch of trees. “There.”
I squint. “There what?” I look at him in confusion.
“The perfect place for a studio.”
My heart thumps. “A studio?”
“For you. Big windows. A cutting table. An industrial sewing machine. A serger.”
“How do you know about sergers?” I ask.
“I did my research,” he says airily. “I’m very observant.”
“I would love that,” I whisper.
He digs in his pocket, coming up with a folded piece of paper. “Got your plans right here.”
My lower lip trembles. Theo strokes a thumb over my cheek. “You like it?”
“I love it. I love you.” I take a shaky breath. “But I think we need space for a nursery too.”
“A what?” His eyes widen.
“Not now,” I say, my words tumbling out. “But I want a family. A new one. With you.” I’m frozen while I wait for his response.
His mouth tips up. He unfolds the paper slowly. “Look.”
“Theo, come on—”
“Just look.” He points at the paper. I look at the architect’s plan for the addition, with Theo’s handwriting scrawled over the drawing.
“Oh.” Hope soars, mixing with excitement, nervousness, and longing. Longing for the green-eyed boys and little girls who will fill the three extra bedrooms he’s added. The family we’ll build to fill the family room he’s penciled in.
I lift my eyes to meet his, his face blurring through my tear-filled eyes. “You want it? ”
“More than you could imagine,” he says.
I reach up to kiss that crooked smile of his. “I love you,” I tell him.
“I will always love you,” he responds.
The End