Epilogue
Nora
I ran up the walkway to the library. Danny had a science fair, and it was a little too small of a class for the cafeteria and too big of one with the projects to use his classroom.
The Indigo Valley Library hadn’t changed a bit from when I left. It had been a safe haven for me with two working parents. I could do my homework, then lose myself in the stacks with books and sometimes the librarian, Mrs. Flannery, would let me use one of the homework rooms to watch movies.
But now, it was a brightly colored expanse of science projects with glue, foam boards, and a whole lot of paint and glitter. I caught sight of Sully first. He was standing beside Danny with a big ol’ smile on his face. We’d been up late putting the finishes on the planets.
Currently, Danny was obsessed with all things space and planets. Last month, it had been the ocean.
I was fascinated with his little brain. I was pretty sure he was smarter than me and his dad put together.
“There you guys are!”
Danny turned around, a smile brightening his face. There had been a lot more of those these days too. After seeing the family band around him, Danny had busted out of his shell soon after.
“It looks awesome,” I told him.
“Thanks. Your Saturn is my favorite.” He gave me a quick hug. “Then there’s a new Pluto. It fell off on the ride over.”
I laughed. “Dad fixed it?”
He nodded. “He found a marble that was perfect.”
“Look at that. Way to go, Dad.” I went onto my toes and kissed him. “Our hero.”
Sully grinned. “Why don’t you go check out your friend’s projects before the teachers come around to score you.”
“Okay!” He took off and ran right to another boy in his class.
“He’s finally making friends.”
“Yeah. Jefferson is just as into space stuff as he is.”
“Two peas.” I leaned against him, looking around at the kids. A girl with blond crooked pigtails was fixing her colorful version of the elemental table.
“Bet our kid would look just like her.”
I straightened. “Were you reading my mind?”
He laced his fingers behind my back. “Maybe.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Hmm.” Before I could say anything else, one of the teachers called out for the kids to get to their places.
It was an eternal hour of Danny fidgeting while he waited for the teachers to walk around, then another for his scores. Not that he needed to worry, he got second place. The girl with the elemental table had poured each one in resin—she definitely deserved to win.
But seeing Danny getting his ribbon and his dad’s delighted proud smile made up for the long evening. I frowned when I noticed Sully checking the clock on the wall quite a few times.
Then he was whispering something to Danny.
I hoped he didn’t have to go back to work. We were well into June, and the jobs were still coming in like gangbusters. It didn’t hurt that I kept his social media accounts alive with a few more videos of his rather studly brothers while they worked.
Cash and Kai were working out to show off their buff bodies. On the other hand, Sully didn’t mind getting the spotlight off his abs.
I was just fine with enjoying them all to myself.
Suddenly, a murmur worked its way through the crowd of teachers and parents. I glanced around, surprised people were pulling out their phones.
I figured they’d be trying to get the heck out of there. There was a chocolate and vanilla twist cone with my name on it over at Frozen Alchemy.
Instead of getting the crowd moving, there were more people talking and showing off something on their phones. I glanced around, but I didn’t see Sully.
Where the heck had he gone?
And why did it feel like everyone was looking at me?
I glanced around and saw smiles on so many faces. “What?”
Chief Olsen parted the crowd and zeroed in on me. “Oh my God. Did you see this?” Parker dragged me away from people to the checkout desk and handed me her phone.
“What is going on?”
“Just watch.”
“I’m watching.” I frowned as Sully’s face came up on the screen. “Miss Nora Baker, I need you to come to the park at 8:20. I have a very important question to ask.” He panned the video around and it spliced into drone footage showing dozens of paper lanterns in the pond, then a waving Sully sitting on a bench with a black velvet box in his hand.
“If you don’t marry him, I am.”
I laughed and dabbed at my eyes as the screen shimmered. “That man.”
“Well, go on. It’s 8:15.”
I looked around. “Where’s Danny? I can’t leave him.”
Parker pointed to the door where Kai and Lexi stood with him. Danny waved.
I rushed over to him. “Did you help with this?”
Danny shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You really are your father’s son, aren’t you?”
Danny beamed and I kissed his cheek. And now he was mine too, in all the ways it counted.
“You’re all right with Kai and Lexi?”
He nodded. “We’re going to get ice cream. Dad said you’ll meet us there later.”
“We sure will.”
Kai grinned. “Welcome to the family, sis.”
“I didn’t say yes yet.”
“Like you’re going to say no. Please.”
I ran out the door and down the steps to the sidewalk. The park was right next to the library. The streetlamps were starting to flick on. The sky was still light enough to see easily. My sandals clicked on the cement walkway, and then the paper lanterns glowed into view.
Sully was sitting on the bench, and when he saw me, he stood.
I ran for him, and he caught me halfway. “I can’t believe you.”
“Better believe this moment needed to be as viral as our start.” He lifted me off the feet and twirled me around. He set me down and then dropped to one knee. “I feel like I waited for you all my life, I can’t wait any longer. Will you marry me?” He popped open the box and the sparkler inside was just as amazing as the glowing lanterns around us.
“Yes.” I dabbed at my eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He stood, and with shaking hands on both of our parts, he slid the oval diamond down my ring finger. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he spun me again. I wiggled my finger and noticed the crowd of people on the walkway.
I held up my hand and they all cheered.
“Never a boring moment.”
He laughed. “Never. I love you so much, Nora.”
“I love you too, Sully. So, so much.” I cupped his face and kissed him right in front of half the town.
Our future would never have a boring moment, indeed.
Wondering which Murdock brother is next?
Turn the page to find out who Kai falls for!
Next up is Kai & Lexi’s story!
Being the youngest brother means I get to get away with just about anything—until Lexi walks through Murphy Brothers door. She is all buttoned up and has far too many rules. I’m going to make sure we break every single one.