Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Greyson
Three months later
“I didn’t realize it until we arrived, but this is the first we’ve been back here since that infamous weekend.”
A chuckle escaped at the mention of the infamous weekend.
But Cierra wasn’t wrong.
This was the first we’d been back to the park since the weekend when we’d decided to give this thing between us a shot.
I believed it was only fitting, so I packed a lunch and planned for an enjoyable afternoon outside. “Well, you have one week left of your summer break, so I wanted to squeeze in the final bits of fun for you before you have to go back to school.”
Cierra beamed at me, her smiling lighting up her face, the hot summer sun making her blonde locks shine. “Do you plan to push me on the swings again?”
“Try to stop me,” I dared her, my lips twitching.
Cierra glanced in the direction of the playground. “Well, they’re currently all occupied.”
On top of the blanket that I brought with us, I was leaning back on my palms, my legs outstretched, with one ankle crossed over the other. “I’m in no rush. You’ve got me for the whole day.”
Seemingly pleased with that response, Cierra decided to get comfortable, too. She scooted her hips forward, twisted her torso, and laid down on the blanket with her head in my lap. Her tanned legs were stretched out to the far edge of the blanket, the grass just barely tickling the bottom of her bare feet. Just like the last time we were here, Cierra was in a dress, looking positively feminine and sweet—a look that matched the personality and demeanor of this woman.
Sighing deeply, she said, “I can’t believe summer is almost over.”
“I know. It really did fly by. But I can conclusively say that this has been the best summer of my life.”
I wasn’t exaggerating, not even a little.
Although I still had to work every day—save for the times I used vacation days—Cierra and I had an incredible summer together. The last few months had been nothing short of amazing. I still got to see her several times throughout the workweek when she came in for self-defense training.
And we made the most of every weekend, finding ways to spend it with her family, my family, and our friends.
I’d met her parents when they returned from Florida—both of whom couldn’t praise and thank me enough for what I’d done to protect their daughter—and we’d gone on a few double dates with Naomi and Colt. Cierra and I also got together with several of my friends and their significant others, the two of us spending time with Huck and Josie on multiple occasions.
Of course, with a new baby in the mix on my side of the family, we made the effort to spend time with Morgan, Eric, Tucker, and Olivia. Cierra even stopped over at times when I was at work simply to offer Morgan the chance to have a break or just an extra set of hands with the kids.
And then there was the time we spent together, just the two of us. Even though I liked being with our friends and family, there was no question I liked having Cierra all to myself best.
We’d taken a vacation together, opting for a trip to the beach. Recalling a conversation we’d had at the very start of our relationship, I’d surprised her one weekend with a trip to Westwood’s. We replanted her garden, something that brought tears to her eyes when it had been completed and looked pretty again. And there had been plenty of days when we simply stayed in, cuddling up on the couch to watch a movie or sitting out on the deck to enjoy the summer evening sunsets.
No matter what we did, I loved every second of it.
Simply, I just loved her. Being with her and doing things together that made her happy.
“I agree. Even though there are parts of me that are sad about this time winding down, I can honestly say I’ve never had a better summer than this one.”
Leaning my weight into one hand, I tenderly stroked the fingers of my other hand through her hair. Cierra’s eyes closed, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m going to have to figure out a way to make sure you can say the same thing about this upcoming school year. I want it to be your best one yet.”
“That I have you in my life already makes that so.”
I laughed. “It sounds like you better not get rid of me, then.”
Her eyes shot open, and she snapped her head in my direction. “I would never. You aren’t considering getting rid of me, are you?”
God, I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
The last couple of months had been so fulfilling, I nearly forgot what life was like before I met her. Whatever it had been like, I knew I didn’t want to ever go back.
“Not a chance.”
“Are you sure?”
I dipped my chin, one half of my mouth quirking as my pulse picked up. This was it. This was the right time.
“Do you want proof?”
Her brows drew together, her nose wrinkling with curiosity. “You have proof you don’t want to get rid of me?”
“Yep.”
As she held my stare, my stomach quivered. I shouldn’t have felt any nerves. This was Cierra. If I was so sure she was the one for me, surely, she had to feel the same about me.
“Alright, Greyson. Give me your evidence.”
I reached out to the bag I’d packed our lunch in, found what I was looking for, and said, “Hold out your hand.”
There was an edge of uncertainty in her expression, but she held her hand out to me. That’s when I placed the small velvet box in her palm.
The second she realized what it was, she gasped and sat up. “What… what is this?”
After swallowing down the emotions coursing through me, I cleared my throat. “I didn’t just bring you back here to add one more fun thing to the list of things we did together this summer. There’s a reason I brought you here.”
Her lips were parted, her chest rising and falling with her breaths. And the way her hair had fallen around her face and down over the front of her shoulders, she never looked more beautiful.
“It was after that first time we came here that I knew you were meant to be someone special in my life,” I began again. “In fact, after I dropped you off at work on Monday, I went into work, and I told the rest of the guys that I thought you were the one.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Greyson.”
“I was right, Cierra. You’re the one for me, and I don’t want to live another day without making sure you know I’m in this for the long haul with you. I want you by my side forever, and I want to be there with you for eternity.” I reached for the ring box, opened it, and presented the ring to her. “Stand up, pretty lady.”
“Greyson, you don’t have to?—”
“I do. Because it’s what you deserve. Now, stand up.” Cierra got herself to her feet as I knelt in front of her and took her hand in mine. My eyes burned into hers, where tears were brimming in them. “I never thought I could love someone the way I love you. And now that I have you, I never want to let you go. Will you marry me?”
She barely nodded before she rasped her response. “Yes.”
Warmth hit the center of my chest, and I slid the ring on her finger. A moment later, I stood in front of her, and she launched herself into my arms, her mouth immediately seeking mine.
For a long time, I stood there holding Cierra in my arms and kissing her as my heart pounded wildly.
She was mine forever.
The feeling that knowledge gave me was all-consuming.
When we tore our mouths from one another, we were both breathing heavily and feeling emotional. Cierra was the first to break the silence. “I can’t believe we’re engaged. I can’t believe you want to marry me.”
“Do you know how extraordinary you are?”
Her eyes were shining, the smiling lighting up her face. “I love you, Greyson.”
“I love you, Cierra.”
“This is the best day of my life. No summer will ever top this.”
I laughed, burying my face in her neck and inhaling her scent. After kissing her there, I pulled back, looked her in the eyes, and asked, “Are you ready to get on those swings over there? Nobody’s around now.”
She bit her lip and nodded.
With that, I loosened my hold around her body and took her by the hand to lead her to the swings. And it was safe to say that this time felt even better than it had last time. I couldn’t wait to go into work on Monday and tell my friends I hadn’t been wrong about Cierra being the one all those months ago.