EPILOGUE
J ason
One Year Later
Off the Coast of Fiji
The morning is pure Hollywood glamor as I lead Cal to the jet ski.
The sun hovers over the Pacific, spreading a golden haze like a medieval king throwing gold coins into the crowd.
The wind rustles through the palm trees and plumeria; the foamy waves shimmer like crushed crystals; the colorful fish leap over the coral, wriggling their jeweled scales like Marilyn Monroe at her prime.
Birds burst into cheerful songs, bouncing over tree limbs, shimmying and chirping with all the enthusiasm of a Broadway chorus.
I grin and resist the temptation to pat my shorts pocket as I slide onto the jet ski, then take his hand to help him on.
“I still can’t believe you brought us back here,” Cal says, wrapping his arms behind me, so his salt and citrus and coconut scent, courtesy of the hotel’s bodywash, wafts around me, reminding me that he’s there, and that everything is wonderful.
My heart does that fluttering thing it always does in Cal’s presence, like it still can’t believe this is real, that Cal is mine.
I grin. My heart’s really going be shocked in the next hour.
I thought about renting two jet skis, but there’s no point. I want as much of Cal’s skin behind me as I can.
“I read the safety inspection report twice. Besides, I got a tracker.” I hold it up. “We’ll be fine. Promise.”
“You said that before,” he grumbles, but I can hear the humor in his voice.
“Well, I wasn’t lying.”
He snorts, and warmth fills my body that has absolutely nothing to do with the hot Fiji sun above us.
Jesus Christ. Maybe I should drag Cal back to the hotel. We haven’t had sex since before breakfast.
I resist the temptation to do so.
I have plans. Big ones.
Cal moved into my apartment three months after we started dating. Some people might have said it was early, but he was practically living there anyway, spending all his time in my apartment when I was playing home games, because we weren’t able to see each other during away games.
Cal’s my favorite person in the world, and we’ve already talked about which Boston suburb to move to later.
Swanky apartments are wonderful, but eventually I’m going to retire.
I would love to adopt and stay at home to care for them.
Cal would be an awesome dad, and he says I’ll be one too, especially since I don’t plan to use Dad and Gramps as role models.
Cal and I visited Minnesota for Christmas, and Tennessee for New Year’s Eve.
Cal loved Mom’s cookies, which she appreciated.
I’ve been spending more time with her. Apparently, she worried that I was a clone of Dad.
She doesn’t mind at all that Cal and I are in a relationship, and Dad and Gramps like that they can talk to Cal about sports.
They get a kick out of seeing him on TV, something he’s doing more and more these days, covering basketball.
I steer the jet ski into the water, Cal’s arms comfortably around my waist. I move slowly, because Cal is precious cargo, and I take the time to admire the turquoise and sapphire waves, studded with foam that sparkles with the force of diamonds and pearls.
“The ocean is so pretty.”
“Yes,” Cal says happily.
A few seagulls flit above us, and there’s a sailboat to our left with the hotel’s logo in big letters, but we’re basically by ourselves again.
I know the way this time.
I studied the map more times than was necessary last night, even though the hotel staff know perfectly well where we’re going, and I made sure to take off the do-not-disturb sign on our room.
In fact, my other pocket is filled with protein bars and sunscreen just in case.
Cal’s fingers clutch onto my waist, and I lean against him happily. My bulge swells, but it doesn’t matter. Cal knows I like him. He likes me too.
The jet ski bounces through the waves, rumbling its pleasant sound.
Finally, we reach our destination.
“That’s our island,” Cal says, his voice wondrous.
“Not the hotel recommended one.” The hotel wanted us to go to that one, but I insisted. This is where Cal and I fell in love, and this is where we’ll... Well, I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
I steer the jet ski to the beach, and make sure there’s no chance of it floating to sea.
Cal looks around. “God, Jason. I can’t believe we’re back.”
“Do you like it?” Maybe this wasn’t the best place to take him after all. “I was an asshole last time we were here. I’m so sorry.”
“You improved by the end,” he says.
“I’m glad you waited for me to get over myself.”
I take his hand and try to surreptitiously peer at the beach. I spot some red, and I smile. The hotel staff set everything up just how I wanted.
I take Cal’s hand and lead him toward the beach.
“Ready for lunch?” I ask.
“You going to show off your coconut skills again?” he asks.
“I had something else in mind,” I admit.
A crease appears on his forehead. It’s deeper than it was this time last year. It’s cute. I wonder what lines and wrinkles will come next on his face. I wonder when his hair will turn a distinguished steel or whether it will just fall out.
With any luck, I’m going to witness all those changes, like he’ll witness all my changes.
We stroll toward the beach, and then Cal notices it.
“There are red roses on the sand,” Cal says.
“Are there?” I try to keep my voice innocent, then I sweep up and pick up one. I extend it to him. “For you.”
His eyes round. “Something is already happening here. Maybe we should go.”
“There is something happening here. But it’s for us.”
His mouth drops open.
And I know, right then, that he’s imagining why we’re here.
Hope and happiness flitter over his face, before he ushers them away and squares his shoulders. “Oh? Like an anniversary celebration.”
“Sort of,” I admit.
It’s not exactly one year since we were last here.
That would have been cool, but I had hockey games scheduled, and there’s no way I wanted to get a vacation by irritating Coach so much he had to bench me.
Fortunately, Coach has been happy with me these days.
All my teammates have been. I’ve never had a more active social life, and Cal is by my side at every party and gathering and event.
But with any luck this will be a date we mark with anniversary celebrations for the rest of our lives.
It’s too early to tell him now.
Instead, I lead him to the beach. They’ve dismantled my attempt at a shack, which is for the best, but the stone circle we used for fire is still there.
I lead Cal to it. A silver tray sits on a table with two chairs on either side.
“Lunch is served, my love.”
Cal looks around happily. “You arranged this?”
“Sure did.”
He gazes at the tray. “It’s a nice place to have lunch.”
“Uh-huh.”
He’s still looking at the table. This is the time. I wasn’t sure what part of this trip to do this in, but the timing is right. And honestly, I can’t wait another moment.
I drop to my knees. I remove the ring box from my pocket, opening it up. “Cal?”
He swings around.
His face goes soft. “Baby.”
“Will you do me the utmost honor of making me the happiest man—”
Cal’s hand flies to his mouth, and tears start to roll down his cheeks.
I smile at him, then continue.
“...by marrying me?”
“Oh, God.” His voice wobbles. His calmness is gone. “Of course, I’ll marry you, baby. Of course.”
And now tears fill my eyes.
Because what if he’d said no? But he didn’t because we’re us, and we’re supposed to be together forever.
We fell in love in Fiji.
Who does that?
Fate conspired to bring us together, and now we’re going to live the rest of our lives together.
Because even though I’ve never been as happy as I am in my career, even though I’ve finally made real, solid relationships with my teammates, Cal is my everything.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you too.” He collapses on the sand beside me, and I slide on his ring.
“I got one for myself.”
“Let me put it on you.”
I unzip my other pocket and hand it to him. He opens the small box and removes the ring. The platinum glints in the bright Fijian light. He slides the ring onto my ring finger.
“The cargo shorts should have been a clue,” he says.
I pat my pockets triumphantly. “Proposal gear, dude.”
And then there’s a lot of kissing.
And I’m super glad I did not pay for the option where the hotel staff stayed on the island and got things for us. I’m glad I paid for the option where they got the hell off the island in that sailboat.
Because there’s a lot I want to do with Cal now.
“Your ring is on tight?” I ask.
“Uh-huh.” His eyebrows raise.
He looks so fucking good.
I pounce on him.