Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Mom looks up from where she’s cutting up veggies for a salad as I step into the kitchen. “What time is Seth picking you up?”
“He should be here any minute.”
“Well, you look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I glance down at my red evening dress.
“Where’s he taking you?”
“I’m not sure, it’s a surprise.”
“It must be someplace fancy.”
“I hope so.” We share a grin.
“Something smells good. Whatcha making?”
“Lasagna, garlic bread, and an Italian salad.”
My stomach growls. “If Seth weren’t due to show up any minute, I’d eat some lasagna before heading out.” Mom’s lasagna is legendary.
Mom laughs. “You and your hollow leg.”
I reach over and grab a carrot, plopping it into my mouth.
“I loved the article you posted this morning.”
“Thanks.”
When everything imploded, and I wrote that article admitting my wrongdoing and coming clean about my identity and feelings for Axel, I thought it might wreck my career.
However, it did the exact opposite. My readership skyrocketed, which elated Harmony and evidently The See’s owner because they were willing to overlook the fact that my true identity was exposed.
Not only was my probation lifted, but I also got a bonus and a big, fat raise.
Axel got back together with his band. Max sought treatment for his gambling addiction and was eventually allowed back into the band.
Things with Axel and me are great. I never knew that I could love someone so much. The only downside to our relationship is that I don’t get to see him as often as I’d like when he’s out on tour.
This weekend, he asked me to stay at my parents’ house so that we could both be in Mt. Pleasant over the weekend. Ever since his dad’s accident, Axel makes a point of visiting his parents and Cassie as often as possible. Thankfully, Axel’s dad has made a full recovery.
The doorbell rings.
“He’s here,” Mom sings with an insinuating grin.
The past rewinds in a snap. I remember standing here and talking to Mom in the kitchen while she was making a salad all those years ago when I was waiting for Axel—Seth to pick me up for the dance. I guess we’ve come full circle.
Butterflies flap in my stomach as I smooth my hands over the dress. I go to the door and fling it open. Axel greets me with a broad smile and holds out a bundle of long-stemmed red roses. “For you,” he says with a touch of grandeur.
“Thank you.” I take the roses and bring them to my nose, appreciating the fragrant scent.
Axel’s gaze moves over me in a slow, thorough way that quickens my breath. “You look incredible.”
“Thanks,” I murmur and lower my eyes, brushing my lashes against my skin. Having him look at me this way. Well, it’s heaven. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop crushing on him. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m awake. Of all the women in the world, Axel wants me. It’s glorious!
“You look great, too.” He’s wearing an open-neck, button-down shirt, a sports coat, and slacks. We must be going somewhere nice because it’s not often that I can separate Axel from his beloved jeans.
He leans in and kisses me full on the mouth. For a second, I’m completely caught up in his spell to the point where when he asks, “You ready?” with a cocky grin. I blink.
“I’m ready,” I say with a chipper smile to cover up my daze. Axel knows the strong effect he has on me and often uses it to his advantage.
I lift the roses. “Let me take these to Mom so she can put them in water.”
He follows me into the kitchen.
“Hey, Seth,” Mom says brightly. “You clean up nice.”
“Thanks,” he grins and kisses her on the cheek. They talk about music for a few minutes until Mom says, “You kiddos had better get going.”
Axel drapes an arm around my waist and grins. “It smells so good, maybe we’ll just eat here.”
Mom laughs. “Thanks, but I believe someone has been chomping at the bit for you to take her out on the town.” She makes a point of looking at me.
“I have been looking forward to this,” I say primly.
“Let’s get to it,” Axel says with flair, “our chariot awaits.”
“Chariot, huh?” Axel’s Corvette is in Nashville. He’s probably in a rental. It’s probably a sports car, knowing him. I hope it’s not a convertible. I spent too long on my hair to get it blown to pieces.
We go outside. I halt in my tracks. A man in a chauffeur uniform—complete with a cap—is waiting for us. “You got a limo?”
“I did,” he says with a note of pride.
“What’s the occasion?”
“We’re celebrating … us.”
“Okay,” I laugh. There’s never a dull moment with Axel.
The driver opens the door as we climb inside. When the driver gets in the front, he raises the tinted window between him and us. We take advantage of the privacy and share a few pulse-pounding kisses along the way.
I nestle into the curve of Axel’s shoulder. “I missed you so much,” I sigh.
“I missed you too.” He grazes light circles over my bare skin with his fingertips.
“Which restaurant are we going to?”
“You’ll see,” he says.
My stomach grows as I clutch it.
He chuckles. “Hungry as usual, I see.”
“You know me.”
“I do,” he murmurs into my hair.
After thirty minutes or so, the limo finally comes to a stop.
The driver opens our door and helps me out, leaving Axel to fend for himself.
When I realize where we are, confusion washes over me.
I turn to Axel with a frown. “You’re taking me to the high school?
” The high school is only five minutes away from my parents’ house. Was the limo driver going in circles?
“I am.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.”
Disappointment rolls over me. Maybe I should’ve eaten before we left.
He laughs. “Don’t look so glum. There’ll be food.”
I smile. “You know me too well.”
We go in through the front entrance, which is unlocked. Surprising since all the lights are off. It’s eerie walking down the long hall in the dark. Instinctively, I scoot closer to Axel.
“Afraid the boogie man’ll get you?” he teases.
“It’s dark, and we’re alone,” I say in my defense. “And I don’t even know where we’re going.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He navigates me to the gym and turns to me. “You ready for this?” he says loudly.
“Ready for what? And why’re you yelling?” Axel’s acting strange tonight. There’s a peculiar undercurrent of excitement running through him.
He only laughs. A second later, music starts playing. He pushes open the door and leads me inside.
Startled laughter gurgles in my throat when I see the strobe light, the balloons, and pink and white streamers draped along the walls.
“You brought me to a school dance?” My gaze travels to the long white table against the wall where my parents, Bryce, Axel’s parents, and Cassie are standing.
There’s even a crystal punch bowl, snack food, and a large square aluminum container of what I suspect is Mom’s lasagna.
I look at Mom, who’s wearing a sheepish grin. “Thought you were making dinner,” I call out.
“I did.” She motions to the table.
I turn to Axel. “You got the limo driver to kill time so my parents would be able to get here before we did.”
He gives me a cheeky grin and takes my hand. “May I have this dance?” He leads me onto the dance floor and pulls me close.
“You re-created the Sadie Hawkins dance.” I’m so touched.
“As much as we could from Cassie’s memory, which isn’t the greatest, by the way. Oh, and we couldn’t get the junior high gym, so we had to settle for this one instead.”
I gaze up at him, my heart expanding. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” Emotion thickens my throat. “I love you.”
“I love you back.”
“This is incredible,” I say softly. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.” I rest my head against his shoulder as we move in sync.
When the song ends, he steps back and presses his lips together, expression turning somber. “I brought you here because there’s something we need to discuss.”
“Okay.” My stomach clutches. “Is everything okay?”
“This isn’t working.”
My heart drops. “What do you mean?” I thought things were going great. Was I deluding myself? Did he go to all this trouble just to dump me? Maybe this is the ultimate revenge. Recreate the school dance and then break up. No, that can’t be what’s happening. Axel wouldn’t do that.
“I can’t handle another moment of us being apart for long stretches while I’m on tour.”
Relief flashes over me as I laugh. “I hate it too, but what can we do?” I figure that’s the price I have to pay for falling in love with a musician.
“I think I’ve come up with a solution.”
My breath hitches when he gets down on one knee. “London Meyers, you’re the most incredible woman I know.” A corner of his mouth lifts in a wry grin. “You’re obstinate, bossy, talented, and gorgeous. The whole package. I’m only sorry it took me so long to realize.”
My eyes go misty.
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes,” I exclaim through tears.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Cassie interjects.
Axel looks puzzled. “I don’t think so.”
“The ring?” she prompts with an eye roll.
“Oh, yeah.” He pulls a small black box from his pocket and lifts the lid to reveal a not-so-small diamond ring. He slips it over my finger.
“It’s a perfect fit,” he proclaims.
I meet his gaze. “Just like us.” You know that thrill you get from zooming down on a roller coaster with the wind in your face? Magnify that a hundredfold, and that’s me right now. I’m soaring on a cloud of euphoria!
Shoving the empty box back into his pocket, he rises to his feet and pulls me in for a kiss as our family gathers around to offer their congratulations.
“Well,” Cassie says with a wicked grin, “looks like London chased and chased her man until he finally caught her.”
Axel sports a pleased smile. “You know, sis … for once, I believe you’re right.”
“Hey,” she pouts as everyone laughs.