Epilogue
EPILOGUE
CALEB
Erin wiggled her toes at me. We were at Lotus Flower Salon in downtown Scottsdale. It was a pretty fancy place, equipped with the biggest pedicure chairs and giant televisions. They had something sweet-smelling in a mist, too, to cover up the smell of polish.
“Pretty color. Is that purple?”
“Thanks! Lavender. I like your clear toes. Smoothies next?”
“Of course!” We high-fived. We’d done our fingernails first so they’d be dry by the time we left. One time, we had the manicures last, and Erin ruined hers five minutes out the door.
The downtown was bustling with people and cars. I held the salon door open for her, and off we went.
It was our routine. The first Saturday of the month, we ditched Sean and went for mani-pedis and smoothies in Scottsdale. Erin and I enjoyed our salon days so much. It had been four years now since I’d begun to date Sean, and I loved her like she was my own kid.
We’d had some bumps, especially when I had to say no to Erin or enforce a rule or two, but nothing was as sweet as when she tackled me with a big hug. Sean was her father, not me, but I hoped to officially be her stepdad.
Soon.
I had desire, just not the guts. I kept chickening out.
“I’ll take a mango, please,” Erin ordered her smoothie. She always got mango.
“I’ll do the Blueberry Surprise with kale and coconut,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Kale.” Erin wrinkled her nose.
“You can’t even taste it with all the berries added.”
Erin gave me a doubtful look.
Maybe kale was a little gross, but I’d gotten used to it in my drinks. Somehow, Sean had convinced me to try it one time for him, and pretty soon, I was adding it every time, along with other vegetables.
We sat at our usual booth in the smoothie store, sipping the drinks.
“Caleb, I have a serious favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Dad. He’s such a dinosaur. He still won’t let me get my ears pierced! I’m in middle school!” Erin exclaimed indignantly. She leaned closer, her big blue eyes on mine. “You can convince him?”
“Erin, you know I never go against your dad’s rules…”
“I wish you could.” She pouted.
I froze. “I could do more, if—” I glanced around the crowded smoothie store. “If we were more official, and I was um… How would you feel if…”
“Spit it out, Caleb?”
“I want your dad to marry me. How would you feel about helping me arrange a way to propose?”
“Oh my God, yes!” Erin knocked over her mango smoothie to embrace me. “But only if you convince Dad to finally let me get my ears pierced.”
“Deal.” I hugged her.
“And I’m in charge of the music at the wedding.”
I laughed. “Slow down, kiddo. Your dad hasn’t even said yes yet.”
“He better say yes.” Erin gave me another squeeze before wiping up the spilled smoothie.
“Let me get you another.” I ordered her a second mango smoothie while Erin researched wedding proposals on her phone.
“Thanks.” She raised the smoothie in the air. “To you and to me deciding the music. Dad has no clue what’s popular today.”
“He’s not a music guy,” I agreed, hugging her closer.
A week later, I drove to the firehouse, ready to propose. Since we were involved, Sean and I continued to work different shifts. I did enjoy whenever we passed each other there, addressing him as Captain Smack or even “sir.” Sean was so predictable with his reaction he always made me laugh.
Today, though, I was nervous about how he’d react.
I knew he’d been the one to propose to Dan. That Sean was normally the take-charge guy. So I wanted our proposal to be different. I wanted to shock the man, with a little help from Erin.
When I arrived at the station, Phin was outside, washing a truck, his two-year-old watching in awe. He and James had adopted Matthew last year. The boy was all about firetrucks.
Understandably. Who didn’t love a freaking firetruck?
“Hey there.” I ruffled Matthew’s hair and grinned at Phin. “How goes it?”
“Good. Matthew and I are just getting started on this rig.”
“Twucks.” Matthew pointed. “Me.”
“I know, son.” Phin gave him a small rag to wipe the rims.
I hadn’t told Phin my plan, and he’d kick my ass later for it. But if he knew, James would know, then Wyatt would know… I loved Phin, but he had a huge mouth. I wanted Erin present, but we didn’t need the whole fire station here.
“Have you seen Sean around?”
“In the back, ordering around some new probies.”
“Oh, poor things.”
“Yeah, go save them from him.” Phin gave me a playful swat with his rag.
“That’s the plan.” I absently patted the ring in my pocket.
Phin raised his eyebrows. “Something up?”
“Daddy! Twucks!” Matthew demanded, yanking on his pants.
“I want Sean to be the first to know, but I’ll tell you later. You’re falling down on the job.”
Phin shrugged and turned back to his son as I headed inside the station.
Sean was bossing around the new recruits. He was mid-lecture, wagging a stern finger at them, when I approached.
One of them gasped at my scars. Sean glared at the poor kid, but I put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Captain, can I steal a moment of your time?”
“You can.” We headed to his office. My heart hammered in my chest. I’d considered a public proposal—in some restaurant or hosting a party or in front of the team—but none of that felt like Sean to me. At his core, he was a sensitive, private person. He loved deeply, to the point of his feelings embarrassing him. I wanted to surprise him, shock him—but I also wanted the proposal to be right. And being at the job we both loved, with our fellow fighters just outside and Erin on her way, was perfect. Kamira was coming with Erin; she’d texted me they were almost there. So, I waited, pretending I had to text somebody, and asked him to wait.
Sean huffed out an impatient sigh. He closed the door, tapping his foot with impatience.
The second Erin entered the firehouse, I stopped pretending to text and grinned at Sean.
“What’s up? First, you ask me to go into the office, then you ignore me to text on the phone. Now, you’ve got the dopiest smile.”
Erin banged on the office glass alongside Phin and Kamira.
I fell to my knees.
“What the—” Sean’s mouth dropped.
“I love you. These past four years have been like a dream for me. Being with you and Erin, I never imagined I’d have that type of life in my future. I used to think I didn’t deserve much love at all. But you’ve taught me it’s good to want a big life for myself.”
“You’re the one who taught me how to love again, how to hope…” Sean’s voice cracked. “Caleb, I was going to?—”
“I got here first. “I grinned. “You can surprise me another day.” I took the ring from my pocket. “Sean Michael Smack, do me the honor of becoming my husband?”
“Christ, Caleb…” He wiped his eyes.
“If you say yes?” I added, a pang of nerves inside me. Before he could reply, I rushed on. “Fuck, I didn’t even say the whole speech. Hold on—Sean, it’s a miracle we found each other. I pinch myself daily that it’s all real. One day, I’ll be old and gray, but for as long as I live, I’m going to love you. Marry me, Sean? Be my husband till death do us part.” I held the ring box closer to him.
He sniffed. “That ring is beautiful.”
“Your mom and Erin helped me pick it out.” I glanced at the gold band with small blue sapphires. Some might guess Sean would want a plain wedding band, but only I knew the parts of him that loved a little sparkle. Or a silky thong…
“My mom knows?’
“Uh-huh, and Erin, of course.” I turned to where she was beaming at us through the window, then swiveled back to Sean. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.” His face went soft. “Thanks, honey, for always considering my family?—”
“Say yes already!” Erin demanded.
“Yes! A thousand times over. I love you so much, Caleb,” Sean declared.
Everybody began to cheer. Erin pumped a fist in the air. Phin gave a sharp whistle. Little Matthew began to cry at the sudden excitement. Even the probies ventured over to peek into the office. But my entire world stopped as Sean bent down beside me.
He cupped the sides of my face. “You’re exactly who I need, what I want.”
“Be my husband.” I slipped the ring onto his finger.
“I’m never going to stop being yours.” Sean kissed me.
I was sobbing by the time the kiss ended. Sean had tears running down his cheeks as well. We stood, cradling each other, whispering promises.
“Hey, lover birds.” Phin tapped the glass. “Show us the ring!”
I laughed and looked at Sean. I expected him to order them away or ignore them, but Sean beamed, holding up his hand for all to see.
As my new fiancé wrapped his arms around me and pressed our lips together, the firehouse erupted with another cheer, and I realized fantasies were fine, but real life was even better.
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