46. Epilogue
Ames
Eighteen months later
I'm trying out a new recipe for the second season of my show. Saint keeps me company while practicing a simple piano melody.
I steal a glance at him and smile. He doesn't have much time to work on his piano skills, but he's been consistent.
When I questioned him about it, he said he wanted to give me a thousand happy memories with the instrument.
The plan, he said, was to help me forget any negative associations with my grandma's favorite possession.
"It sounds great in theory," I replied back then.
"But it makes you only even more of a catch.
An athlete who has such a sweet heart? Who will put it into music, too?
You know there were a few of your exes that wouldn't believe you had settled down.
What if one of them tried to cut in again while we dance at the club? "
"No need to be jealous, bella. We don't have to tell anybody and, even if they did, I'd reply like I always have." He kissed me.
I turn to goo just from the thought.
I'll marry her one day. I'm happily taken , he said every time.
He's said it so much, those exes that thought he would never commit to someone have finally caught on. It's been ages since anyone came up to us, that didn't fully understand we are an item.
Now I'm waiting for him to propose.
I thought of marriage once in a while. The world likes to think weddings are the best day of your life— the start to your happily ever after.
While I always liked the idea of a big party to celebrate your love with someone else, I never pushed for it in my past relationships.
Even back then I knew enough to know what you promise at a wedding doesn't guarantee forever.
I cared so much more about doing things right, than having a party where I told people I had found what I was looking for.
These days, I can't think of anything sweeter than marrying Saint. It was about finding the right person, after all. The one who wants to be with me for who I am. Who wants to stick around no matter what. That was the key I was missing.
With him, I want the party and all the promises.
It’s a good thing that Saint seems to be on the same page.
I caught him checking my jewelry box recently.
Evie and Pen said they caught their husbands giving Saint advice on proposals— Logan said to find something cute with significance, while Bear insisted it had to be honest and from the heart.
A couple months ago, Saint asked me if I had any dreams about how my ideal proposal would go.
I said I wanted something simple, only for us. He smiled and said nothing else.
When he proposes, I know what I will say.
What we have feels right. I want it forever. You're my happily ever after.
I'm pretty sure it's happening soon.
Food is prepared and in the oven for the next few hours.
I clean and put everything away as Saint gets the hang of the music piece.
The sound grows in confidence as he repeats the motions over and over again.
It's clear he's putting the same devotion and discipline into it as he does everything else.
I come close to him. "Do you want anything to drink? I thought I might make us mate."
I kiss him on the cheek. He doesn't stop playing.
"In a little bit." He smiles, dimples and all. "Sit with me?"
I cock my head but do as he asks.
"Would it ruin your practice if I play a few notes?" I ask.
"Join me, please."
He stops working on the piece, and starts on random chords. I imitate him as if he were teaching me what he's learned.
"You smell divine," I say.
"You look beautiful, mi divina."
We're in everyday clothes, but even on a random Tuesday Saint is fashionable.
He wears black pants and a burgundy t-shirt.
The latter has a deep V to show off his chain, and painted black details on his shoulders.
They're made to resemble lace and large enough to look like the epaulettes of a military uniform.
He keeps on playing. It's not a melody, but random little pieces. I continue to echo the movements he makes. The results should be dissonant, but they're not. They fit, somehow.
We smile at each other. Playfulness blooms.
"Why are we sitting here?" I ask.
We've had a couple of squabbles. I wouldn't call them more of an argument than when Aidan showed up the last time, and Saint told me of his feelings earlier than he'd planned.
Rather than making me doubt what we have, they've made me feel better.
Stronger. We know how to resolve the issues. It may even be our superpower.
And I don't have to fake being someone I'm not to make things better.
"Remember when you first came here? You asked me to let you pay rent." He snorts .
"I remember. You said you'd invoice me."
"I never did."
"Don't tell me you're thinking of invoicing me now? It's a little late for that, bud."
He chuckles and shakes his head. "I thought of invoicing you, Amy, but I'm not."
"What would you even have put there?"
"Something about a lease agreement, then a discount for being cute."
"Right, right."
"But then I thought, how do I put a price on being happy with you? On the life-changing months we had back then? If you hadn't come here that morning…"
He plays a couple more notes, both hands on the left side of the piano. They're deep and ominous.
"I don't like to think about that," I say.
"Me, neither. Every time I think about what could have gone wrong…"
I put my head on his shoulder. "It's okay. We're here now."
He plays a few more notes. From left to right, they turn lighter and brighter.
"I promised I would be." While one hand keeps on playing notes, the other one reaches for a spot behind the music rack. "And now I want to promise you more."
He holds a small velvet box between us.
It doesn't matter that I thought it might be coming. I gasp.
"This can't come as a surprise." He stops playing and opens the box.
The ring is beautiful. A large diamond in an emerald cut crowns the top of a thick gold band. Ceiling lights reflect on the polished metal shank, and sparkle on the hundred internal facets of the stone.
At least some of those bursts of light come from the tears building in my eyes.
"I thought maybe…" I manage. "Saint…"
"Ames. For the longest time, I thought I couldn't commit to anyone. I never wanted that to be wrong as much as when I met you… or when you moved in wi th me. Now all these months later, I can't imagine my life without you by my side."
I forget everything I planned to say. I'm too choked up to say anything at all. All I can do is stare at the ring in its velvet box, then at Saint, then back to the ring. Over and over again.
He gives me a soft smile. "When I met you and tried to test myself in relationships, I didn't truly understand love.
I thought it was the result of choosing someone you liked, someone you fit with, and waiting for love to show up.
So much so, I went about it wrong. Until you, Ames.
It's with you that I learned what love is really about.
That it's because you love someone that you'll choose them every day. I will always be thankful for that."
He takes the ring out of the box and holds it between two fingers.
"Ames, you came to me one morning and took my heart. I'm glad you kept it."
All I can do is nod.
"I promise I'll never stop wanting to love you," he continues. "I'll stay right here, next to you, holding your hand as we walk together. No matter what the journey throws at us."
My voice comes out thin with emotion. "I promise the same."
"Should we put that in our vows? Promise it in front of our friends and family?"
There are words I meant to say. They're nowhere to be found.
"If you say yes," he adds, "I thought we could celebrate.
My group chat is waiting to hear the news.
If you agree to add this promise to our lives together, they'll bring their better halves for dinner tomorrow night at our favorite restaurant.
Logan with Evie, and Bear with Pen of course.
Being the two happily married couples in the group, they felt very strongly about congratulating us properly.
Everyone else will join. Nat and Damián, and Dom and Mariana as well.
Rafa might not make it but he's invited, plus-one TBD. "
He's naming our friends, the ones who will always be there for us too. Saint knows how important they all are to me as well. That in this story of him and I, friends were a gift that keeps on giving. No matter what, my friends are there for me, too.
My life is truly rich now. Everything I ever wanted, but didn't know how to recognize.
"I knew they knew," I finally say. "What about your family?"
"We'll call them later, and go out to celebrate when we visit them next."
"Aixa and Maribel are going to lose it."
"They already are. Now can you imagine my mom?"
"And Pablo? Does he know?"
"I… let him know. Did not ask for permission."
"You know me so well."
"He said he saw this coming and is happy for us. That he'll visit us soon and take us out for dinner."
"So everyone knows. And we're going to celebrate?"
He nods and offers me the ring.
"And what if I had said no?" I ask.
"You haven't said yes , divina."
"Oh, did I forget?" I gently grab his face and kiss him.
"Tell me yes, Ames. I beg."
"Yes, Gael. I'll marr—"
He kisses me firmly. "Fuck. You always make me work hard."
"But you love it."
"I love it." He puts the ring on my finger. "And I love you."
"I love you, too."
The ring shines on my finger. Saint takes my hand and kisses it.
One last promise, and everything I dreamed of.
The best happily ever after I could ever have… because it is with Saint.