Epilogue – Drew
Six months later
I squeezed West’s hand as we stood at the entrance to the Star Finders Foundation building, my heart pounding. The late afternoon sun glinted off the restored brick facade, casting a warm glow that matched the nervous excitement bubbling in my chest.
“You ready for this?” I whispered, searching West’s eyes.
He gave me a small nod, his curls flopping adorably. “As I’ll ever be. You?”
“Terrified,” I admitted with a shaky laugh. “But also kind of exhilarated?”
His lips quirked up. “Sounds about right.”
Taking a deep breath, we pushed through the heavy fire doors together. The lobby was packed wall-to-wall with people. A sea of expectant faces turned our way. I recognized many—kids we’d mentored, fellow volunteers, and community leaders who’d supported us from the start. But there were plenty of new faces, too, which sent a thrill through me. Word was spreading.
A hush fell over the crowd as we made our way to the makeshift stage. I felt the weight of all those eyes on us, but West’s solid presence beside me kept me grounded. This was it—the moment that would change everything.
We stepped onto the stage, and I couldn’t hold back my grin as cheers and applause erupted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw West’s shoulders relax a fraction. The energy in the room was electric, crackling with possibility.
“Thank you all for coming,” I began, my voice steadier than I felt. “West and I are overwhelmed by the incredible turnout…”
As I continued speaking, I scanned the diverse faces before us. There was Mrs. Chen, the older woman who baked cookies for every fundraiser. And Jamal, one of our first mentees, who was now a college freshman. My chest swelled with pride and affection for this beautiful patchwork community we’d built.
This was so much bigger than just West and me now. Whatever came next, I knew we’d face it together—surrounded by the family we’d chosen.
I took a deep breath, gripping the microphone a little tighter. “You know, when West and I first met in foster care, we were just two scared kids trying to survive. We never imagined we’d be standing here today, surrounded by all of you amazing people.”
My voice cracked slightly, but I pushed on, drawing strength from the attentive faces before me. “Our journey wasn’t easy. There were nights we went to bed hungry and days we felt invisible. But we had each other, and that made all the difference.”
I glanced at West, his eyes shining with pride and something deeper. My heart swelled.
“That’s why we started the Star Finders Foundation. Because every kid deserves to have someone in their corner, cheering them on.”
As I spoke, I noticed a young girl in the front row, hanging on my every word. Her wide eyes reminded me of myself at that age, desperate for hope. I smiled directly at her.
“To all the kids out there feeling lost or alone—we see you. We were you. And we’re here to tell you that your story isn’t over. It’s just beginning.”
With a final nod to the crowd, I turned to West, passing him the microphone. Our fingers brushed, sending a familiar spark through me. God, I loved this man.
West stepped forward, his presence immediately commanding attention. His voice, when he spoke, was low and warm, wrapping around the audience like a comforting blanket.
“Drew’s right,” he began, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “We were those lost kids once. I remember the day I met Drew like it was yesterday. This scrawny kid with a chip on his shoulder and the biggest heart I’d ever seen.”
A chuckle rippled through the crowd, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“But you know what?” West continued, his tone growing serious. “That day changed my life. Because for the first time, I wasn’t alone anymore. And that’s what we want for every child who comes through our doors…”
As West spoke, his eyes found mine, a silent conversation passing between us. I gave him a small nod, encouraging him to continue. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and I could see the tension easing from his jaw. It was a tiny gesture that probably went unnoticed by the crowd, but to me, it spoke volumes.
“We want every child to know they’re not alone,” West continued, his voice gaining strength. “That they have value, that they matter.”
My heart swelled with pride and love. Without thinking, I reached out and squeezed his free hand. West’s fingers intertwined with mine, and I felt him squeeze back.
A movement in the crowd caught my eye. A young boy, probably no more than twelve, was wiping his eyes. His friend beside him had an arm around his shoulders, offering silent support. It hit me then, the weight of what we were doing, the lives we could change.
“We’re not just offering a place to stay,” I chimed in, unable to contain myself. “We’re offering a family, a home, a future.”
West shot me a grateful look, a silent thank you for jumping in. We’d always been in sync, anticipating each other’s needs.
“Exactly,” West nodded. “Because every child deserves a chance to shine, to discover their own star.” And with that, he raised the microphone as if making a toast.
As the applause died down, West’s hand found mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Hey,” he whispered, his hazel eyes twinkling, “come with me. I want to show you something.”
My heart did a little flip. “Now? But…everybody?—”
“Trust me,” he said, his crooked smile making my knees weak.
Before I knew it, we were slipping away from the crowd, West leading me through the hallways I now knew like the back of my hand. The excitement in his stride was palpable, giving me a mixture of curiosity and nervous anticipation.
“West, where are we—” I started, but my words caught in my throat as he pushed open a door, revealing a breathtaking rooftop garden.
The setting sun painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a warm glow over a sea of vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Fairy lights twinkled among the foliage, creating a magical ambiance that took my breath away.
“Holy crap,” I breathed, taking it all in. “How long has this been here?”
West chuckled, pulling me farther into the garden. “It’s been a work in progress. I wanted it to be perfect before I showed you.”
As we walked, I noticed little touches that screamed West—a cozy reading nook tucked away in one corner, a small fountain that reminded me of the one at our first group home. Each detail held a memory, a piece of our shared history.
“This is incredible,” I said, unable to keep the awe from my voice. “But why all the secrecy?”
West’s hand tightened around mine as he led me around until we stopped by an arch made with what looked like succulents. There was a slight tremble in his touch, and when he turned to face me, his eyes were filled with an intensity that made my heart race.
“Drew,” he started, his voice husky with emotion, “I brought you up here because…”
His voice trailed off as he took a deep breath, his hazel eyes shimmering with vulnerability. My pulse quickened and a mix of anticipation and concern flooded through me.
“Because?” I prompted gently, giving his hand an encouraging squeeze.
He cleared his throat and began again, his words pouring out in a heartfelt rush. “Drew, you’ve been my rock, my home, my everything since we were kids. We’ve been through hell and back together, and there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side.”
My breath caught as West slowly lowered himself to one knee, fumbling in his pocket before producing a small velvet box. Holy shit, was this really happening?
“I love you more than I ever thought possible,” West continued, his voice cracking slightly. “You make me want to be better, to do better, every single day. Will you marry me?”
I stood there frozen for a moment, my brain trying to catch up as I processed what was happening. West’s face began to fall, uncertainty creeping into his expression.
“Baby?” he said softly, a hint of worry in his tone.
That snapped me out of my stupor. “Yes!” I practically shouted, yanking him to his feet and crushing him in a bear hug. “God, yes, you big idiot. Of course I’ll marry you!”
West’s arms wrapped around me tightly. “You had me worried there for a second,” he murmured into my neck.
I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, my vision blurring with happy tears. “Sorry, I was just…overwhelmed. In the best way possible.”
As West slipped the ring onto my finger—a simple yet elegant band that was perfectly us—I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know, for two guys who hate surprises, we sure do spring a lot of them on each other.”
West grinned, pressing his forehead against mine. “Yeah, well, you bring out the romantic fool in me, Drew Carter.”
“Soon to be Drew Hart,” I corrected, my heart swelling with love and happiness.
“I like the sound of that,” West whispered before capturing my lips in a kiss that felt like coming home and embarking on a new adventure all at once.
As we broke apart, breathless and giddy, I glanced over West’s shoulder at the glittering cityscape behind us. We stood there for a moment, basking in the glow of our newfound engagement and the ethereal beauty of the city.
“You know,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence, “I always thought I’d be the one to propose. Guess you beat me to it, huh?”
West’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “Well, considering our track record of keeping things to ourselves, I wasn’t leaving it to chance.”
I pulled back slightly, meeting his hazel eyes with mock indignation. “Hey, I can take the initiative!”
“Says the guy who took years to ask me out on our first date,” West teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“That’s…fair,” I conceded, unable to keep a straight face. “But in my defense, I was terrified of ruining our friendship.”
West’s expression softened, and he cupped my face in his hands. “And now look at us. Best friends and soon-to-be husbands. I’d say it worked out pretty well, wouldn’t you?”
My heart swelled with emotion, and I leaned in for another kiss. “I’d say it worked out perfectly.”
As our lips met, a cool breeze swept across the rooftop garden. In that moment, with the city sprawled out before us and the love of my life in my arms, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we’d face them together. And that thought filled me with a sense of hope and excitement for the future that was brighter than any skyline.
Drew and West have been dancing around their feelings for each other for a while.