Epilogue
One year later…
COVEY
“Are you ready yet?” Aidan asks for the third time.
I’m being incredibly slow in getting my stuff packed up this evening.
Tonight marks the end of another season.
One that’s been extremely dull compared to last year.
Which I consider to be a good thing. It’s made getting through dozens of performances, lots of late nights, and, of course, family gatherings much more manageable. I’ve even managed to avoid lying.
Mostly. And the lie I’ve got going right now is a damn good one, if I do say so myself. Plus, this time my scheming skills are being used for good, rather than evil.
At least I hope so. That all depends on how Aidan feels about the surprise I’ve been planning.
That’s why I’m stalling. To give everyone else time to get into position.
I convinced Aidan to drive me to the theater today, claiming car troubles.
Now he’s being forced to wait with me while I pack up the last of my gear.
He’s missed the fact that for every item I put in my bag, I take another out and leave it lying around.
“Covey, what’s the issue? How many pairs of ballet shoes do you have?”
Okay, so maybe he’s noticing. I check my phone, looking for a signal from Silas that everything’s ready to go. The text is there, only a few seconds old. Thank God, because if I make him wait much longer, I’m pretty sure Aidan will make me walk home.
The warm, fuzzy feeling I get when I call his house home still gets me. Officially, I’ve only lived there for the last six months. Unofficially? I started moving in on January 2nd, right after we confessed our feelings for each other.
If I get my way, I intend to stay there. At least until we look to purchase another house. Together.
“Okay, I’m ready. Don’t be so impatient.”
He huffs but leads me out to his car.
The drive home is quick, with only a few people on the roads this late on Christmas Day. When we pull up to our house, it’s dark except for the porch light that he always leaves on. “I can’t wait to get in bed,” I say, hoping it throws him off the trail.
“Well, you could’ve been in bed thirty minutes ago if you’d packed up when I told you to.”
I cough to cover up my laughter.
“Come on. We can get all your stuff out of the trunk tomorrow.”
Usually, I’d argue with him. My sweaty dance clothes should not be left overnight in an enclosed space. There’ll be consequences, but I’ll deal with them tomorrow.
It takes every ounce of restraint in me to keep from bouncing up the walk to the front door.
Aidan gives me a strange look before letting us in with his key.
We manage to hang up our coats quickly, mostly at my prompting, before heading into the dark living room.
I take a deep breath and flip the light switch.
“Surprise!” Everyone manages to shout, right on time. Organizing this many people is a real challenge. My dancer friends might be good at taking direction, but the rest of the people in our lives aren’t as receptive.
Getting everyone to our place and waiting for us to come home was a logistical nightmare. Thank God—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—for Silas. He agreed to help me organize at the house, since I had to be at the theater tonight.
“What’s happening?” Aidan looks between me and everyone else in the room. “Why is everyone in our house?”
“I wanted to give you a very special Christmas present,” I say, suddenly a bit nervous. “And I thought the best way to do it would be with all the people who helped make my holiday wishes come true.”
I pull a ring from my pocket. I’ve had it for months now, ever since I found the perfect one at a jewelry store in Europe.
It’s made of black tungsten, with gold plating.
It’s the perfect blend of classical and modern.
More importantly, the inside is engraved with the word home.
Not Burlington or Vermont, but wherever Aidan is.
He’s my home, the place where I’m safe and loved.
I drop down onto one knee, ignoring the protestation from my joints. Any pain is worth it for this moment. “Aidan Matthews, will you marry me?” I hold my breath, the room nearly silent as I wait for his response.
“Covey. Of course.” He yanks me up and kisses me as our friends and family clap.
Even after almost a year of being officially together, he still makes a simple kiss feel exciting.
The rest of it, we’ll have to save for a more private celebration.
I’m already doing the math to figure out how quickly we can get everyone out of here.
I promised them champagne, so probably not until after that.
“Was it too much?” I whisper, worried that maybe I should’ve done this in private, instead of inviting everyone we know to invade our personal space.
“No.” He shakes his head vigorously. “Maybe a little chaotic.”
I shrug. If he hasn’t figured out that life with me comes with a hearty dose of chaos by now, he never will.
“Come on, then. Let’s celebrate.” Leo pops the cork from one of the champagne bottles and starts pouring everyone a glass.
“You hear him,” I say to Aidan. “Time to celebrate.”
Aidan gives me a hungry look, one that says his idea of a party doesn’t include champagne. Or friends and family.
“Later,” I whisper.
When everyone has a glass, Aidan clears his throat.
“I guess I should say something, but I’m still a little speechless.
” He turns to me, his cheeks a bright shade of red.
“Um, on behalf of myself and my… fiancé, thank you for coming.” Happiness explodes inside me when he says the word fiancé.
“Drink up and then get out.” He gets a nice round of laughs before everyone’s downing their drinks and mingling.
It gives me a minute to pull him close to me and kiss him again, this time with less of an audience. “I love you, fiancé,” I say.
“I love you, too, fiancé.” He kisses my forehead in a sweet gesture that melts my heart. “This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“Better than the Power Ranger?” I ask. It took me a bit, but I did finally give him the gift I got for Christmas last year.
It was repurposed as a Valentine’s Day gift, though I quickly broke down and told him the whole story of how it was bought and stored away.
It sits—unopened—on one of our bookcases.
“I don’t think that counts. You didn’t give it to me on Christmas, so was it really a Christmas present?”
I ponder his reasoning for a moment. “Was it better than the hot chocolate?” Such a terrible choice of a backup gift, though I know he went through it all. I keep our home well-stocked for such chocolate emergencies now. They happen more than one might think.
“Hmmm…” He spends way too long thinking about it, so I give his ass a little pinch.
“Hey! That’s a tough question, but yes, I think this is the better gift.” He gives me another quick kiss. “We should probably mingle.”
“Yeah, probably,” I say. Is it so bad that I want to keep Aidan all to myself tonight?
“Come on. The sooner we say hi to everyone, the sooner they leave.” Once again, he’s got a great point.
“Whatever you say, fiancé.”