Epilogue
One year later
Skye had zero business sweating this much on a seventy-degree evening in Queens.
Forest Hills was a calm, tree-lined neighborhood with storybook Tudor facades, cafés tucked into corners, and home to The Ramones.
It was not a place where anyone’s pulse should be pounding a million miles an hour.
And yet, Skye was walking through Forest Park, not far from home, her hand severely clammy in Lucy’s grip because their extremely cute corgi, Steve, had the fate of her entire future dangling from his stubby little neck.
Steve waddled in front of them, his butt bouncing in rhythm with his short legs.
To any normal passerby, he was just a happy dog on his usual sunset walk along Stack Pond, but to Skye, he was the fluffiest, cutest accomplice.
Every time Steve shook his head, Skye swore she could hear the tiny black engagement box tapping against his leg.
“You’ve been very quiet,” Lucy said, shooting Skye a grin. “Should I be worried you’re plotting our neighbor’s demise again? You know, the guy with the annoyingly loud leaf blower you refuse to introduce yourself to?”
Skye huffed because she was all too aware that her voice would crack if she said anything.
But if she didn’t say anything, Lucy would become suspicious, and her entire plan for a proposal would be ruined.
She had no choice. “It’s not only me; most people in New York don’t know their neighbors,” she muttered.
“We aren’t the typical people of New York,” Lucy said, not noticing the stress oozing off Skye. “It’s about time we go introduce ourselves, don’t you think?”
“Or we can give it a few more months,” Skye replied just as she caught Steve, who was on a long leash, trotting off the path to a lavish-looking patch of grass. If he decided this was the perfect spot to roll onto his back, the ring would surely be seen.
“Steve,” Skye said, her voice coming out strangled. “Keep moving, buddy. Nothing to see there.”
Lucy laughed and shook her head. “He just wants to explore.”
“I know that,” Skye replied, tightening her grip on Lucy’s hand. “But he can explore later when we get back home.”
“When we get home?” Lucy asked, her brows squeezing tight. “What do you mean, when we get home? We always let Steve off the leash when we get to the clearing.”
“You’re right,” Skye said stiffly. She didn’t know what she was thinking. Her chest felt like it was about to burst, and her mind was too preoccupied to think clearly.
One year ago, she’d been forced to stand in as the bachelorette on The Sapphic Match.
She still couldn’t believe the show had made it to air, let alone pulled in such shockingly high ratings.
Skye never would have imagined that sharing her true emotions for one of the contestants on camera would have created the highest ratings in the show’s history.
Apparently, viewers wanted to see genuine love.
Even Stanley had begged Skye to come back to work.
She had refused, of course. Never again. Not after all that drama.
Shows like The Sapphic Match didn’t just end when the cameras stopped rolling; they bled into your life and followed you around.
She even pitied Alexis. The edit had absolutely roasted her, turning her into the villain people loved to hate.
And while Lucy insisted Alexis had brought most of it on herself, Skye couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her.
Not that it kept her up at night. She’d had more important things to worry about back then, like those first few weeks when she and Lucy had to duck into coffee shops with baseball caps pulled low as strangers pointed and whispered.
But eventually the whispers had dulled, the pointing had stopped, and the chaos had slowly turned into a love that was real.
And now, here she was about to propose in Forest Park to the woman who had stolen her breath on that beach so many months ago. She loved Lucy, and she wanted to marry her.
The path curved gently, and Skye slowed as they approached a little clearing. The water shimmered gold-orange in the late afternoon sun, and ducks paddled lazily along the edges. Everywhere she looked were trees and, by some miracle, there was no one else there.
Skye came to a stop and took a deep breath through her nose.
She was beyond nervous, terrified even. Every rational part of her brain was screaming This is insane.
You’re about to ask the love of your life to marry you in a park, for goodness’ sake.
But every hopelessly in love part of her was shouting This is your favorite place…
the little clearing by Stack Pond where you and Lucy sat for hours talking about everything and nothing, where you laughed so hard at her jokes, kissed even harder when the moment allowed it. This is the place.
“Why are we stopping?” Lucy asked, tilting her head and glancing at Skye in that way that made Skye’s knees quake and her stomach flip.
Damn. She loved this woman.
Steve trotted in a small circle at Skye’s feet.
It seemed even he knew it was showtime. Skye knelt down, her knees brushing against the soft grass, and unclipped the tiny velvet box from his collar.
She didn’t stand up again. Instead, she maneuvered to one knee and stared up at Lucy.
Lucy was looking from the little box in Skye’s hand to Skye and then to Steve in utter disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe she had missed it.
“Lucy,” Skye began, her voice trembling. “I—”
Lucy’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. “Are you—”
“Yes,” Skye cut in, rushing ahead of her before she could interrupt again.
“I love you. I fell in love with you that night you surprised me on the beach topless and again every moment we spent together on the show. Adjusting back to New York after the cameras were gone, figuring out jobs, figuring out bills, squeezing our lives into a tiny apartment before we moved into our first real place together… none of it has been easy, but every second has been worth it because it’s with you.
” She took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she opened the velvet box and revealed the ring.
“I want to spend every ordinary and extraordinary day with you. Lucy, my love… will you marry me?”
“Are you serious?” Lucy asked, looking completely surprised.
“Of course I’m serious,” Skye replied. She started to wonder if she’d done the whole thing wrong, because surely Lucy should’ve said yes immediately, but then Lucy lunged forward and grabbed Skye’s arms, yanking her up from the grass.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she sobbed, kissing her over and over. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
“Good,” Skye said as she laughed through the kisses and somehow also placed the ring on Lucy’s finger. “For a second, I was worried.”
“Never,” Lucy said, patting Steve’s head. He was barking happily at their feet, hopping in little circles. “Good boy helping Mom, Steve.” Lucy turned back to Skye and smiled. “I love you, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much… without the cameras!”
Book Two: Lavender, Lies and Love
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