Epilogue
Eight Months Later
Emerie sat around the bonfire outside of Blaze of Glory on New Year’s Eve and rubbed her hands together. The weather had been surprisingly chilly in the Outer Banks for the past few days, but not enough to deter the die-hard town natives from their annual New Year’s Eve bonfire. This year’s event was bigger than ever. The town had added a music component to the event, and the Holly Grove Island Players were up next.
The faces of her friends, family, and neighbors glowed in the light of the fire and perhaps from the drinks that Blaze had been serving up all night. Everyone looked cheerful. But this time, she didn’t envy their contentment. Because she was genuinely happy, too.
It had taken a couple of months for Nick to convince his new boss to accommodate his request to work out of the Holly Grove Island Resort. Once the man agreed, Nick had accepted the promotion. Things had gone fairly smoothly since then, and Dexter was an excellent mentor whenever Nick ran into a stressful challenge.
Their first holiday season together as a couple had been amazing. They’d enjoyed their time with friends and family. But the past couple of days, Nick seemed a little anxious, though he’d assured her that everything was fine.
Nick and Dexter were in an intense conversation as the band prepared to go on. Her brother placed his hands on Nick’s shoulders as if he was reassuring him. She couldn’t be more grateful that the man she loved was such a seamless part of her life and family.
She and Nick were good together. Not just as best friends but as lovers and life partners.
Em loved the life that she and Nick had been building together. The quiet strolls on the beach hand in hand. Taking dance classes, watching a movie on the sofa, or enjoying a quiet night at home together. Nights out, double dates, evenings with family and friends. And she loved how they supported one another in their careers.
Emerie glanced over at Sinclair who was kissing Garrett, and she smiled. She was grateful to Sin for her directness and for pushing her to admit her feelings to Nick. Because she was happier than she’d ever been.
“I found this guy on the other side sitting by himself. I figured you wouldn’t mind if I invited him to join us.” Her mother sank onto her beach blanket, placed beside Em and Nick’s. She had a broad smile on her face.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” Em jumped up and into her father’s arms, inhaling his familiar Old Spice scent. “You never came to the bonfire before you moved to Elizabeth City. I definitely didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
“I know, Baby Girl. And I’m sorry. Not spending more time with my family… that’s something I will always regret.” There was pain in her father’s voice. “But with whatever time I have left on this earth, I promise to do better. To be there for the moments that count.” He kissed the top of her head.
Her father sat on the blanket beside her mother, the two of them sharing a warm smile. Then her mother slipped her arm through her father’s as they shifted their attention to where Nick, Dexter, and the rest of the band took the makeshift stage just outside of Blaze of Glory.
Em often acted as an emcee for the band when they performed locally, but it was a pleasant surprise to see Sinclair taking on the role. As always, Sin was fun and sassy. Her Eastern Carolina twang was in full effect as she promised the record crowd that the band had a huge surprise in store to end the night.
The guys played an amazing set of mostly jazz covers of classic R it looked as if it had been made specifically for her. The two-tone white and yellow gold ring had a thick, sturdy band enhanced with more diamonds and a scrolling design.
Em pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, her vision clouded by the fat tears that glided down her cheeks as she gazed at the incredible ring and the man who was presenting it to her. The only man in the world she’d ever really been in love with. The only man she could ever imagine spending her life with.
“Emerie Marie Roberts, I have loved you for so long. But now I truly understand what a gift and a privilege it is to have you at the center of my world. I’m thrilled to be your man, Em. But nothing would make me happier than being your husband. So would you please, please do me the honor of becoming my wife?” The corners of Nick’s eyes were wet, and his voice wavered.
“I’ve waited my whole life for you to ask me that.” Em’s honest response evoked laughter from everyone around them. “Yes, Nick. I’ll marry you. I can’t wait to be your best friend slash wife.”
Nick slid the gorgeous ring onto her finger, then rose to his feet, took her in his arms, and kissed her as the air around them filled with applause. But as his lips glided along hers, for a moment it felt as if there was no one on that stretch of Holly Grove Island Beach but the two of them.
“I love you, baby,” Nick whispered in her ear once he’d finally broken their kiss.
Em grinned, stroking wetness from beneath his eyes with her thumbs. “I love you, too.”
“Congrats to Nick and Emerie on your engagement. We all love you both so much, and we’re so happy for you.” Sin’s voice wavered as she wiped tears from her cheek. She blew them a kiss. “We’ve got about ten more minutes before it’s time to begin the countdown to the new year. But before we do, here’s a song dedicated to Nick and Em. And we invite you to join our newly engaged couple for a final dance of the year.”
Rett stepped up to the mic and tapped his chest twice with his open palm as he grinned at the two of them warmly. Then he started to sing “It Would Be You” by Johnny Gill.
Nick slipped his arms around her waist and started to sway as he softly sang the chorus in her ear. “‘If I could have anything, I’d put it on everything, that it would be you.’”
Em’s stomach fluttered, and her pulse raced. She’d never been happier in her life than she was in that moment. But she needed to be sure that Nick was just as happy as she was.
“So you’re not still worried that we’ll eventually turn into your parents?” Em asked.
Nick stopped singing and glanced over at his parents dancing together, their eyes filled with love and laughter.
“I didn’t know nearly as much about my parents’ relationship as I thought,” he admitted. “Now that I do, I realize we’d be really lucky to end up like them… together nearly forty years, still friends, and very much in love.”
Em grinned so hard her cheeks hurt. Her heart expanded in her chest, and her eyes stung with fresh tears when Nick’s parents, as if on cue, waved, and his mother blew a kiss at them. Em blew a kiss back, then looked up at Nick. The raging bonfire reflected in his dark eyes burned as hot and bright as the overwhelming love and desire she had for him. “I think so, too.”
She kissed her best friend—something she’d never tire of. Then she pressed her cheek to his chest as they rocked slowly to the swoony lyrics Rett belted out. They were surrounded by their friends and family on the beautiful beach that had always been home. The place where they had so many amazing memories. In the town where they planned to one day start a family and raise their children.
Nick couldn’t have picked a more perfect place or a more perfect moment to ask her to marry him.
One year ago, she’d stood on this very beach, determined to find the love of her life. But along the way, she’d found so much more.
Em’s confidence and sense of self had grown by leaps and bounds over the past year. She’d expanded her business, discovered an unexpected passion for dance and travel, finally identified her true sense of style, and grown exponentially as a person.
Nick had been right to turn her down when she’d first expressed her interest in him. He hadn’t been ready for this then, and neither had she.
Friendships didn’t always translate into great love matches. But this one had, and she was thankful for it.
Nick wrapped an arm around her waist when the countdown began. They counted down together to the new year ahead. A year filled with possibilities and the life they were planning together. They both shouted, “Happy New Year!” Then Nick pulled her into a lingering kiss as fireworks that rivaled those exploding in her chest burst into the sky over the Atlantic Ocean.
THE END