Epilogue
Riley
Three years later:
“Ronnie, I swear if you don’t stop with the damn tennis ball, I’m going to fire you,” I yell from my office desk while massaging my temples.
“You might own this joint now, boy, but I can still whoop your tail and make you clean toilets,” he yells from his spot at the front desk.
After returning to school after that infamous summer, I realized my dream wasn’t to follow the choices of my scholarly family. I switched my major to business with a minor in marketing and hospitality. When I graduated and came back to town, Mrs. Trevers, the owner, offered to let me buy this place at a highly discounted rate. She was ready to retire and live out her days in the mountains, far away from beach life.
Alina had her own successful business, which she was already running, and she told me to jump on it. Not to brag, but this place has never been as profitable as it was when I took over. I promptly hired a new janitor and offered Ronnie a nice little retirement, with the bonus of forever having his room above the front desk. He asked for a promotion instead. He didn’t want to be bored, but wanted to rest a bit more. He’s now our night manager at the front desk, but you can find him hanging around all hours of the day.
“You better stop hassling me and get over there to get your woman. You’ve been stressin’ about this all day. Don't make it worse by being late,” he tells me, making me quickly lift my head and see the time.
He’s right. I need to get to the store fast. I quickly say my goodbyes and head out, taking the boardwalk and letting it lead me to my future, my forever, my Siren. I’m so damn proud of what she’s been able to accomplish. After everything that happened with her brother, her parents realized how careless they were to both their children. They understood it was too late for Jackson, but wanted to make it as right as possible with Alina. They gifted her the thrift shop, and she and her business partner have made it a landmark. Her parents wanted a new start and a change of scenery. They call once a week, but the relationship is still strained, and I don’t know if that will ever really change.
Surprisingly, my own parents came around. They didn’t understand or approve of me changing my major. Meeting Alina softened them, but they still struggled when I bought the Inn. I think it was more real to them then. Seeing and getting to know Alina, though, softened them and humanized them more, I think. They saw what it could be, even if they didn’t understand it as a purpose to life. They slowly came around. Still, my girl and I are as strong and bonded as ever, and hopefully even more so after today.
I’m smiling wide as I finally make it to the shop, looking at the sign, “Sirens Hideaway”, and shake my head. Those ladies. Pulling the door, I hear the bell above it jingle, announcing my presence. Alina is at the front counter marking prices on some china set and smiling up at me when I catch her eye. This is my life, I'm living my dream, my forever. There's just one thing left to do.
“Hey, Frankie!” I yell into the store, not taking my eyes off my girl.
“Yeah?” she questions from somewhere in the back.
“I'm stealing my girl for the rest of the day. You good?”
“Good as gold! Do everything I would do!” she yells, laughing loudly. Alina is looking at me in confusion, but I interrupt her before she can open her mouth.
“I have a surprise and only one rule. You have to say yes,” I say and wait. She gives me a slow, sassy smile, always making me sweat. Fuck, I love this girl.
“I guess yes has been working alright all these years, so what the hell,” she says, bouncing out from behind the counter and heading my way. I only take the time to place a soft kiss on her lips. I'm way too excited to delay this any further. I drag her out of the store and down the boardwalk. I know I should slow my steps, but I just can't; the anticipation is killing me.
“Well, this seems familiar,” she chuckles from behind me.
“Oh, you have no idea,” I say as I pay for our fair tickets, then immediately make our way back to, you guessed it, the Ferris wheel. Smiling up at the ride, it's stupid to think this is the place that has given me the best, most magical moments of my life. As we wait in line, I notice Alina giving me a questioning but sneaky smile. I hope she isn't on to me.
“So you aren't gonna even ask what's going on?” I ask. I think this surprise is killing me more than her.
“You said today was about yes, so… I'm saying yes to following you wherever you lead. Plus, I want to see where this is leading.”
This is why I love her. She's no longer hiding behind fear. She lives every single day as if it's our last, and she's blossomed so much over the years. I never thought all those years ago I could ever love her more, but each and every day she proves me wrong.
As we get to the front of the line, I secretly bribe the operator for a few extra minutes at the top, just like all those years ago. She's turned around, taking her seat just like the last time, and I can't stop the smile that covers my face. I knew back then that we’d be here one day, but I could never imagine this sweet, shy wallflower's impact on my life.
She changed me for good. She took my cold and empty future and gave me all of her. As we get to the top and stop, I know it's time. She’s giving me her future and her heart. It's time to give her my last name, and I'm more ready than I will ever be. This would have been done three years ago if it was up to me, but I wanted her to live. I wanted her to feel free before she felt locked down. It killed me to wait for her, but I would wait forever. Hopefully, though… I won't have to. I turn to her and open my mouth. I blurt it out at the same time she turns and gives me some news of her own.
“Marry me.”
“I'm pregnant.”
And just like that, my world is complete. With two words. We both have tears in our eyes as she looks at me.
“You're pregnant?” I ask softly, hopefully.
“Yes… to both. You changed my life so much for the better,” she whispers back, and I let out a huge hoot and holler of my own before screaming.
“I'M GONNA BE A DAD!!!” To the cheers below, I smile. To her, I simply whisper in her ear, “I might have changed your life, but you’ve given me the whole world.”
The End