Epilogue
ELLIE
NEW YEAR’S EVE
“Thank you, everyone, for coming to celebrate with us,” Rowan announces to the crowd in the cavernous room.
I look up at him and admire his beauty. He’s wearing a sleek, black suit. His jacket isn’t buttoned, along with the first two buttons of his crisp white shirt. His hair is pushed back, with a small strand falling above his brow.
My lips want to feel his clean-shaven jaw that the Greek Gods blessed him with. Even though I woke up with him between my legs this morning, I want to take him back home and tangle up together in bed.
“I chose to have our New Year's party here because this is the space that will soon be Honey Cakes,” he says.
The room around us gasps. My mom and dad are struck with awe. Addie jumps up and down in excitement.
“Wait, this is going to be your bakery?” August asks, looking around with his hands in his pockets.
“Yes, Clark Kent,” Riley drawls.
“You think that’s an insult, but Superman is a very handsome man.” August pushes his glasses up his nose with a finger.
“Riley will be helping when she isn’t working at the yoga studio. Just with accounting. I’ll need to hire someone to help with other things, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes,” I say.
Riley takes a large gulp of her wine. “And I’m going to rock the shit out of it.”
“How exciting!” Rowan’s mom exclaims.
I look over to my mom, who’s brushing a tear off her cheek. “Mom, please don’t cry.”
She fans herself with her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy. You’ve been so happy since you decided to move back home. Now this.”
My dad wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in.
“Alright, we have two minutes until the clock strikes twelve,” Rowan shouts to everyone.
There’s music playing in the background, and everyone gets their drinks refilled, making sure they find their loved ones to share a kiss with. At least the ones who are with someone. Which isn’t many.
I look over at Riley, who’s not in the greatest mood, considering she ended things with the guy she met at the bar. Turns out, he’s a huge scumbag who was seeing three other women. It was entertaining to watch Riley chew him up and spit him out. She knew it was casual but didn’t like being lied to when she asked about it the first time.
“Okay, here we go!” Addie shouts.
We all start to count down from ten. I’m wrapped in Rowan’s arms, and we gaze at each other. He places his thumb on my cheek and gently strokes it. We look around to everyone when we get down to three.
“Happy New Year!” everyone shouts.
Rowan kisses me long and passionately. Then I turn to give everyone else a hug, wishing them a happy new year. The rest of the year was amazing. I was lucky to get a loan to buy a storefront in the heart of town.
Riley and I already started mapping out what the shop will look like. We’re sticking with the vision I had. The powder blue walls, the Victorian style paintings with the golden frames. A long, beautiful off-white couch that will pair with a bistro table and chair across from it.
Rowan has gotten better with letting other people handle things with the brewery. He’s learned to let go of some of that control. Only a little. Addie still nags him about it, and James rolls his eyes at every disagreement Rowan and Addie have because he’s stuck in the middle.
Riley grabs my hands, and her mouth curves into a smile. “I’m so excited for you to start the next chapter of your life.”
“Aw, thanks, Ry. It’s a new chapter of our lives. The new chapter of Honey Cakes Bakery.” I look around the space behind Riley.
“Yeah, and you’ll be able to call yourself Mrs. Williams too.” She wears a smirk.
I let out a dreamy sigh. “Someday, yes.”
She laughs and peers over my shoulder, and I slowly turn around. My heart starts picking up. If I'm about to see Rowan kneeling, I’m going to lose my mind . My eyes land on him, and he is, in fact, down on one knee. His piercing smile shows those amazing dimples of his as he looks up at me. A small, forest-green velvet box is displayed openly in his hand.
“Ellie, the love of my life. The day you came over with a cake you made for me to cheer me up, I was whisked away.” He pauses and I see his shoulders bounce while he lets out a laugh. Of course, he adds a pun while proposing to me. “I let you go once, and now I have you back in my life. I’m never going to make that mistake again. Ellie, will you–”
“Yes,” I shout quickly.
His shoulders shake again from laughter. “You didn’t even let me ask you?—”
“Yes. Yes, yes, yes.” I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I pull back and hold his face in my hands. “Yes, yes, yes.” I kiss him between each yes, over and over.
“You didn’t even see the ring.” He kisses me back.
“I’ll take a ring pop and be happy. I don’t care.”
Everyone around us claps and hollers in excitement. I hear his dad in the background whoop, my mom crying more, but all I see is my future husband in front of me. My best friend. He places the small box in my vision, and I look at the ring.
“Holy shit,” I exclaim, taking the box. Inside sits a pear-shaped diamond that’s placed beautifully on a rose gold band with smaller diamonds spaced out around the band.
“You like it?” He looks up at me with a smile.
My mouth gapes when my eyes are on the sparkle of the diamond, and I look back at him. “Is this… the ring?”
“It is. With a few upgrades.” He takes it out of the box and slides it onto my finger, and it fits perfectly.
Now I’m the one that starts crying. I wipe away the tears quickly, so I don’t mess up my makeup that I spent a long time doing. And I hate putting on makeup.
“Look at you. My Fiancé,” Rowan whispers in my ear and kisses my neck. “Let’s get out of here. Celebrate the way we like.” He wiggles his brows.
Goosebumps rise along my arms. He’s still kneeling on the floor while everyone around us continues to enjoy the party. Me sitting on his bent knee.
I wink at him. “First one to the bedroom gets to call the shots.”
He smiles. “You’re on.”