Epilogue
T he week after Jax’s wedding, Fox and Melody finally arrived at their Boston home.
“Did your car arrive?”
Fox had his beloved Mustang transported back from Wyoming to Boston because they’d wanted to fly home.
“It’s in the garage downstairs.”
“Do you think the movers delivered everything yesterday?”
“I know they did. Mandy checked all the boxes and unpacked for you.” He’d hired Mandy through the Boston New Adult Education Center to be their part-time personal assistant. As soon as Dean and Max found out about her role, they wanted her help, too, so from one day to the next, she now worked full-time for the three of them.
“It feels weird to have someone who does stuff for us.”
“You’ll get used to it. I bet you’ll even love it when you’re neck-deep in opening the restaurant and you have no time to even think about making a meal, let alone going grocery shopping.” He kept his arm around her shoulders, then surprised her by dipping low, putting his other arm behind her legs, and lifting her up into his arms. “Now. Today’s our first day living together here, so I’m doing this right and carrying you over the threshold.”
She giggled. “I think you’re supposed to do that after we get married.”
“That’s next month. Right now, I just want to do this thing right.” He pushed open the door and carried her inside as she gasped and everyone waiting for them shouted, “Welcome home!”
Melody stared at their entire family seated around the huge, long table by the windows across the room. Enough seating for everyone they loved. Her whole immediate family, including Jax’s wife, Layla, and Lyric’s husband, Mason. Dean and Max were there, representing Fox’s family, with enough empty space that they could add a few more to the crowd.
Down the center of the table were three flower arrangements filled with colorful blooms in dark pinks, reds, and white. And all over the apartment were dozens of plants. Exactly what Melody had described when he showed her the apartment the first time they came there together.
“Fox. I can’t believe you did this. How? Why? What?” She hugged him close, tears in her eyes, because she’d thought she’d said goodbye to everyone yesterday, but he’d flown them all here last night to surprise her.
He walked toward the table and their family and set her on her feet as everyone watched them.
And then he took her hand and went down on one knee.
“How?” he repeated what she’d asked. “I just asked them to be with us on this special day and they all said yes. Why? Because I wanted you to see from day one that this is our home, that there’s a place here for everyone we love. As for what? The proposal I promised.”
She gasped when he pulled out the ring and touched her fingers to his lips. A tear slipped down her cheek, but she was smiling.
“You’ve been my best friend since we were kids. You looked out for me. You protected me. You loved me even then. And I needed you. Your light. Your love. Your compassion. Your understanding. You made me laugh and smile and see the good in a world that seemed so brutal and dark. You gave me hope.” He kissed her knuckles, then looked up at her. “You saved my life. And now you are my life. I love you. More than words can say. I am so lucky to have a friend and lover, a partner I trust and want to do everything with, by my side. There is nothing in this world that I want more than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
She was already nodding about halfway through his speech. “Yes.”
He slid the ring on her finger, kissed her knuckle below the stunning rock, then scooped her into his arms, lifted her off her feet, and kissed her with all the love and passion he felt for her.
The cheers were loud and filled with joy, punctuated by a champagne cork popping.
And a month later when they were all together again on a rooftop garden decked out in twinkling lights and more flowers than he’d ever seen in one place thanks to their amazing florist, it seemed like yesterday they’d celebrated the proposal with their loved ones when his bride walked down the aisle, took his hand, and they promised to love each other forever.
He gave her the stars. She gave him everything he’d ever wished for and thought was beyond the moon.