26. Austin
CHAPTER 26
Austin
T he moment the train platform comes into view, my heart picks up its pace, thudding harder with every passing second. It's the kind of nervous energy that twists in your stomach, and I can’t help but smile at how familiar the sensation is. It’s the same feeling I always get when I’m going to see Taylor.
The screeching sound of the train’s metal wheels grinding against the rails fills the air, immediately sending me back in time. Five years ago, I was standing on this same platform and watching the same train approach, but my life was in a very different place back then.
Everything had been a whirlwind, spiraling out of control with no clear direction other than a dream of starting my own firm, and then there she was—Taylor. A perfect stranger who walked into my life with sharp wit, a warm smile, and a presence that made me reconsider everything I thought I knew.
I can still picture the moment so vividly, as if no time has passed. The way the world seemed to slow down when I saw her, as if the universe wanted me to take note. And I did. I had no idea then, but that brief encounter would change the entire course of my life. I glance down at my pocket now, where the small velvet box sits, the ring inside like a weight pulling at my every thought. My fingers curl around it instinctively, and I take a deep breath.
It's time.
The train arrives with that familiar whoosh, the doors sliding open and inviting me inside. But I wait until I hear the familiar chime followed by the announcement, the one I almost missed all those years ago.
“Doors closing.”
The sound echoes in my ears as I step forward, my mind racing with the memory of how it all began. I jump inside, just missing being caught by the doors.
I scan the train car and see her—Taylor—standing in the exact same spot where we met five years ago. She hasn’t noticed me yet. Her head is tilted down as she scrolls through her phone, headphones in place, completely unaware that I’m here. My throat tightens, and for a second, I hesitate, just taking in this moment. I walk toward her, each step heavy with anticipation.
“Austin?” she says softly, her voice a mixture of confusion and warmth. “What are you doing here?”
I let out a small chuckle, leaning forward and extending my hand toward her. “Felt like taking a ride down memory lane. Care to join me?”
She smiles, and I can still see a touch of confusion on her face as she slips her hand into mine and stands beside me. The train hums beneath us, the rhythm so similar to the first day we met. I can’t help but feel the gravity of the moment pulling us closer to that shared history.
Five years ago, I stood next to Taylor on this very train, my arm brushing hers as the car swayed with the motion. She was looking out the window at the city passing by in a blur, and I remember thinking how beautiful she looked, even though she was completely focused on something else. Today, it’s different. Today, I can’t take my eyes off her. The sunlight streaming through the window catches the soft curls of her hair, framing her face in a way that makes her look like something out of a dream.
“Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?” she says, turning toward me with that smile—the one that has the power to send a rush of warmth straight through me. The kind of smile that can light up even the darkest day. My heart thuds so hard in my chest that I’m confident she can hear it.
I nod, returning her smile. “Yeah, it does. I still can't believe you talked to me. You looked so…focused.”
Taylor lets out a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Focused on whether or not I was making a huge mistake, probably.”
I raise an eyebrow, grinning. “You were sure I was about to pitch you a scam, weren’t you?”
She tilts her head playfully, bumping me lightly with her shoulder. “Or murder me. What kind of guy just starts chatting up a single woman on an empty train?”
“This guy,” I say with a grin, pointing at myself.
She narrows her eyes at me, her lips twitching in amusement. “Mmm, I was thinking more along the lines of a sociopath.”
The teasing lilt in her voice brings me right back to that first conversation, where we exchanged witty barbs and jokes, the tension between us building in a way I didn’t fully understand at the time. But it’s still there now, the same spark. I look at her, and my heart hammers against my ribs with the realization of how far we’ve come. Taylor isn’t just the woman I fell for that day. She’s my partner and my confidante, and together, we’ve built something extraordinary. Not just our business, though that’s part of it, but this—us.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that day,” I say quietly, my voice steady as I hold back a tear. “About how I was this mess of a guy—someone who had no idea what was about to happen when I stood next to you.”
Taylor tilts her head slightly, her brows drawing together as she listens. I smile, feeling the nostalgia wash over me.
“I remember you were scrolling through your phone,” I continue, trying to suppress a grin. “You were watching videos of…what was it? A cooking tutorial? Or shirtless guys dancing?”
She bursts out laughing, her blue eyes lighting up with the memory. “Neither! It was an adorable little kitten with its mom or something.”
I shrug, unable to hide my amusement. “You were charming even then, though.”
Taylor raises an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Charming? I thought I came across as a little standoffish.”
“Not to me,” I reply, glancing out the window as the city rushes by, just like it did on that first day. “To me, everything changed the moment I spoke to you. It sounds crazy, but I just knew. I didn’t want to admit it back then, but deep down, I knew my life was never going to be the same. And it hasn’t been.”
Her expression softens, and she leans in a little, her curiosity piqued. I can tell she’s wondering where I’m going with this, but she doesn’t interrupt. My hand slips into my pocket again, and my fingers brush against the small velvet box as I pull it out and feel the weight of what I’m about to do. When I place it on the seat between us, Taylor’s eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat.
“Austin,” she whispers, her voice trembling.
I take a deep breath, my heart still pounding so hard that I’m sure she can hear it. “I don’t want to imagine my life without you,” I begin, the words catching in my throat. “Taylor, you are my everything. We met here, on this train, when both of us were at a crossroads. And now…I’m standing at another one.”
I flip the box open, revealing the ring inside—a simple yet elegant piece that I chose because it reminded me of her. Taylor’s hands fly to her mouth, and I can see the tears welling up in her eyes as she stares at the ring in disbelief. I slowly sink down to one knee.
“Taylor,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Will you marry me?”
For a moment, everything feels suspended in time. The train’s steady hum fades into the background, and all I can hear is the sound of my own breath, waiting—hoping—for her response. My mind is racing with every possible outcome, but all I can focus on is her and the look in her eyes.
And then, she nods, slowly at first, but then more emphatically after, a soft sob escaping her lips as she steps closer and pulls me up from my seat and into her arms. “Yes,” she whispers into my ear, her voice shaking with emotion. “Yes, of course.”
Relief washes over me so intensely that my knees almost buckle as I stand back up, but I manage to keep it together long enough to slide the ring onto her finger. My hands tremble as I do, the weight of the moment hitting me all at once. When I finally look up, Taylor is smiling through her tears, her eyes shining with a happiness I never knew I could bring to someone else. It’s overwhelming, this sense of completeness.
The train rattles on beneath us, but at this moment, everything else feels still—like the world has paused just for us. Nothing else matters. I lean in and kiss her softly, tasting the salt of her tears on my lips. Then, I whisper against her skin, “I love you.”
Taylor smiles, her forehead resting against mine as she breathes out the words I’ve come to cherish more than anything. “I love you too.”
Five years ago, I couldn’t have imagined where this journey would lead, but now, standing here on this train with Taylor in my arms, I know one thing for certain: I’d risk it all for her.