Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER
Hearing the front door to our apartment open, I see Grayson walk through with his suitcase and a duffel bag. “Honey, I’m home.”
He’s wearing a white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. His hair is a mess.
I run over to him and jump into his arms. He picks me up, securing me with both of his hands.
“I missed you so much,” I say. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come to pick you up at the airport. Work has me swamped.”
“I missed you way more, and don’t worry about it.”
Grayson got drafted into the NBA during our senior year of college.
He brought me as his date to the draft dinner, and I remember he cried because he finally achieved his childhood dream of becoming a professional basketball player.
He plays for the Florida Sharks and has been on the road, playing a mix of games out of state and at home.
After three months of dating, we moved into our own apartment together near campus.
After we graduated college, we moved into an apartment on the edge of Sunset Cove.
His mom still lives here, so he didn’t feel comfortable moving far away from her. She lives in her own place in town close to Laura and Celia that he bought for her, like he said he would a couple years ago with some of the money he got from his NBA contract with the Sharks.
As for me, I got promoted to manager of Sweet & Salty last year. Laura was impressed by my drive and work ethic.
My PR company, Love & Violets, blossomed into something I didn’t expect. I have over fifty clients now. I offer social media management, content creation, and ARC management, among other services to my clients.
The roster continues to grow, and I decided I can’t be a one-woman show anymore. I added Sage as my web designer and Willow as my book cover designer to the team last year. Once I’m able to afford a PA, I will be hiring one as soon as I can because I need to be able to take a breath.
Since my business has taken up most of my time, I work part-time now at the bookstore because it was extremely challenging to juggle both jobs.
Grayson cups my cheek with the palm of his hand, bringing me back to reality and pulling me in for a kiss that leaves me speechless.
“Oh, are we still going to Sweet & Salty? I know you talked about that book you’ve been wanting to buy.”
“I’d like to, but I know how tired you must be from flying and being in airports most of the day. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
He nods. “Oh, yeah. Hey, do you mind wearing that pink floral dress I love?”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask questions. It’s a surprise.”
“Okay, I’ll wear the dress.”
Why does he want me to wear that dress specifically? I have so many other dresses I could wear. Honestly, I would’ve preferred to wear a comfier outfit, but it’s okay. This dress is semi-comfortable.
Once I’m all dressed and ready to go, I notice how Grayson is all dressed up, too.
“You do realize we’re just going to the bookstore, right?” I run my hands all over his white button-up shirt.
“What if I want to take my beautiful girlfriend for dinner afterwards?” He kisses my forehead.
“Your beautiful girlfriend can’t say no to that.”
“Are you ready, Angel?” A small smile appears on his clean-shaven face.
“Yes, sir.”
“You know our rule.”
“Don’t call you sir in public, only in private. And we are in private.”
“I know, but I wanted to see if you remembered the rule.”
We pull up into one of the parking spaces in front of Sweet & Salty. It’s oddly quiet for a Saturday night in January because it’s still considered season here.
“Hey, I’ll meet you inside. I got to get something out of the back,” he says.
“Okay.” I step down out of the truck and close the door, slowly making my way over the front door of the store.
When I open it, there’s a line of candles and violets that stretch all the way to the checkout counter.
Am I hallucinating, or does that sign say what I think it does?
There’s a brown paper banner strung up onto the checkout counter with a question painted on it.
Will You Marry Me?
The words are bold and clear in white with violets and pink bows randomly placed.
I hear the bell ding, which means someone came through the entrance. Turning around, I lower my head and see Grayson on one knee with a velvet ring box in his hand.
What is going on?
“Are you about to do what I think you’re about to do?”
He reaches for my hand, holding onto it for dear life. “Do you remember when we told everybody we were dating again and my mom thought I was proposing to you?”
I giggle, struggling to keep myself intact. “Yeah.”
“I knew in the back of my head that this day would come eventually, and now it’s finally here.
” His eyes take in every feature on my face.
“We met each other when we were kids, and I fell for you so hard when we entered our adolescent years. We had what felt like a whirlwind romance, and it was ultimately cut short. Somehow, I knew we’d make our way back into each other’s lives.
” He clears his throat and continues. “You are one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.
You’re kind, wickedly smart, and incredibly driven.
You have the greatest capacity for love.
You care so much about people. You’ve always been there for me, and I always want to be there for you.
” He opens the box, revealing a teardrop-shaped half-carat diamond with four prongs in a sheer pink color.
“Violet Rose Prescott, will you marry me?”
The tears are flowing steadily out of my eyes, and I smile at him. “Y-yes.”
He gets up off the floor and pulls me into a warm embrace.
I’m home.
My hands are shaking, my heart is beating incredibly loud, and I can’t breathe through my nose.
He does something on his phone, and the store is bombarded with surprise appearances from family and friends.
I look around at everybody who came to support us, my tears blurring my vision.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Dani says as she hugs me.
Noah does his signature handshake with Grayson. “I knew you could do it, man.”
“Congrats, bro.” Xander puts his hand on the top of Grayson’s shoulder.
Laura comes over to both of us to give us a group hug. “I couldn’t be more excited to see what else life has in store for you two.”
I smile. “Thank you, Laur.”
My walls are broken down completely when Dana comes over to us. “I want you both to promise me something.”
“Anything, Mom.” Grayson wraps his arm around her.
“Never stop loving each other, taking care of each other, and making each other happy. This is the kind of love I’ve always wanted for my son, and I’m so happy he’s spending the rest of his life with you.”
“I’m going to have the coolest mother-in-law.”
All three of us laugh in unison.
“You’re damn right, you are.” She walks away from us, leaving me overwhelmed by all the emotions I’m feeling.
“We have dinner reservations at The Wave. My mom and Laura were in charge of that, so we’re going to meet everybody there. How does that sound?” He searches my face, noticing I’m not okay. “Violet, talk to me.”
“Did that just happen?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, you’re my fiancée now, but I’m more excited to call you my wife soon.” He kisses me softly, like a flower blooming after maturing in the ground for so long.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” He walks over to the entrance to the store, holding my hand. “Let’s go celebrate.”
I look up at him. “Okay, Gray.”
When I was twelve years old, it was love at first sight for me with Grayson Becker.
If only that little girl knew how happy this handsome man with dark brunette hair and deep brown eyes was going to make her years down the line, she’d be ecstatic.
Despite everything we’ve been through, we finally got our happily ever after. There was a part of me that always knew he’d come back to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to call him mine for the rest of our lives.