Epilogue
Tristan
One Year Later
I finish my scotch and check my watch, seeing I’ve been waiting at the restaurant for twenty minutes.
The bartender is lingering nearby, and I know he’s going to come over soon to offer me another drink.
It’s a tempting thought because I feel unusually nervous.
But I want to have a completely clear head when Kaylee arrives. It’s more important tonight than ever.
I glance at my phone, checking one of Midnight’s social media pages. Tonight, Lucas is running things while a very popular local band plays at the club for the first time. According to the social media posts and tags, it’s going well.
Satisfied, I tuck my phone in my pocket just as familiar blonde hair catches my eye.
Kaylee’s arrived. Her gaze meets mine and she glances down, feeling guilty for being late. No matter how many times I tell her I expect it, she feels bad. She passes the hostess stand, then walks over to the bar where I’m waiting for our table to be ready.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” she says, obviously flustered.
She wasn’t lying when she told me she’s often late for things. After a year together, I’ve come to realize it’s especially bad when she’s busy with work. Her beautiful, creative mind gets so wrapped up in whatever she’s doing that time fades away for her.
She’s in the middle of planning a large party for a corporation that’s used her company before, so she’s got plenty on her to-do list.
“I didn’t mean to be late.”
I laugh as I rise and press a kiss to her cheek. I’d normally pull her in closer for a proper kiss hello, but I’m worried that if her body is pressed against mine, she’ll feel the little box in my pocket and tonight’s surprise will be ruined.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I expect it by now.”
Kaylee gasps and slaps my arm, and I just grin at her.
She knows I don’t mean anything by my comment.
Some people might be bothered by her running late, but I find it charming.
She’s not intentionally thoughtless. She’s just a little scatterbrained sometimes.
A year ago, she told me Mark called her a daydreamer like it’s a bad thing.
I don’t see it that way. Yes, she gets carried away sometimes when her mind latches onto a creative idea, but that’s what I’m here for.
I keep her grounded and take care of her in any way she needs me to.
And at work, she has Alissa, her assistant to keep her on point.
“We didn’t lose our reservation, did we?” she asks, looking more guilty than before.
“No. I told you to be here a half hour before the time of the reservation.”
Her mouth opens wide. “So, I’m actually ten minutes early?”
I laugh again. “Sure, baby. Think of it that way if you’d like. We both know you’re late.”
Kaylee playfully pouts, poking out her full bottom lip, and I can’t resist leaning forward to kiss it.
Her blue eyes grow darker as her cheeks flush. The sexual chemistry between the two of us is just as potent as ever, and I look forward to getting her home later to fulfill the unspoken promise that’s thick in the air.
“Hayes, party of two,” the hostess calls out, and we step apart.
We live together in an apartment we picked out four months ago, so there will be plenty of time to ravage each other later tonight. And I hope we’ll have something to celebrate.
That thought brings the jitters back to the surface.
We’re seated at a table near a window with a view of Miami’s skyline. The sun has long set, so everything is lit up and alive. It’s an amazing view and the main reason I picked this restaurant.
“Look, I can see Midnight from here,” Kaylee says, and I nod, too busy thinking about what’s coming up at the end of the meal to be much of a conversationalist.
Of course, Kaylee knows me too well not to notice something’s bothering me. She tilts her head to the side as she studies me with sharp eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
My mouth is suddenly very dry, so I take a sip of the water already on the table for us.
“I don’t know,” Kaylee says, still watching me. “Do you feel okay?”
I make an impulsive decision, just like I did the night I offered to be Kaylee’s fake date for Ashley and Eric’s wedding. That worked out pretty well, so I’m going with my gut.
“You know what … I was going to wait until the end of dinner for this, but I just decided I can’t wait.”
I reach across the table and take her left hand.
As I look into her eyes, the restaurant fades into the background.
“Kaylee, over the past year, I’ve gotten to know you better than I know anyone, and you were right when you told me you have flaws.
” Her eyes widen, and I can’t help smiling as I continue.
“You never remember to fold the clothes in the dryer. You always kick off your shoes in the middle of the living room. And, as you demonstrated tonight, you’re always late. ”
She’s glaring at me now, but there’s no heat behind it. “Well, you yell at the TV as if football players can actually hear you.”
I chuckle. God, I love her.
“The point is, I don’t just accept all of that about you, I love all of your quirks.”
“Ooh, tell me more about these quirks,” she says.
My cheeks ache from smiling. This wasn’t meant to be a back-and-forth conversation, but I don’t care. I’ll talk to her all night about how great she is as long as she says yes to my question in the end.
“You make the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. And you wrinkle your nose when you read. Your smile brightens my entire life, and I want to spend the rest of that life with you.” At this point, I slide out of my chair and onto one knee, still holding her left hand in mine.
I pull the ring box out of my pocket. “Kaylee Martin, for all the reasons I just listed and about a million more, will you marry me?”
Tears shine in her eyes as I open the box, but she doesn’t even look at the princess-cut diamond ring. Her eyes are locked on to mine, shining love upon me as she says the only word I want to hear.
“Yes!”
I slide the ring onto her finger, rise to my feet, and pull her into my arms, just as the restaurant breaks out in applause.
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