Epilogue
Dalton
THE NASHVILLE SUN is beating down on me as I exit out of our newest office. The space triples as a recording studio, security office and PR Consulting firm, but considering the alternative of where we were three months ago, I feel blessed.
No sooner have my feet hit the last step, does a black suburban pull up to the curb and a redhead jumps from the passenger seat. Raleigh leaps into my arms for a welcoming kiss, and Mitch whistles from his spot behind the wheel.
Tipping her back, I lean in for one more stolen kiss before she can escape. “Ready to celebrate, are we?” I ask against her lips.
I feel her smile against me before she pulls away.
“I wouldn’t know what you mean,” she answers coyly while fanning her face.
Her fingers splay wide, showing off her newly ringed hand.
Just seeing it there is enough to pull her against me again.
We share another kiss there on the sidewalk before Mitch honks his horn.
“Listen, I love you two as much as the rest of the world, but let’s get this show on the road. I don’t want to miss any of the draft.” At his behest, I escort Raleigh to the car and open up the door for her. I squeeze in beside her, and Mitch pulls out into traffic, high tailing it toward downtown.
“I told Mae to tune in,” Raleigh says, pulling out her phone. “I doubt she will, it’s not really her sport.” Raleigh laughs before finding her message thread and reaching out. Mae has been on a short tour through Texas with Chris and Linda Mayfield, which has done wonders for her mental health.
The freedom for Mae to be able to travel with them has also freed up time for Raleigh and me to experience engagement life. To trust Mae and let her live without the shadow of what happened here in Nashville months ago has lifted a weight off of everybody’s shoulders.
“She’s in Texas,” Mitch retorts. “There’s no way it’s not on wherever she’s at tonight. Those two hometown golden boys are expected to be drafted early on.”
“Well, I don’t know anything about football,” Raleigh says, snuggling closer to my side.
“But I do know that I can’t wait to show off this ring.
” She holds it out in front of her again for the both of us to see.
I love seeing her embrace the elegance of it.
She’s never been one to act giddy or girly about these types of things, but ever since we moved in together and she began melding our styles into a home, she’s been nothing but a ball of excitement.
That new energy within her only escalated when I proposed.
I hug her tightly, and nervous feelings take me back to that night in our apartment overlooking the city. It was a simple proposal, but I knew it was what she wanted. A quiet and intimate moment with no eyes on us and no expectations except our own.
We both know that those moments are about to be few and far between when Mae returns.
Her album on her new label is about to be released and nothing will ever be the same.
Taking a deep breath, I rest my cheek on the top of her head and breathe in the moment, who knows when the next opportunity for a breath will be?