Epilogue #2
As if reading my mind, Grandad gives me a sad smile.
“He is, too. He just shows it in his own way.”
I nod, my thoughts drifting to the generous cheque he handed me the other night.
Dad has joined us for dinner most nights, but he never pushed for anything more from me.
He’s been quieter, more reserved, like he’s scared of saying the wrong thing and losing me again.
It’s a stark contrast to the dictator I grew up with.
But he asked questions about our plans for the drop-in centre, and he actually listened to what we had to say. There was no ulterior motive behind it.
Watching my dad try to accept Zac in my life won’t fix what happened, but it helps to heal the fractured relationship we have. Seeing the way Zac met Dad’s efforts with patience and kindness only makes me fall in love with him even more.
Grandad’s right, though. In his own way, Carl Bentley’s trying to show he’s changing, and that’s enough for now.
We fly out to Sydney on the morning of New Year’s Eve.
Dane, Jasper, and Kate fly in from Beckford, and meet us at the airport.
Ritter and his girlfriend, Rose, pick us up and drive us out to Hannah and Tom’s impressive property in Bellevue Heights.
Tom and Ritter work at the same architecture firm, and Hannah did some marketing work for them straight after graduation.
What started as a short-term contract turned into something bigger for her—now she’s carved out a solid career for herself in property and lifestyle marketing, with a reputable client list.
We catch up with them a couple of times a year, and we have plans to go to Hawaii in March for Hannah’s birthday. It’s funny to think that what started as a half-baked idea to fake date turned into one of the most important relationships in my life.
Hannah was the one who gave me the courage to be myself, and she was the first person who accepted me without hesitation.
Her selflessness during one of the toughest times of my life allowed me to explore my feelings for Zac.
If it hadn’t been for her coming into my life at that specific point in time, I don’t know if I would have ever made it out of the shadows.
Her smile is contagious as she flies into my arms. “I’m so excited,” she whispers.
“Shh,” I warn, squeezing her waist.
She’s the only person outside of Zac’s family and my grandad who knows about my plans for tonight. Isabelle cried when I sat her and Adam down to ask them permission.
“Does he have any idea?”
“He will if you keep giving him a reason to be suspicious.” I kiss her cheek and set her feet on the ground.
“What are you two scheming?” Tom asks, sliding one hand around her waist while shaking my hand with the other.
“Nothing,” she says innocently, beaming at him.
He shakes his head with a laugh. “Uh-huh. Sure.”
“I’ve learnt it’s best not to ask questions when these two are together,” Zac says, coming up behind me and kissing my cheek.
We have lunch by the pool, catching up, and more of their friends arrive throughout the afternoon.
Theo and his partner show up after dinner, and it’s good to see how settled he is after spending the last two years working for the army.
I guess the structured lifestyle really works for him.
We were never that close when we were teammates, unless you count me seeing his naked arse while he fucked someone on my bed—no, I still haven’t forgiven or forgotten that—but Zac’s known him since they were kids, and it’s fun to catch up and shoot the shit about the good old days.
The vibe is casual and relaxed, but as the time ticks down to midnight, I become anything but.
“Are you okay?” Zac asks, finding me on the upstairs balcony, looking out at the view of the harbour. “You’ve been quiet all night.”
“Just taking a breather,” I say, relaxing into his embrace.
His arms come around to rest on the railing in front of me, and he rests his chin on my shoulder, kissing the side of my jaw. “Okay.”
I love that he doesn’t press. He accepts my moods, knowing his presence is enough to calm me, and I’ll open up to him if I need to.
My favourite moments with him are moments like this: quiet and peaceful, where we’re just content in one another’s company.
I keep waiting for that honeymoon period to wear off, for us to get sick of spending all our time together, but I’d happily stand and watch paint dry if it meant I was with him.
“You don’t have to stay up here with me,” I murmur. “I’ll be down soon.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I twist in his arms, my heart fluttering when I see the truth in his eyes. My tongue swipes over my bottom lip, and he leans in to kiss me. It’s soft and sweet, and when he pulls back, I know I’m not waiting until midnight to make this perfect man mine forever.
“Zac, I—” Emotion clogs my throat, and I work to clear it, but it takes me a moment to compose myself. “Fuck, this was not how this was supposed to go.”
His brow furrows. “How what was supposed to go?”
Releasing a breath, I try to gather my thoughts. “When I moved to Beckford, I was a shadow—”
“My shadow,” he says with a smirk, moving in to kiss me, but I place my hand on his chest, shooting him a look.
“I have a speech prepared.”
He chuckles, waving for me to continue.
“My feelings for you terrified me from the moment I met you because I didn’t think I could ever have this.
I never told you, but I went to Euphoria twice before the first time you and I hooked up.
” He frowns, and I rush to explain. “I wasn’t with anyone else, and I think it’s because I was waiting for you. ”
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the small box.
“Noah…” he whispers in a husky voice as I open the box with shaking hands to reveal the simple platinum band I had made for him. My favourite part is the engraving of our initials and the date we first hooked up at Euphoria.
“You’re the light in my darkness, Zac. I love you so fucking much.
You pulled me out of a really bad place where I was hurting myself because I couldn’t accept my feelings were normal.
You made me realise I could have what I want, and what I want is you.
I want you forever. Will you be mine? Will you marry me? ”
He blinks, tears glistening in those beautiful blue eyes that make my pulse race.
“This is where you say something,” I mumble, my cheeks heating when he just stares at the ring. “You don’t have to wear it. I wasn’t sure what—”
“Yes,” he blurts. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Noah. I love you. I want to be yours. Forever.”
“Yes?” I repeat dumbly, my pulse thundering in my ears.
“Yes. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.”
His lips crash down on mine, and everything fades into the background. It’s just me and him. Zac Kincaid. My fiancé.
A quiet peace washes over me as I claim my man forever.
When we pull apart, both of us breathing heavily, we stare at each other, neither of us sure what the next move is. Zac glances down at the ring before pulling it out.
“Is it okay?” I ask, unsure of myself all of a sudden.
He slides it onto his finger with shaking hands, then holds it out. “It’s perfect. You chose it for me.”
I bite my lip, giving him a sheepish look. “Milly helped. You have no idea how overwhelming it was. There were so many fucking options it made my head spin. I almost had a panic attack just setting foot in the jewellery store.”
He snorts a laugh. “I wish I could’ve seen that. Wait…” His steel-blue eyes meet mine. “Milly actually kept this a secret from me? How long has she known?”
My lips tug into a smirk. “Three months.”
“Holy shit, that’s impressive.” His laugh is incredulous. “My sister is the worst at keeping secrets.”
I lift his hand to my lips and kiss his knuckles. “We should call your family. They’ll be waiting.”
He arches a brow. “Mum and Dad know, too?”
“They were the first,” I say with a nod. “I asked for their permission.”
Zac cups my cheek. “How did I get so lucky?”
Warmth blooms through my chest, and I close the distance between us, kissing him again.
“I’m the lucky one,” I murmur against his lips. “You said yes.”
He grins and slips his phone from his pocket, pulling up his mum’s contact and pressing the FaceTime icon.
The call connects, and Isabelle’s already crying before Zac even gets the words out.
Adam offers their congratulations for her, and Milly squeals when Zac holds up his hand to show off the ring.
He passes the phone to me to hold so he can sign, “You did good, Milly. I can’t believe you kept the secret.”
She smirks. “Noah promised me a spot in the wedding party if I kept the secret.”
I wink, and Zac shoots me an amused smile.
When we hang up, the look on his face is so open and unguarded it makes my chest ache. He’s the most important person in my life, and I want to protect this happiness for him, whatever it takes. He’s going to know how much he means to me.
Entwining my fingers with his, I kiss his jaw. “We should go downstairs. Hannah will be dying to know if I asked you.”
“So, this is what you two were conspiring about earlier?”
“She would’ve murdered me if she wasn’t a part of this.”
He snorts. “Another wedding party member?”
I nuzzle into his neck, breathing him in. “Obviously.”
His laughter fills the room, and he shakes his head. “Do I get any say in this wedding?”
“You just have to show up and look ridiculously hot in a suit.”
“Good to know.” He squeezes my hand, but his expression shifts. It’s subtle, but I know him too well.
“What?” I ask warily, wondering if all this wedding talk is too much, too soon. I don’t want to scare him off by being too intense.
He hesitates before asking, “Do you want to call your dad before we go downstairs?”
My chest tightens. While I had no hesitation in going to Adam to ask for permission to marry his son, my relationship with my dad is still too raw to share this moment with him. I couldn’t bear it if he was disappointed in me.
I shake my head. “We’ll call him tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Let’s go celebrate with our friends.”
I push all thoughts of my father out of my head and focus on Zac, sharing our news with friends who’ve supported our relationship since the beginning.
Three years ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be ringing in the new year with my ex-fake-girlfriend and my incredibly kind, patient, and loving fiancé. Marrying the man I love wasn’t something I let myself dream about.
There was a lot of pain and heartache getting to this moment, and I won’t take any of it for granted. I’ll make sure Zac knows every day just how important he is to me, and with our work with LGBTQ+ teens, I’ll make sure they know they have futures worth fighting for.
As the countdown to midnight starts, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I’m surrounded by my chosen family and the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. For once in my life, everything is perfect.
Zac brushes my hair off my face as people shout the seconds down. “Here’s to forever, Shadow.”
I kiss him at midnight, no longer scared of what’s to come. “Forever sounds perfect with you, Romeo.”