Epilogue
AUDREY
It had been two years since Audrey had gone on her first date with Brianna at this exact skating rink, but Audrey had not yet gotten tired of the nervous flutters she had around Brianna. In fact, they were extra loud today as she tried to think of the special gift in her jacket pocket…
Brianna nearly crashed into her on the ice, pulling Audrey out of her reverie.
“Woah, watch it, gorgeous!” Audrey exclaimed as she tried to steady Brianna.
“Sorry, babe,” Brianna giggled. “I’m clearly out of practice.”
“That’s okay. I’ll help,” Audrey said with a smile.
She grabbed Brianna’s hand, and they calmly skated around the rink.
Brianna hummed along to the cheesy tune playing over the speaker while Audrey tried very hard not to ruin the surprise.
After a second lap, Audrey was growing impatient.
She wanted to just propose already so she could officially brag to everyone she knew that this gorgeous, smart woman was her fiancée, and soon, her wife.
God, wife.
Audrey giggled, which caused Brianna to smile wide.
Phew. Hopefully, it just seems like I’m enjoying the impromptu karaoke.
Which she was; it just wasn’t the only thing she was thinking about.
“Let’s take a break?” Audrey suggested as they skated closer to where they had left their purses and shoes.
“Sure. Do you want to go on a walk near the gazebo? I’ve heard it’s really pretty this time of year.”
“That sounds perfect.”
It was indeed perfect, for that was where Audrey had planned her proposal.
She had planned it with her friends to scope it out early and make sure the coast was clear and with the Winter Carnival happening, it was not suspicious at all that they had lost track of their friends earlier in the day in the crowd.
Audrey didn’t want any hidden cameras or folks waiting around to capture footage.
She wanted this moment to be just for them, but she wanted assurance they wouldn’t be interrupted before she could even work up the courage to ask.
The women removed their skates and grabbed their boots again.
Where Brianna had worn a brown skirt with some tights, Audrey was in her usual jeans and cute sweater and jacket combination.
Though she had thought it was ill-advised for Brianna to dress that way, she didn’t complain about it earlier, because she did always love Brianna in dresses.
There was something about a sexy librarian wearing a skirt or dress that did things to Audrey, and Brianna knew it.
It was probably why she wore it, and Audrey knew she would be asking about it later to confirm.
They walked towards the gazebo with their hands linked, slowly and without much purpose.
Though they had been dating for nearly two years, Audrey was grateful their ‘honeymoon phase’ hadn’t quite ended yet.
She was looking forward to being all up in Brianna’s space like this, walking together, close and intimate.
In the distance, Audrey could see the gazebo waiting for them, empty and lit with white artificial lights. It seemed straight out of a postcard, and she heard Brianna gasp in wonder next to her.
“Wow, it’s beautiful,” she said and led them closer to it.
“I know. Kinslee raved about it, but I couldn’t believe it myself the first time I saw it.”
Brianna had detached from Audrey to walk up the short steps, where she leaned against the railing. Audrey followed her closely but stood further back, wanting to be in an optimal position to kneel when she felt the timing was right.
“Oh, so you’ve been here before without me?” Brianna asked, turning to face Audrey.
“Was that not allowed?”
Brianna crossed her arms. “Of course it’s not allowed. You’re supposed to do all the romantic lover things with me.”
“Trust me, I only do all the lover things with you.” Audrey couldn’t resist a slight smile at Brianna’s words.
She knew it wasn’t a real fight, instead a clear set-up to some scenario Brianna was already picturing in her mind.
She loved being able to sense these shifts in Brianna’s mood and being able to support them.
She moved closer to Brianna and grabbed her waist, tugging her close.
She kissed the side of Brianna’s neck. “I only do this with you.”
Brianna seemed to melt into the kiss and shifted her head so their lips met.
Audrey deepened the kiss and was both flattered and turned on when Brianna’s tongue met hers.
Audrey knew they were in public, but with Brianna acting like putty in her hands, she couldn’t resist taking a step closer, maneuvering them so Brianna leaned against the gazebo railing for support.
A moan slipped out of Brianna, and Audrey took it as a wonderful sign to run a hand up Brianna’s thigh, something she was always dying to do when Brianna dressed like that.
Brianna broke the kiss apart, panting slightly.
“We probably shouldn’t…” she said, but Audrey could see it in her expression that she really wanted to.
“We’re just kissing,” Audrey countered, kissing the side of Brianna’s neck as her hand continued its slow crawl up Brianna’s thigh.
Brianna groaned and leaned her head back against the railing. She seemed to let out an exasperated groan. “This is so not how I pictured my proposal going,” she said.
“Huh?”
Of all the things Audrey expected to hear, that was not one of them. As aroused as she was, she really wanted to know what Brianna meant. “What do you mean by that?”
Brianna groaned again and leaned down to kiss Audrey, more sweetly this time. When she pulled them apart, she smoothed the wrinkle on Audrey’s forehead she didn’t realize she had.
“I meant, I have a ring in my pocket for you. Technically, I should be asking, not telling you, but you know how I am when you look at me like that. Then I got all nervous, because I thought my friends would be here to film it, and—”
Audrey interrupted Brianna’s panic with a laugh, and now it was Brianna’s turn to be confused.
“Sorry, gorgeous. I’m not laughing at your plan. I’m laughing because I also have a ring in my pocket, and there’s no one here because I told my friends to make sure we weren’t interrupted.”
Audrey pulled out the ring from her pocket and held out the box towards Brianna, who had her own ring box turned towards Audrey.
It was a stunning ring; a gold band with a diamond that was simple but elegant. When she looked back towards the woman holding the box, Audrey found herself getting choked up.
She loved this woman, and she was beyond honoured Brianna had wanted to spend the rest of her life with her.
Brianna wiped an escaped happy tear from Audrey’s eye. “Aw, babe…” She leaned forward, and they shared a kiss before Brianna pulled away slowly. She cleared her throat while Audrey waited nervously, knowing what was coming next.
“Will you marry me?” Brianna asked.
“Only if you agree to marry me first,” Audrey responded.
Brianna rolled her eyes but nodded. “Of course, I’ll marry you.”
“And I would be honoured to marry you too,” Audrey replied.
They exchanged rings (and some more hugs and tears), and stood side by side, leaning against the gazebo as they mulled over what had happened.
There would be time for announcements and celebrations, but for now, they stood side by side as they processed the inevitable but unspoken truth: their reunion was as destined and as romantic as the ones they had loved in their books.
Looking for more Beaver Creek love stories? Check out the next book in the Library Love Notes series, Loving the First Edition by Shelby Rae.