Epilogue
KATE
When Jake gets up from the table to go to the bathroom, I whip out my phone to text Chelsi.
Kate
I don’t think it’s happening tonight. They already brought out dessert and nothing. He’s acting completely normal.
Chelsi
Seriously? Does he not understand the implications of sending his girlfriend to the spa for the day? Having her get her nails done?
It can only mean one thing…she’s getting a ring.
Where’s YOUR ring, Kate? What is wrong with him?
Kate
Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he’s throwing me off?
Chelsi
Or maybe he wants me to kick his ass?
He’s always going on and on about wanting to marry you, and now that you’re finally ready to take that step… Nothing.
Perhaps I should call him. Give him a piece of my mind.
Kate
Umm…how about no.
Chelsi
We’ll see.
Kate
No. You’re going to leave him alone. He’ll do it when he’s ready.
Assuming it’s still what he wants.
Chelsi
There will be zero spiraling tonight. It’s going to happen. Just sit back and enjoy the ride until it does. You know how much he loves you.
Kate
I do. I just thought tonight was the night. I’m half-tempted to propose to him.
I’m so ready to marry him that I’d go to a justice of the peace.
Chelsi
If you’re going to elope, then we’re going to Vegas, and Elvis is marrying you.
Kate
Maybe to Vegas. No to Elvis.
Chelsi
I’ll consider that a win.
Kate
Gotta go. He’s coming back.
“Checking work emails?” Jake asks as he sits across from me at our table.
We’re at my favorite restaurant in Nashville in one of the private rooms with no one else around. When you combine that with the spa day and the dress he had Addison get me, it’s no wonder I assumed tonight might be the night.
“No. Texting with Chelsi,” I reply, trying to sound completely unaffected by the lingering disappointment from the lack of a proposal.
“Huh. How is she doing? Anything interesting you ladies were chatting about?” He arches his eyebrows with a sly grin on his face, like he knows exactly what we were talking about and wants me to admit it.
Not gonna happen.
“Just the usual Chelsi drama. Another one of her crazy first-date stories.” I maintain eye contact with him and smile.
“Eventually, she’s going to let me set her up. I swear I know the perfect guy for her.”
“Maybe one day. Right now, she’s in her asshole era. The more red flags, the more she’s interested.”
Jake shakes his head, then stands and holds out his hand for me. “Ready to go home, sweetheart?”
I nod, taking his hand and letting him help me up. At this point, I’m ready to go take a long soak in our tub and forget I ever thought I might be getting engaged today.
I’m quiet for most of the drive home, staring out the window, looking at the various Christmas light displays.
Jake has talked a few times, but he’s been fairly quiet, too, almost like we both have a lot on our minds.
I’m sure he’s probably thinking through the countless commitments he has after the holidays for the album rollout.
When we pull into the driveway, I notice all the lights are out, including the exterior landscaping ones. I turn to look at Jake, who appears to be as surprised as I am at the lighting situation.
“Do you think we lost power?”
“Must have,” he answers, turning off the truck.
“Yeah. I wonder how long the power will be off for.”
“No idea. It’s been a few hours in the past. Sometimes, a few days. Really depends on the situation.”
“A few days. You can’t be serious,” I stammer, unable to fathom not having power for that long. That’s never something I experienced in Chicago, nor growing up.
He shrugs. “If a bad winter storm hits, it can take a while to get everything fixed down here. We’re not as prepared for that type of weather as everyone is farther north.”
“Oh. I guess that makes sense.”
Jake gets out of the truck and comes to open the door and help me out.
I take his hand, grateful for the support because the three-inch heels I decided to wear to elongate my legs are slightly treacherous.
They’re also incredibly uncomfortable, another reason why soaking in the tub is next on my list, assuming we even have hot water without electricity.
This night really isn’t going as I thought.
Jake holds my hand as we slowly make our way up the steps to the front door.
I’m completely lost in my thoughts as he unlocks the door and we walk into the foyer.
Inside, the house is almost pitch black, except for the moonlight creeping in through the floor-to-ceiling windows along the back of the house.
He heads toward the living room with his hand in mine, and my heart stops when we turn the corner.
There are hundreds of flameless candles everywhere, illuminating the space with the warmest glow. Vases of my favorite roses are sprinkled throughout the room, and the floor is practically covered in rose petals.
My mouth drops open as tears fill my eyes. I can’t help but tremble, knowing what’s about to happen.
He leads me to the center of the room and turns to look at me, taking both my hands in his. The sweetest smile takes over his face, and there is so much incredible love in his eyes.
“Kate, when you came back into my life last year, I was excited about getting my best friend back. Finding out who you’d become. I never expected to fall hopelessly in love with you. It was so easy to fall for you. I couldn’t have stopped even if I tried. It was inevitable.”
Tears fall down my face as I chew on the corner of my lower lip, locking eyes with the man of my dreams. My true soulmate and best friend.
“I know in the very fiber of my being that you and I are meant to be. You were my other half when we were growing up as kids. My best friend. And when I fell in love with you, I realized what you really were to me all along—my soulmate. The love of my life.”
He gets down on one knee, the candlelight glowing behind him, as he looks up into my eyes. “There is no one else in the entire world for me, Kate. You’re it. My everything. Will you please make me the happiest man in the world and become my wife?”
“Yes. I want nothing more than to be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you, Jake. I love you so much.”
Jake’s smile grows even wider when he slips the two-carat emerald diamond ring on my left hand.
He quickly stands and takes me in his arms, lifting my feet off the ground and swinging me around.
Once he stops, his arms go around my waist, and his lips crash onto mine.
This kiss is passionate and soft, full of love and appreciation for what we’ve been through and where we’re headed.
The perfect kiss to end the very best night.
Everything I’ve been through in my life was worth it to get to this moment.
I’d go through all heartache, insecurities, and drama again if it meant I’d get to stand by his side for the rest of my life.
Because a love like this doesn’t come around often, and when you find it, you have to grab hold and never let go. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.