Epilogue
Wes
Eight months later…
We’ve been back in San Marco for two weeks now, and I’m already missing the highs of performing night after night.
The tour was everything I could have dreamed of. I signed a record deal with a record company based in Austin so I can continue to put my music out there as a full time gig.
I now have over half a million followers on Instagram, and Elli forced me to make a TikTok where I have over a million. It’s been incredible seeing how far my music reaches, and having mostly positive reactions to it is incredible.
Elli started therapy right before we left for the tour, and she’s made so much progress in the last eight months.
She’s worked through a lot of her religious trauma, the falling out with her parents, and we’ve done a few couple sessions so I can learn how to best help her when she’s having a hard time.
When we stopped in Salt Lake, she was able to spend time with Hannah and they talked about their similar beliefs and some of their familiar traumas, and she did the same with Emma in San Diego. I think it was really healing for her to see she’s not alone.
Izzy starts college in two weeks, so she’s moved into the tiny one-bedroom apartment Elli and I were sharing, and the lack of space is getting on everyone’s nerves, so we’ve been looking for a new place.
It’s not an ideal situation to live with Elli’s little sister, especially since we’re still in that lovey-dovey honeymoon stage, but I know Elli feels better knowing she can help Izzy while she starts this new life journey.
She’ll just have to learn to be quieter when she comes.
We’re in downtown San Marcos looking at a quaint three-bedroom apartment that’s close to Ernie’s and Toasted Bean, and has plenty of space for the three of us.
The third bedroom would be set up as an office space for Elli to work and for Izzy to do homework, which would make everyone’s lives easier.
The floors are all a dark hardwood and the walls are pristine white.
The kitchen has a big island and stainless steel appliances, and the bedrooms are all very spacious.
There’s two bathrooms, one in the primary bedroom, and one in the hall, which is nice because then we don’t have to try and share the bathroom.
“What do you think, Wes? Is this our new home?” Elli says, spinning in a circle in the primary bedroom.
I step towards her and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. “Home is wherever you are, baby. But yeah, I think this place is it. We should really test out how soundproof the walls are though.”
Elli smacks my shoulder and tries to get out of my arms, but I pull her in closer and place a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“I think we better sign the lease and put the deposit down soon so no one snatches it up.” She starts texting Izzy about the place we found, and that we’re going to put a deposit down on it.
“Sounds good, baby. We’ve got to get to Ernie’s for family breakfast though, remember?”
I’ve been keeping a secret from her.
When we got back to San Marcos, I told Jess that I wanted to propose to Elli, but I needed her help with a ring.
She got all teary-eyed and told me she already had the perfect one.
She went to her room and came back with a worn, red velvet box and when she opened it up, there was a simple gold band with an oval shaped diamond in the center.
I recognized it immediately as my mom’s engagement ring.
I thought she had sold it when she got back into drugs, but Jess told me my mom made her hold on to it so she couldn’t sell it.
She wanted me to have it for my future wife.
I had the ring cleaned and resized to fit Elli, and I got it back yesterday. Just in time for family breakfast.
What Elli doesn't know is it won’t just be Claudia, Ernie, Luke, Jess, and Izzy, like usual. Matt, Robin, her partner Pine, Savannah, Drew, and Sean will all be there too.
As we head down the street to our favorite little diner, Elli talks about all the furniture we’ll need to buy for the new place, and all the ways she’ll want to decorate it with Izzy. I’m listening as best as I can, but my heart is thundering in my ears the closer we get.
I don’t think she’ll say no, but there’s that little niggling voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me it’s too soon, even though we’ve been together over a year.
The bell above the door chimes as we enter, and Elli freezes when she sees everyone standing around waiting for us.
“What is everyone doing here?” She mumbles to me, but before I can answer, Robin is squealing and running towards us.
“Oh my god! I’m so excited for you two! Congrats!” Robs rocks Elli back and forth before moving to me.
“How does everyone know about the apartment? We just saw it a few minutes ago.” Elli’s eyebrows furrow as she tries to make sense of Robin’s rambling.
“Apartment? I’m talking about-”
“Robs, lovely, come over here and let Elli breathe.” Pine says, dragging a reluctant Robin away from Elli.
“What’s going on, Wes?” Elli demands.
“I wanted to wait until after breakfast, but since someone is bound to spoil the surprise,” I pull a velvet bag out of my pocket and drop to one knee.
Elli gasps.
“Elli, you came into my life like a beacon of light. You quickly smashed every carefully laid brick in the walls around my heart and you are the most important person in my life. You have loved me- flaws and all, and you have shown me what it is to be truly loved. I can’t imagine my life without you.
I love you endlessly. Almost a year ago, I gave you a ring to wear with my initial so everyone knew you were my girlfriend.
I promised I would replace it someday, and I hope to do that today. ” I open the box and Elli gasps again.
“Elliana Louise Monson, can I put this ring on your finger and call you my fiance? And someday, call you my wife?”
Elli nods her head, rapidly repeating “Yes!” and I slide the ring on her finger, then stand and kiss her like I need it more than I need air to breathe.
Everyone crowds around us in congratulations, and I can’t help but tear up at the abundance of love in the air. Everyone important to me that can physically be here is in this room, and I’m so damn lucky.
Who would have thought that the girl I didn’t want to go on a date with would end up being my wife?
THE END