Epilogue
EPILOGUE
JORDAN
Six Months Later…
Cassi’s been gone for eight weeks on her first major assignment for Generation Travel magazine, andmy heart is racing.Chicago is our homeandwhile she waited to hear from Lola Wanders, she turned her new city into an adventure, checking out the major tourist attractions like Navy Pier and WillisTower,while alsoexploring thelesser knownsites that would draw in a different crowd.
Watching her find herself and explore her passion? It’s been a privilege and a pleasure.It’s been everything to watchher grow into the woman shewas meantto be.But spending eight weeks without her after having her to myself for so long has been unbearable .
I stand with the rest of the loved ones waiting for fellow travelers, holding an oversized signthat’s sure tocapture her attention.Maybeit’s somethingI should have givenmore thought to, but a man can’t be responsible for the things he does when his woman is off traipsing around ItalyandFrance and Spain for the very first time.
I spot her high brown ponytail first, watchingasher green eyes scan the crowd for a familiar face. I promised I would try to make it to the airport to greet herandas she draws closer, so do I.She doesn’t see me yetandwhen she finally does, she freezes with a giant smileon her face.
“Jordan!” She rolls her eyesandher head falls back as laughter explodesout of her. “God, I’ve missed you!” She lunges forward, wrapping her arms and legs around me, squishing the sign between us.
I laugh and squeeze her tight. “I’ve missed you too, baby girl.”
She’s laughing and dotting my face with kisses. “Mrs. Stone, really?”
“Call it wishful thinking on my part,” I tell her as she slides down my body and grabs the sign, keeping it at her side. I take her handandwe rush through the airport full of love.Cassi stopsbutI tug herforwardtowards the luggage corral before thelate afternoonsunshine hits our skin.
“I’m so glad to be back,” she tells me, her voice light and airy, rather refreshing after all this time.
“So happy to have you back,” I agree as we head towards the valet lot.“But there’s somethingI want to talk to you about.”
“Me first!” she hurries out, turning to me with excitement. Her hair isa bitlonger, the braid hanging to the middle of her back. “I love you Jordan, andI’ve missed you like crazy .”
I squeeze her hand. “But?”
She giggles, shaking her head. “I can’t put anything past you, can I?”
“That’s what happens when you’re in love with a genius.”
She laughs again. “ Butttt ,” she begins as her smile fades. “I did a paella tasting two days agoandI got sick. Really,reallysick.”
I frown. “You didn’t say a thing.”We talk almost every day or text at the very least and somehow this is the firstI’m hearingabout it.
“I didn’t want you to worry. But I was a little concernedsoI went to a doctor in Spain to check on food poisoning…”
“And?” I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. We’ve been so happy, so in love, that I’m half expecting the worst to happen.
“And it’s not food poisoning.”Hersmile is wide, which is confusing the hell out ofme.
“It’s not?”
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “It’s a baby! I’m eleven weeks pregnant, Jordan.”
The whole world stops as her words sink in. A baby. With Cassi!
“Say something, Jordan.” Her hands grip mine, a sure sign of her worry and uncertainty. “What’s running through your mind?”
“We’re pregnant.” It’s not what she needs or wants to hear, butit’sas far as my mind has gotten. “You’re sure?”
“I am. Are you happy about this or angry?”
“Happy as hell,” I answer instinctively. “But this willput a pause onyour travels in a few months.”
She nods. “I know, but I can travel domestically so that I don’t lose my momentum.” She squeezes my hand again. “I love you Jordan and I want this baby. This feels right, like the next inevitable step in our love story.”
That’s my woman, shedoesn’t sayour lifebut always our love story . “I agree,it does feel right.Which brings me back to my sign.”
Cassi throws her head back and gigglesandwhenshe’s done, her smile is therebutthe laughter fades.“You’re serious?”
I nod. “I did this weeks ago, not long after you departed for Italy.I’m surethatI want you, that Ineed you in my life for all of eternity.I’m sure as hell that I want you as my wife, my partner, my everything. Cassi, baby, will you marry me?”
She gasps, covering her mouth with both hands. “Jordan, oh my god, ofcourseI’ll marry you! I love youandI want more than anything to be your wife. Are you sure?”
I nod. “As sure as I am of anything, my love.”
She smiles. “Then this means we’re engaged.” She flashes a giddy smile and holds out her hand to let me slip the diamond ring on her finger. I’ve had this tucked away for weeks. “Oh my, it’s gorgeous, Jordan.”
“Just like the love of my life.” How the hell did I get so lucky? “I love you, Cassi.”
“I love you more. Let’s do this happily ever after thing, yeah?”
I nod. “Yeah, babe. Let’s.” I hug her close and kiss her deeply, knowing down to myverysoul that this is meant to be no matter what. Who gives a fuck our parents are married?
We can’t deny their love just like they can’t deny ours.
It’s just my girl and I against the world, along with our little bean growing away…and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.