Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
T hey say love is the biggest crime you could commit.
Dean would beg to differ. The biggest crime he committed was letting Nova Rivera think he deserved better from her.
He stared at her side profile, jealous of the wind scandalously pulling strands of hair away from her face. She had a strength he prayed for whenever she cuddled closer to him or traced the outlines of his face. Dean never understood what Nova saw in him, but he’d be a fool to question it.
“Cheese fondue or chocolate fountain?” His muscles ached to pull her closer, but she was close enough as is.
Folded against his side, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck when it got too cold.
It’s not enough . He wanted her inside and attached to the layers of his skin, to feel her in every beating part that existed.
Whenever she was far, he couldn’t breathe.
The box in his pocket dug into him.
Nova bore sentimental habits. Every toy theatre inspired by the books she read were displayed in both of their homes.
When he found out she loved reading but wasn’t able to get through books without a migraine—he knew what he wanted to do.
Only Nova would give him a chance to use his skills of woodworking again.
“Chocolate fountain,” he mumbles in her hair.
She laughed and it confiscated his free will.
“I thought you’d say cheese fondue,” Nova pouts. “Guess I don’t know you that well.”
“You do,” he pushes gently. Better than anyone .
Wind chimes rang in the back. A familiar calf hobbled over to them an hour earlier. Lottie perched herself on Dean’s lap and looked up with wide eyes. His heart clenched at the sight of her. Despite Gabriel sending videos of her shenanigans, he missed her.
Nova mindlessly rubbed a hand over Lottie’s back. “Question,” she says.
Dean peered out into the mountains. He understood the high of climbing, why people risk their lives to see a view from the tallest peak—because when he looked at Nova, he wanted to go higher and higher, see her from all angles, every flaw, every scar, every soon-to-be wound, and let his whispers of I love you erase all of her bad memories.
“Answer,” his voice deepened.
She gave him a look he wanted to kiss. But then, Dean always wanted to kiss her.
“Don’t you think it’s weird we said I love you only after a month of… dating?”
It made sense for Nova to ask these questions near their first anniversary.
She was a thinker and often went quiet with her thoughts.
Dean underestimated her ability to peel apart his answers and stew on them by herself.
Their first fight as a couple kept him up at night.
She didn’t eat, didn’t speak to anyone, and went on with her days comatose.
He understood that’s what overthinkers were like.
They created scenarios in their head, some for the better, but often for the worst—and decided on conclusions themselves.
Old habits die hard. Dean would make sure to bury those habits when they finally left Nova alone.
“No,” he said. Nova’s cheeks puffed out, thinking. “Love’s not an alarm clock that’ll go off at a time you set. It does its own thing.”
“Are you ever terrified of us not lasting forever?”
He’d make sure they never last less than eternity.
Dean shook his head. “Are you?”
She was good at seeing beneath the surface. “With you, never.”
The full conviction in her throat told him the truth. All it took was to hold her hand for Nova to cling on with every ounce of love she had.
The sun began flickering behind the clouds, welcoming another morning full of laughter.
All their loved ones were here, taking over the living room with mattresses, blankets, and late-night conversations.
He had a hard time getting Nova out of there when Sunny, Kat, and Hina wanted her to stay with them.
It was only when they started snoring, he hooked an arm under her head and knees—taking her out.
Dean would never forget Nova’s Ma and Tatay getting on the ground with him—hugging him—when he asked for their daughter’s hand.
He’d never forget Rosa’s threats or Nadine’s knowing smile when they caught him carrying Nova outside.
It’s time.
Dean shifted to take the box out.
Lottie chortled then moved to Nova’s lap.
She watched him turn towards her.
The cool grass beneath them warmed at the feeling of their future.
Dean sat back on his heels, heart a blubbering mess, and knees digging into the soil.
Nova’s eyes began to water.
“You once asked me when I decided to get your name tattooed on my arm.” A husky shadow bellows forth.
“Your name has never been just a name to me. It’s a finality to my existence.
I read it like a history book and preach it like a religion.
It holds the weight of my love. Every letter, every curve, every dip in your chin.
Your name is the meaning of my life. The sole purpose is to wake up in the morning.
These flowers are a reminder for you. When thorns and weeds block them from growing, I’ll get my hands blood and tear them apart.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow—I’ll be your Umbel Pennycress, keeping every rotten disease away from your happiness.
That is,” Dean’s voice broke as he spoke the last part. “If you’ll have me.”
He tried not abandoning his plan and pulling Nova to him.
Opening the box and fueled by her airy gasp, Dean took out the simple, gold ring.
All around it were the carvings from the first toy theatre he performed for her.
A memory of their love story—the moment that brought them to today.
Their initials were engraved on the inside.
“Will you marry me, Nova Rivera?”
The wind ceased to exist, letting his hoarse admission of forever cool over their skin.
Fear of rejection pummeled through him until Nova extended her hand.
“Only if you’ll marry me too.”
Dean’s fingers shook as he put the ring on her.
He watched as Nova undid the clasp around her neck, letting a circular gleam slide out. With shaky hands of her own, she took Dean’s left hand and slid a silver ring over his finger.
It was intricately designed with the flowers on his arms .
Dean didn’t hold back, he pulled Nova up from the waist and kissed her long and hard.
“You wanted to steal my spotlight, didn’t you?” He grumbled against her lips.
Nova laughed. “I wanted to steal the spotlight with you.”
Dean’s heartbeat rose to his throat.
He’d never know what he did to deserve Nova in this lifetime, but he’d never stop being grateful. He’d spend the rest of his life waking up next to her and sharing forever in whatever form it came in.