Epilogue #2
“Yeah, you told me to focus on my job.”
“I didn’t mean forever—” I begin, but she keeps talking over me.
“It’s in my best interest,” she argues, like she’s trying to remain resolute, now that she’s saying it publicly. “I shouldn’t get emotionally involved with anyone right now.”
Miles’ brows lift. “No one?”
She hesitates, looking down at her funnel cake. “Yeah. No one.”
Miles’ face falls.
Thankfully, Jaz walks up, oblivious to what’s just happened. “Hey, I’m heading over to the kiddie rides. Anyone want to join me and a very wiggly toddler?”
“Sure!” Gabriella heads off with her, completely unaware she just destroyed a grown man’s dreams.
The second she’s out of earshot, I turn to him. “Sorry, Miles.”
He shakes his head slowly, eyes dropping to his untouched corn dog. “I never had a shot, did I?”
Then he glances at Gabriella one more time.
Poor guy.
When I turn around, I see Brendan texting again, then quickly pocketing his phone. He’s been doing that ever since we arrived—exchanging looks with the team, shooting glances my way, then pretending he’s looking at something else.
As much as I love being here with the team, I’ve been desperate for alone time with him. Lately, every moment with him feels way too short, and I’m starting to regret the whole three-month timeline I gave him.
I’ve waited so long for this man. What are three more months supposed to prove?
Part of me hopes he’ll just go ahead and ask me to marry him now. But I know Brendan—he’ll honor what I said, even if it kills him.
“Hey,” he says, taking my hand. “Do you want to go on the Ferris wheel, just the two of us?”
“Sure. But what about the rest of the team?”
“They’re heading over to play some games. They’ll catch up later,” he says, already steering me toward the ride.
Since there’s no line, we climb into the gondola right away. Brendan settles in next to me, his arm around my shoulder.
“Remember the last time we were up here?” he asks.
“Yeah. Most beautiful view of the town.” I lean into him, savoring this quiet moment together.
When we reach the top, the wheel slows to a stop. I can’t believe our luck.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I laugh. “We’re stuck again?”
“Looks like it.” But Brendan doesn’t sound surprised. He looks over the edge, then back at me with a nervous smile. “Might as well enjoy it while we’re up here, because I’ve been wanting to be alone with you all night.”
Something in his tone makes me think this wasn’t an accident, that he arranged for us to get stuck. But how is that possible?
“Scarlett,” he murmurs, turning to me with heat in his eyes. “The last time we were on this Ferris wheel, I realized that I couldn’t let you go again. I knew I loved you, and would wait for you until you were ready.”
He takes my hand. “You say you hate surprises, but I’m hoping you’ll like this one. Because it’s been a dozen years in the making.”
I shake my head. “Brendan, what is going on?”
“Look down and you’ll understand.”
I lean over the edge of the gondola, just enough for me to see the people on the ground.
Below us, standing in perfect formation, are all the Crushers and their WAGs, each one holding up a white sign with a single letter.
M-A-R-R-Y M-E-?
It takes me a few seconds to realize that the question is for me.
My hand flies up to my mouth. “Brendan, is that—?”
When I turn back to him, he’s holding a ring box, with the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
“Yes, it is,” he says, answering my question.
He meets my eyes, and the weight of the moment makes me want to cry.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t wait any longer,” he murmurs. “Will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive? Because I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and proving that we belong together.”
One tear falls, then another chases it.
I look at the ring and this beautiful man offering it to me—offering his heart, and soul, and a future with him.
This is all I ever wanted.
“Yes,” I say, smiling through my tears. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
He slides the ring onto my finger and then I kiss him—at the top of a Ferris wheel while everyone goes absolutely ballistic below.
When I finally pull away, I tilt my head. “I can’t believe you brought the whole team here for this.”
“You said you wanted a big surprise.” His smile is brighter than the lights on this ride, and I am warm, head to toe. “I wanted to give you exactly what you asked for.”
“When did you plan this?”
“After we won the Cup.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and presses a kiss to it. “But I’ve had the ring since right after our date at the beach.”
“Brendan Marco!” I gasp. “Your mother is going to die when she hears this.”
“Are you kidding? She already knows. They all do. Everyone’s waiting at my uncle’s house to celebrate when we’re done here.” He gives me a sheepish smile. “It took every ounce of my mother’s self-control not to show up with Elana and Rosa and hide in the bushes to watch us.”
“You’re kidding!” I laugh.
“I’m not. I told her it would ruin everything.
” Then he slowly cups my face in his hands.
“But I wanted this moment to be just ours first.” He gives me a lingering kiss, leaving me glowing inside.
Then the Ferris wheel starts moving again, lowering us back to earth where everyone’s waiting to celebrate with us.
As soon as we step off, we’re swarmed by our friends.
“That was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen,” Gabriella exhales. “This is making me rethink my dating moratorium.” Her gaze darts over to Miles, who doesn’t notice her staring. “But I’m going to hold out for the right one.”
“We need to commemorate this moment!” Jaz announces, pulling everyone toward one of the old-fashioned photo booths at the carnival.
We could’ve taken pictures on our phones, but there’s something perfect about all of us squeezing into that tiny booth, making ridiculous faces while the camera flashes.
When we finally tumble out like clowns from a car, laughing and holding our strip of photos, Brendan takes my hand and leads me away from the group to a quiet bench overlooking the carnival.
“Okay, Heart-Jammies.” He doesn’t let me sit next to him, but pulls me onto his lap instead. “What are you thinking? You’ve got that look on your face.”
I’m quiet for a moment, still studying the photos in my hand. “Remember the day you asked me to go with you to the wedding? I’d just found out about the lease increase, and I remember pondering that phrase people always say: Things couldn’t possibly get any worse.”
“I remember that day.” His fingers stroke the curve of my waist lightly. “For the record, I always thought that was a stupid phrase.”
“Me too,” I laugh. “Like you’re just asking for someone to prove you wrong.” Then I look down at my ring as it catches the light. “But I’ve been thinking—maybe it works both ways. Maybe it’s when things are at their absolute worst, that life surprises you the most.”
He presses his mouth to the curve of my jaw. “You were definitely worth the wait, even if I am the most impatient man on the planet.” Then he leaves another kiss next to the first. “But after this long, I need to know—when can we get married? Because I’m already eager to make you Mrs. Marco.”
“How about Christmas?” I suggest. “It’ll give Dad time to finish his treatments and walk me down the aisle.”
“That sounds perfect.” He kisses me again, closer to my ear this time. “As long as I get to marry you, I can wait for the right time.”
I turn to face him. “Good, because I already have ideas for matching Christmas pajamas.”
“I’m drawing the line if you make me wear ugly ones.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re my yes-man, remember?”
“For you”—he tugs me closer, his lips almost on mine—“I’ll always say yes.”