Epilogue
“Where are we going?” I ask, unable to see through the blindfold. Raegan is leading me somewhere by the hand. She’s leaving the city so I met her for lunch at one of our favorite spots. We talked about a new murder mystery docuseries I’m obsessed with, and then she proceeded to blindfold me and take me to an unknown location.
At least she didn’t put me in the trunk.
“Just because you’re leaving doesn’t mean you get to kidnap me.”
“We’re almost there,” she says. Raegan’s work contract is up, so she’s moving back to her hometown next week. I’m devastated.
“Don’t you have a date scheduled with Landon’s old roommate, Henry?”
“Ugh, yes. We’re going to an amusement park next Saturday. Landon and Erin are coming too so it’ll be a double date. They know I’m leaving, but they’re insisting.”
“Maybe Henry is the one.”
“I don’t know. I saw his picture, and I’m not impressed,” Raegan said. “And I do not like roller coasters.”
“You’ll be fine. Are we almost there?”
“Yes, just a little bit longer.” I shuffle against the floor, careful to not trip. I am definitely in a building, and I hear lots of voices and feel movement around me.
“Okay, take off the blindfold,” Raegan says. I pull it down from my eyes.
I’m in the Octavo, and I’m facing the elevator from hell.
Well, at least he waited a year.
My handsome boyfriend stands there, in a black suit with a black tie, holding a bouquet of red roses. His face breaks into a smile, and I know what’s coming.
We ended up not moving slow at all. I moved in with him within a month, and we talked about getting married very early in our relationship. He said “I love you” the day I received my Gold YouTube Creator reward in the mail for reaching one million subscribers.
I’m ridiculously, irrationally, insanely in love with him.
Last month, I accidentally found a ring when I was unpacking all of our stuff for the new house. We finally moved out of the city into a small townhome in San Rafael. It already feels more peaceful and tranquil than San Francisco ever was. He’s been working from home more than usual and we’ve had lazy mornings with coffee outside and it’s been bliss.
I’m happier than I ever imagined.
Now, he is standing here, in front of me, in our elevator.
I cover my face to hide the emotion, but it’s futile. I will be a blubbering mess soon.
“Babe, come here,” he says, holding out his hand.
I take it and join him in the elevator. I turn to Raegan and point. “Please make sure this elevator goes nowhere.”
“The manager assured me this is going nowhere,” she says, holding her phone up to take video.
I turn toward my love, looking into his gray-blue eyes. We had talked about getting married for so long, but now that it’s here, it feels surreal and like it’s happening to someone else.
I thought I would never get married. Until I started dating Smith.
It became clear to me almost immediately that I had nothing to worry about. That I could trust Smith with all of me. That he could trust me too. That he would protect me and I would protect him right back.
Smith drops to his knee and pulls out the blue box I found last month.
“Cassandra Renee Gallagher, you are the love of my life. Please marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.”
I nod vigorously. He stands up and kisses me, framing my face with his hands like he did with our very first kisses. He wraps his arms around me in a tight hug and lifts me. Being in his arms is my favorite place to be.
“Oh you guys are so cute! Congratulations!” Raegan says, hugging us both. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
Smith hits a button, and the doors close. I freeze.
“Babe, I’m giving this ring back if you get us stuck in this elevator again.”
He laughs and kisses my head. “It’s okay. The manager also assured us there’s been no malfunction since the night of the wedding. I may have also casually mentioned I could still file a claim and he better be sure.”
“Oh, threatening to sue gets me all hot and bothered,” I say, kissing him again. I can taste the need in his kiss. I pull away and nod once.
“I love you, Ms. Gallagher.”
“I love you, Mr. Kennedy.”
I smack the stop button of the elevator, halting it. He laughs as he scoops me up and kisses me again, making the world fade away.
THE END