21. Epilogue One Year Later
Bex
The crisp autumn air bites at my cheeks as I settle into my seat, surrounded by the roar of the stadium. It’s the perfect fall day in Charlotte, and with the scent of buttery popcorn and hot dogs drifting on the cool breeze, mixing with the sharp scent of fresh-cut grass from the field below, it smells like football. My heart starts beating a little faster, the energy seeping into my pores. The crowd is electric––it’s hard to not get swept up in the excitement with a sea of fans all dressed in team colors stretching out around me, buzzing with anticipation.
From up here, the players look like warriors, moving in perfect formation as they take their place on the field. But my eyes are fixed on one warrior in particular—MY warrior. Austin. He’s out there in his jersey, helmet glinting under the bright stadium lights, and man does he look good. My heart races in time with the rising noise of the crowd. I can’t help but feel a surge of pride and excitement, watching him move with the grace and power that only someone with his talent has. It’s so good to see him back in his element.
The trees just beyond the stadium have turned to brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, framing the field in autumn’s vibrant palette. The setting sun casts a golden glow across everything, making the moment feel like we’re in a film. I pull my jacket tighter around me as the temperature dips, the evening settling in.
“So much fun to come to these games now, right?” Georgie asks, nudging me with the pointy tip of her elbow. She turns around, no doubt looking for Levi who’d been pulled into a VIP suite as we made our way past.
“It really is,” I smile as I grip her knee. “It’s been so good to see him perk up again. Austin’s been on cloud nine since he made the decision to stay closer to home.”
“He made the decision to stay closer to Bex,” Georgie grunts as she giggles, forcing me to smack her arm.
“Even I can attest to that,” Emma pipes up from her seat on the other side of Georgie. “I’m glad you two are finally together, that way I don’t need to deal with him being a cornstalker.”
“Cornstalker?” I try not to choke on the sip of my soda I was in the middle of enjoying.
“You know, watching him stalk you through the corn fields,” she giggles. “I’m just glad he’s using those binoculars to look at birds. Way more soothing.”
Georgie and I both cackle, Emma’s teasing and humor always bringing levity to any situation. Emma has quickly become another one of my go-to confidants since we met––thank you, Austin. In fact, if I have my way, I know someone I want to set her up with, but we’ll see. Not everyone can get excited about an adult man who dresses up to deliver mail and surprise kids, but you never know. They say everyone has someone out there who is meant for them: I say we all have someone out there whose freak flag matches ours.
“And now he’s on a birdwatching kick, thanks to you pointing out the red cardinals in the yard.” I toast my cup in the air. “We all need hobbies, don’t we?”
“We do,” Emma agrees, pointing my way. “Don’t forget, right after the game I need you to drop me off for that appointment…is it still okay?”
“Of course,” I say. “Is it one of your usual clients?”
“He happens to be in town and asked if I could swing past to check his knee out,” she says as she nods, stuffing some popcorn in her mouth.
“Of course, I got you.” I put my hand out, managing to clutch Emma’s hand as Georgie slaps her on top, adding to our pile. “I’m so lucky I’ve got you two. I feel like I’m winning at life these days, and it feels nice.”
“We’re sisters from other misters, right?” Georgie laughs as the three of us toss our hands in the air and cheer.
The announcer’s voice booms over the speakers, bringing everyone’s attention, including ours, back to the field. My breath catches in my throat as I watch Austin line up, poised and ready. The tension builds, the crowd holds its breath—and then, in an explosion of movement, the play begins.
I can’t help but feel my pulse quicken every time he’s on the field. It’s thrilling, nerve-wracking, and awe-inspiring all at once, knowing that while the whole stadium is cheering, he’s out there giving it everything he’s got. And somehow, out of all of this, he’s mine.
The stadium erupts with noise as the ball snaps, and in an instant, everything moves in slow motion. My eyes are glued to Austin as he takes off down the field, weaving through defenders like they’re standing still. The roar of the crowd rises with every step he takes, but all I can hear is the thud of my own heartbeat in my ears.
And then, in one perfect moment, he catches the ball, arms outstretched, and charges toward the end zone. The tension in the stadium is palpable as the final defender closes in, but Austin pivots, breaking free in a burst of speed. The crowd holds a collective breath—then explodes as he crosses into the end zone.
Touchdown.
My heart leaps, and I’m on my feet before I even realize it, screaming his name alongside thousands of others. Austin stands there, arms raised in victory, grinning up at the stands. As his eyes lock with mine, I pat my heart as he blows me a kiss. He looks like he’s just conquered the world.
Georgie and Emma jump in the air beside me, their excitement contagious, but all I can think about is how proud I am of him. Not just for the touchdown, but for everything. For staying true to himself. For staying closer to home. For choosing us.
Austin
After the post game press conference and debrief, I’d hustled as fast as I could to get through a shower and head over to Sinclair Gardens. It’s a small venue on the edge of the Charlotte Botanical Gardens that I’ve rented out for something very special today.
“Hey,” Levi’s voice breaks me from my spell as he shoves a small jewelry box into the palm of my hand. “You’re going to need this.”
Grinning, I pull him in for a quick hug. He and mom have been here today getting this spot set up for me. All of this so I can ask Bex the most important question I’m ever going to ask anyone. He’d taken over the duty of setting the table for two in the atrium surrounded by foliage, flowers, and butterflies, and Mom had found the local caterer who is currently getting set up in a kitchen just off the atrium.
The vibration in my pocket pulls my attention to my phone. It’s Emma, and she’s outside with Bex. It’s showtime.
“Okay,” I say as I clap my hands together. I look at mom and Levi. “You don’t have to go, but you’re going to need to hide if you plan on staying.”
“Uh uh,” my mother says, shaking her head. “We’re going to leave you alone for this.” She leans in and kisses my cheek. “I’m not going to wish you luck, because she’s already a part of our family. I’m just going to say I can’t wait to celebrate when she is a Porter, because that woman is perfect for you.”
As my mom gathers her things and heads to the door, Levi comes up and pulls me into another hug. “You’ve got this man. Just don’t be you and mess it up.”
“Ha, you’re hilarious!” I shout at his back as he ducks my right hook and jogs out the back door, hot on our mother’s heels. I watch as the door behind them closes, fully aware of the door that’s behind me beginning to open.
That’s right. As one door closed, another one opened, and when I turned to see the love of my life standing there, wearing head-to-toe Cardinals’ game day gear and looking a little befuddled, my heart swells inside my chest.
“Austin?” Bex says, holding out hands as she looks at me. “What are you doing here?” She turns and points to Emma, who still sits in the car, idling by the curb. “I thought she had a client…”
“Technically she does,” I say, waving to Emma. She throws me a thumbs up and pulls away. “It’s me. I’m the client, but I don’t need my knee looked at.”
Bex scans the room, taking in its beauty, her eyes coming to a rest on the table for two in the middle. “What have you done?”
“I’ve planned something for you.” I slip my hand into hers and walk her over to the table. “Well, it’s not only for you. It’s for me. For us.”
Bex eyes me suspiciously as I pull out her chair. “Austin, what is this?”
I grin, my heart pounding in my chest. “You’ll see.”
She sits, hesitantly, and I take the seat across from her. The candles on the table flicker, casting soft shadows around us. The room feels intimate, like it’s just us in our own little world.
“I wanted to do this right,” I begin, my voice steady but my hands slightly trembling. “You deserve that.”
She tilts her head, confusion dancing across her face, but there’s also curiosity. “Do what?”
I reach into my pocket and pull out a small, velvet box. Bex’s eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat.
“Bex,” I say, my voice soft, “you came into my life when I didn’t know I needed you. I think I had emotionally stopped breathing.”
Her eyes sparkle in the candlelight. “What do you mean?”
I grab her hand and hold it tightly in mine. “I think I was in a space where I wasn’t allowing myself to feel. I’d cut myself off and was happy sinking down. It was a warm and familiar place by the time you’d come back into my world, and I was happy there.”
“Like a pig in…”
“Shush,” I say with a laugh, cutting her off as she throws a devilish grin my way. “You’ve seen me at my worst, and still... you’re here. Everyday. Whether you’re teaching me something new, jumping in to help my family or the found family you’ve created around you, or delighting in the world with childlike curiosity or taking on a dog that wasn’t yours to begin with––it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re beside me. You make me the happiest man in the world. You make me want to be better.” I stop, my voice cracking as I take a giant breath of air and then continue. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
Her eyes glisten, but she stays silent, her lips slightly parted.
“I have made mistakes in my life, big ones, but there is one mistake I’m not going to make with you. I need you to know that I don’t want to simply share a night out or a table with you,” I continue, my heart racing. “I want to share everything. Forever.”
Slowly, I open the box, revealing the ring that my mother helped me pick out for her. Nestled on a pillow of velvet is an emerald-cut diamond in a bespoke setting that I designed, and I can’t wait to tell her that part. Her hand flies to her mouth.
“Bex,” I say, my voice thick with emotion, “will you marry me?”
For a second, she just stares at the ring, her eyes darting between it and my face. Then, slowly, a smile spreads across her lips.
“You stinker,” she whispers, her voice shaky. “Of course, I will.”
She leaps into my arms, her lips slanting across mine as she plants a kiss on me that says more than words ever will.
And I feel like I can finally breathe again.
***
Thank you for reading The Art of Falling in Love with Your Grumpy Neighbor!