Epilogue
One year later…
Andi stood at the window of the high-rise apartment she and Joel shared that overlooked Central Park. It was incredible how much her life had changed in the course of twelve months.
The best thing she had ever done was say yes to Joel.
Because that one word, those three little letters had opened a world so huge, so amazing, she could never have dreamed it up on her own.
Her career, while still in its infancy, had started gaining traction and was beginning to take off. She had attracted enough attention that she’d been invited to tour with Hunter Maxwell, serving as his opening act.
Sure, her time singing at Pat’s Pub had played a part in opening that door for her, but even so, it was a career-altering opportunity, and she was so—so—grateful for it.
Just last week, she and Joel had helped Dylan move into his dorm at NYU and she was thrilled to have her baby brother living so close. She’d made the leap, moving to the Big Apple just three months after that initial visit.
If it had been up to Joel, she would have moved in with him immediately, but Andi had been hesitant to leave Dylan on his own with mom.
Until her sweet brother sat her down and basically reiterated the same things Joel had been saying to her.
That she needed to follow her own dreams and that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself—and Mom.
He told her it was his turn to take on some of the responsibility and he had assured her he was more than ready to do it.
Then he reminded her she’d been younger than him when she had taken charge of their homelife.
It was the first time she’d looked at Dylan and not seen her baby brother, but the intelligent, compassionate young man he was quickly becoming.
Mom was currently still living in Baltimore.
She’d joined Alcoholic Anonymous six months earlier—at her brother’s behest—and she was doing well in the program.
She and Dylan were trying to convince her to move to New York, but for now, she insisted she was fine on her own and hesitant to leave her AA sponsor, who was incredible.
Andi grinned as the man who not only taught her how to hope, but who also helped make all her wildest dreams approached. She marked his progress toward her through his reflection in the window.
“Looks like some deep thinking going on over here,” Joel said as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Not so much thinking as feeling,” she corrected.
“Feeling?”
She turned in his arms. “Grateful. Happy. Content. In Love.” Then, because he was looking especially fine today, she added, “Horny.”
Joel chuckled.
She expected him to act on that last part. The two of them were well versed in setting the sheets on fire every single night…and afternoon…and morning.
Instead, he ran his fingers through her hair. “You’ve gotten very good at making lists.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “And I like that list of emotions. It’s rock solid, but do you want to see if we can add another feeling to it?”
Before she could reply, Joel dropped to one knee, holding an open ring box. Inside it was the most breathtaking—and enormous—diamond ring she’d ever seen.
She had to hand it to him. He had just managed to produce a million more emotions with that one simple move.
“Joel,” she whispered, inundated by surprise, excitement, and joy.
“Marry me, Andi. Please. Become my wife and let me be a part of making all those dreams of yours come true.”
“You’ve been doing that since the day we met.”
He shook his head. “We’ve only scratched the surface on your list, and we haven’t even touched the big ones.”
She thought launching her career and seeing her brother and mother happy were more than scratches, but she knew exactly what he was alluding to.
“Marriage,” she said. “And a family.”
“There’s nothing I want more than to call you wife, to have a baby with you.”
Andi quickly wiped away the happy tears she was helpless to stop from falling.
“I’d love that,” she said.
He smiled, taking the ring out of the box. “Just one word,” he said. “Give me that one word and you will make me the happiest man in the world.”
Andi’s heart swelled as he reached for her left hand, hesitating only a moment, waiting for her response. Now, just like a year ago, it was the easiest word to offer.
“Yes.”