“To the future.”
We both take a drink, and as I set my glass down, a woman with a violin appears. She stands beside our table and begins to play one of my favorite pieces—La Vie En Rose. I’m not the most romantic man in the world, but I’ve always found this piece striking and beautifully sentimental. As Brynn turns, surprised by the violinist, I slip out of my chair. My gut churns and heart thunders, I drop to a knee and pull a small, black velvet box out of my pocket.
Brynn’s eyes moisten, and her chest heaves with each short, hectic breath. She clamps her hands over her mouth, a stunned expression on her face. I open the box. She squeals and half-stands automatically. I offer the ring. She takes it. But her eyesflick to mine like she’s seeking permission to go ahead and touch it. Her cheeks turn bright red, and her eyes sparkle with tears.
“Brynn Whitman, I did not plan on this. I did not plan on you. But if there’s one thing you’ve taught me in all these months we’ve been together, it’s that the unexpected can be the most beautiful thing in life,” I say. “My life is better with you in it. My world is infinitely brighter. And I don’t ever want to spend another day without you by my side. You belong to me, and I belong to you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife. Will you give me the honor of spending the rest of our days together?”
Tears run down her face, she gets up, then pulls me to my feet and throws herself into me. Holding her in a tight embrace, Brynn trembles and then turns her tear-streaked face up to me.
“I would be honored to be your wife,” she says. “I love you.”
I slip the ring on her finger. “And I love you, too.”
Leaning down, I kiss her, and the restaurant around us erupts in applause. It’s a dull roar in the background, though. I’m not paying attention to it because the only thing that matters is the woman in my arms.
“You’re my world,” I say.
“And you’re mine.”
“I am, my love,” I say. “I most definitely am.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
BRYNN
Five Years Later
Inever believed in fairy tales.
Truthfully, I never really believed in that deep, abiding, soul-consuming love. People talk about it, sure. But deep down, I always believed it was just something people said. I mean, I’m not so cynical that I didn’t believe in love. I just never really believed in that kind of love that sets your entire world on fire. The kind of love that set off swarms of butterflies in your stomach whenever you saw that person—your person. But more than anything, I never believed I’d be lucky enough to have that kind of love.
It’s something I am so incredibly happy and grateful to have been wrong about.
Every single day with Burke has felt like a fairy tale come to life. Every single day is better than the one before it. And the love I feel for this man has only deepened.
It’s as if there is no bottom to the love I feel for him. And yeah, when he walks into the room, I still feel the gossamer wings of butterflies brushing my heart and belly.
I never thought I could or would love somebody as deeply as I love Burke. He likes to say that I’ve changed him, but in truth, he’s changed me just as much. If not more. He’s turned my entire world upside down in the best way possible. Without him and his encouragement, I don’t know that I would have had the courage to start my own practice. But he pushed me toward it, so I took the leap. I did it. And now I’ve got a thriving practice and have become one of the most sought-after child psychologists in the city.
We are so in tune with virtually everything. We rarely argue, and on those few occasions when we do, it’s over within minutes. Then we both apologize and talk things out rationally. And those conversations always end with a hug, a kiss, and a reminder of just how much we love each other.
Our relationship is solid. Steady. Reliable.
It’s like a cup of black coffee.
Today, though… today is going to be different. I have something to tell Burke, and I’m not sure how he’s going to react. I’ve become adept at knowing what he’s going to say or think about something. I can usually predict it. But this is something we’ve never talked about, didn’t plan on, and I have absolutely no idea what he’s going to say. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m going to say yet. I’ve tried practising in the mirror, but haven’t been able to find the words.
The truth is, as much as I don’t know what he’s going to think about it, I don’t know what I even think about it yet. Everythinghas happened so fast, and the implications are so far-reaching that I haven’t been able to pin down how I feel about it all just yet. But it’s time we figure that out. Both of us. Together. Waiting is only going to make it harder and more awkward.
Burke is sitting out on the back deck reviewing notes for his current case. I step outside and breathe in the scent of the ocean, then turn my face up to the azure sky above, letting the sun’s rays warm my skin. I lay my hand on his shoulder, and he turns to me, a warm smile on his face as he sets his tablet down on the table beside him. I squeal, then laugh, as he pulls me down onto his lap, loops my arms around his shoulders, and gives me a soft kiss.
“Hey babe,” he says softly.
“Hey yourself.”
“I thought you were heading into the office?”
“I’ll do my paperwork here,” I reply, swallowing the lump in my throat.
