This has been a crazy-good year.
I win my first league MVP. And I know New Orleans is going to get their own championship trophy soon. I’m going to be sure we bring a championship to my home city. I won’t let that story end any other way.
And even more importantly, I have the love of my life by my side.
Winter stayed in New York for a month like she planned, and I flew there for opening night of Summerset Nights. Charly and Ashley joined me along with Winter’s parents.
Winter was phenomenal in her role. I know how hard she worked to get back to this level. To get over what that asshole did to her and stand on a stage again. But she told me she had no second thoughts about leaving when the show’s run is over.
And so, when she was ready, I helped Winter pack up, and we came home to the bayou. She moved in with me. Some people may think we’re moving too fast, but for Winter and me, it feels like it took a decade to finally end up where we belong—together.
She reached out to Les Anderson, and they were on the same page. Seems he’d been going around the city, trying to find a home for her musical. And he got one at a cool theater right off the French Quarter.
Winter asked Les if he would direct it, and he agreed but only if Winter played the lead. She said yes, and the two of them went about casting the rest of the characters.
Now, tonight is opening night, and I have a special surprise planned for afterward.
I sit with Liam, Murph, Charly and Simon, Declan and Callie, and Ashley. Winter’s parents are directly in front of us. Her mama’s so thrilled; as she keeps telling me, if she’d known she could have the best of both, she would have urged her only child to stay in New Orleans years ago.
Winter nails her performance. She bows for the standing ovation at the end of the night, and when I catch her eye, she gives me a little wave.
I wink, hoping she knows how proud I am of her.
She was willing to change plans and follow her heart. To learn how to be kind to herself and still follow her ambitions.
I also know what it took for me to open up my heart again after losing both my parents. And the only woman I could ever love is standing on that stage before me.
After the show, I go backstage with a bouquet of roses for her.
We’re in her dressing room, and Winter thanks me as she buries her face in the roses to sniff them.
“Ouch!” She brings her head up and stares into the roses.
I hide my smile. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s just that I banged my nose on someth—” She pulls out a shiny piece of jewelry. “Hunter? What is this?”
I take the ring out of her hand and drop down on one knee. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
She puts her hands over her mouth.
“Winter Princess Allen, I love you. I will always love and respect and cherish you. Will you marry me?” I didn’t think I’d be nervous. I’m used to being in the spotlight and needing to deliver in the clutch. And yet, here I am with shaking hands, hoping the woman I love will say yes.
“Yes.” She drops to her knees, and I slip the ring on her finger.
I take her chin in my hand and kiss her to seal the deal.
We’re still kissing when there’s a loud bang on her dressing room door.
“Can we come in?” Ashley’s voice says.
Winter laughs. “Sure.”
Ashley and Charly barge through the door with Murph in tow.
“Well?” Murph stares at us. “I got his plan out of him, Win. So you may as well tell us first—are y’all getting hitched?”
“We are,” she says.
