Epilogue
FOUR MONTHS LATER
ARIA
“Three… two… one. Happy New Year!”
Standing next to the Wishing Tree, shivers dance along my spine as the chilly wind perforates through the thin wool of my peacoat. I flip the collar up and adjust my scarf as the wind whips the tiny snow flurries around and around like dancing wood sprites.
Only this time…
“Aria?”
His breath skates across my cheek, the way he says my name is a husky seduction that makes me weak in the knees.
“Yeah?” I ask, leaning back into him to enjoy the fireworks exploding above our heads.
Shimmering golden sparkles rain down all around us before more fireworks streak up into the cloud-covered sky. Each boom reverberates through my chest like cannon fire, matching the drum beat of my heart that only beats for Mason McIntyre.
“I love you.”
God.
God, this man.
Warmth spreads through me like liquid fire that has nothing to do with the way his body is pressed against my backside. I tip my head back until it’s resting on his shoulder. I can see the fireworks above reflect like a kaleidoscope in his denim blue eyes.
“I love you three thousand,” I say back.
And yes, I know it’s nerdy and comes fromAvengers: Endgame, but whatever.
Mason kisses the tip of my nose. “I love it when you talk ‘nerty’ to me.”
Nerdy plus dirty equals ‘nerty.’ It’s our thing.
To say this has been the best New Year’s would be an understatement. Mason surprised me with a trip back to CU to watch the fireworks. He said he wanted a New Year’s do-over. A second chance. We’ve been here for a few days already, replacing old memories with new ones. Makingbetterones.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Without taking my eyes off the light show, I reply, “Sure.”
He circles a strong arm around my bundled body, turning me in a half circle until—
Oh my god.
My gloved hand flies to my mouth when he drops to one knee, his hand reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a small powder blue box.
A Tiffany box. Every woman knows exactly what that box entails while your man is on bended knee.
“Mason.”
“Aria, you are my—”
I don’t need him to verbalize the question. I don’t need a flowery speech or sweet poetic verbiage. I don’t need him to say anything at all. Because my answer will always be—
“Yes!” I shout.
His handsome face breaks out with a smile full of effervescent happiness.
