EPILOGUE: TWO MONTHS LATER

DYLAN:

I watch Anna as she finishes running on the treadmill. Sweat glistens on her forehead, and her speed slows. Her lips move, silently singing along to whatever music pumps through her air pods. A pile of work sits in my office, and I should whittle it down. But I find it impossible to accomplish anything when she’s here.

She captivates me.

The struggle to hold back my feelings, keeping our relationship in the friend zone, was like trying to stop a hurricane. Preposterous. Pointless. Every one of her laughs, every sparkle in her eyes slipped further into my heart until I ached with the fulness. I had no chance against the inevitability of Anna. And now…

Calm settles around me. A sense of rightness fitting like connecting puzzle pieces that complete the picture. Not just Anna. But my Anna.

Almost.

The ring weighs down my pocket, waiting for the right moment. I want the perfect proposal, maybe a Christmas surprise. A romantic walk under a canopy of twinkling lights where I can ask her to be my wife. Knowing her, something will happen. A random tree branch will fall, or she’ll be so distracted by the holiday glitz that she leaves me behind when I drop to one knee. But that’ll just makes it our story.

She hops off the treadmill, and I make my way over. Before she sees me, Jason steps in and pats her on the arm, congratulating her on another workout finished. Do his fingers linger longer than necessary? Yes. And though a ridiculous rush of jealousy makes my fists clench, I can’t fire him because it would upset her. I’ll find some excuse to punch him later.

“How’s your store?” he asks her.

“Business is booming. Well, not booming, booming. A smaller explosion. Maybe like a burst.” Her fingers mimic her words, some sort of open-and-closed jazz hands happening. My smile catches me off guard, as it often does when she’s around, and the jealousy melts. It’s ridiculous to resent someone else for enjoying the warmth of her sunshine.

“Business is bursting,” she finishes with a flourish.

“Nice. I’ll be by later—” Jason notices me standing behind her and nods his head—“What’s up, Dylan?”

She whirls around, nearly stumbling with her quick motion, and I steady her, letting my fingers linger.

“When did you get here?” She smooths back loose hair and dips her chin, nibbling on her bottom lip.

Ah. It’s shy Anna today. “I came in to get some work done. But then I saw you.” No need to tell her how long I’ve actually been here enjoying the scenery.

“Have you eaten? We could grab lunch. Together, I mean.” Her long lashes flutter as she bats her eyes. Like I need extra encouragement to spend time with her.

“I could eat.” Smiling widely, I lean in. “Together, even.”

“Give me five minutes to change. I’ll be fast.”

“I’m hungry too.” Jason darts his eyes between us, and I think about firing him again. Instead, I laugh.

“Get your own girlfriend,” I say, throwing my arm around Anna’s shoulders.

“See you later.” She waves at him as we walk toward the changing rooms, oblivious to the way he stares.

I told her about Jason’s crush, how he’d steal her from me if she opened that door. But she laughed, shaking her head like I made it up. Sure, Dylan, she said with a wink. It amazes me how she remains unaware of her appeal. She’s a beautiful, blooming flower, and all the other insects flutter around, hoping for an opportunity to land. Which makes me want to stomp them down and destroy the invasive species.

She really needs to wear my ring.

Soon.

“The ladies’ room is the one on the left,” I tease, giving her an extra squeeze.

“Ha ha. You change in the men’s room one time.” Slipping out from under my arm, she glares at me, but the laughter in her eyes shows her amusement. “Be right back.”

The door squeaks, and she hustles in, leaving me to wait. Tucking my hands in my pockets, I grip the ring box. My callused fingers brush against soft velvet, and I daydream about proposing. Maybe instead of a walk I should rent a carriage. We’d snuggle under a blanket, the horse’s feet clomping along the street. No tree branches to fall, no chance of her leaving me behind. Just the two of us. Trapped in the carriage.

Then I think of the horse. The smells. The less pleasant sounds. A potentially annoying carriage driver interrupting our private moment.

Yeah, no carriage. Cross that off the list.

In my third round of proposal ideas (sunset on the beach!), she exits the changing room wearing a simple white tee and jeans. She smoothed back her ponytail and swiped something shiny on her lips. My heart beats a little faster as she joins me. I love this girl so much.

“Lunch today is my treat.” She bumps me with her shoulder. “Don’t even try arguing. I won the settlement against the ex-hole and now he’s paying more money. This is a celebration.”

“Why would I argue against being a trophy… boyfriend?” I almost let the word husband slip. Not yet. Not until I figure out the perfect moment to pop the question.

“You ready?” Her elbow juts out, and I pull my hand free to wrap my arm through hers. But I accidentally drag the ring box too. It hovers on the edge of my pocket, suspended for a millisecond before falling with a clunk to the tile.

Scrambling down to grab it before she can see, my hands search while my gaze darts between her and the floor.

“Did you drop something?” She crouches and I shout at her to stop right as I grasp the smooth velvet.

And I realize here I am, down on one knee, in front of the woman I love. Mere feet from the place we met. You’re in the wrong place, I’d told her, referring to the fact that she was changing in the men’s room. But now the wrong place feels right. An imperfectly perfect spot.

“This is the wrong place.” My head swims, a mixture of excitement and relief swirling. But a sense of certainty swells with each breath I draw, in every beat of my heart. “It’s supposed to be on a beach or under a canopy of trees. By a lakeside, or a fancy restaurant.”

“What are you talking about?” She scrunches her eyebrows, a confused smile crinkling her lips.

“Until I met you, I forgot life is about more than surviving. Every day dragged into the next with my routine of work, eat, and sleep. I pushed myself. I tried to be a good dad, and I thought that was enough.” Taking her left hand in my right, I hold on as I meet her eyes. “But you helped me remember life is meant to be enjoyed. I never want to lose sight of that again.” With my left hand, I flick open the ring box and lift it up.

She doesn’t notice at first, her focus on my words. “Thank you. The last few months have been the best of my life.”

At that moment, Never Gonna Give You Up starts playing from the overhead speakers. Rick Astley coming in with the assist.

“Anna.” I lift the ring box into her line of sight. The light catches on the diamond, sparkling as she gasps. “I’m never gonna give you up. Will you marry me?”

Biting her lip, tears stream down her cheeks. Her head bobs, nodding wildly, and I don’t wait for her to change her mind. I slip the ring on her finger and stand, pulling her in close. Holding her in my arms.

“Yes, I love you,” she whispers.

“I adore you.” This is perfect. Anna in my arms. For the rest of our lives.

THE END