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Epilogue
Elli
Six Months Later
I wake to the sunlight filtering through the windows and the aroma of freshly filtered coffee.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stretch in the huge bed, smiling as I remember the date. Six months to the day since I moved to New York with Noah. The happiest six months of my life.
I resigned from my job at the resort the same day Noah rescued me from Raymond. I had plenty of vacation leave and used it to cover my notice period.
We haven’t heard a squeak from Harold or my step-brothers. I expected to feel bad about leaving them in the lurch, but the guilt never came. I’m free, unburdened for the first time in my life with the man I love by my side, and it feels damn good.
The icing on the proverbial cake is having my best friend close by. Harmony and Mack are now husband and wife as well as singing partners. Like Noah and I, they had a whirlwind romance and married a few months ago. They would’ve tied the knot sooner, but Harmony wanted to wait until they took a break from touring with Triple Threat.
New York City is everything I thought it would be from seeing it in movies and TV shows. Noah has been my tour guide, showing me everything from the Garment District to Ground Zero, from Central Park to Times Square.
Times Square was an eye-opener after living in a small town my whole life—an overload of sight, sound, and smell as we passed by huge department stores, food carts filled with hot dogs and pretzels, and gigantic hotels with theaters inside. I think I spent most of my first visit gaping at the bright lights and tall buildings.
Stepping inside Noah’s condo in Manhattan for the first time was like stepping into a whole new world. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, a gym, and a beautifully designed kitchen complete with state-of-the-art appliances. The place had a minimalist feel with clinical white walls and modern furniture, but I soon added my touch with soft furnishings, paintings, and a bolder color scheme, turning it into a cozy home.
As for me, my little online jewelry business has continued to grow as my brand increases in popularity. People seem to love that my creations are bespoke, and no two pieces are the same. I’ve even started taking some larger commissions from a local arts and crafts shop, which places an order every few months for new pieces.
I’m pulled from my thoughts as Noah enters the room carrying a tray laden with food.
“What’s all this?” I ask as he places the tray on the bedside cabinet on his side of the bed.
I pull myself into a seated position as he settles on the bed next to me. “I thought today deserved a little breakfast in bed,” he says with a grin, dipping his head to kiss my bare shoulder. “We have croissants, eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, and… huh… what’s this in the middle?” he asks, pulling a small velvet box from the tray.
My hand flies to my mouth as he opens it to reveal a huge diamond engagement ring.
“Every day with you is the best day of my life, Elli. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. We moved at light speed when we met, but I knew you were it for me. You are my everything, and I can’t imagine making this journey called life without having you by my side as my wife. So, Elli Dancer, will you marry me?”
I suck in a breath… and release it on a tirade of words. “Oh, my God, of course, I’ll marry you! I love you so much, you gorgeous, beautiful man, and I can’t wait to spend my life with you because you are my lobster, just like Rachel and Ross in Friends, which is my way of saying you’re my soulmate and—”
Noah silences me with his mouth, and I melt against him, tasting my tears as he kisses me soundly.
“I love you,” I murmur when we finally come up for air.
“I love you too, sweetheart. So much.” He pulls back, removing the ring from the box and sliding it on my finger. “Now you’re mine,” he growls, yanking me beneath him and pressing me into the mattress.
“I was yours way before you put this ring on my finger,” I tell him, wrapping my legs around his waist. “and I’ll be yours until the sun stops shining and the moon stops... mooning?” I look at him sheepishly.
He chuckles, smoothing my tangled hair back from my face. “Sounds like a long time.”
I pull his head down to mine for a heated kiss. “Not nearly long enough, my love. Not nearly long enough.”
