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EPILOGUE
EMILY
Eight Months Later
Iwatch from the side curtain of the stage as the crew finishes the final touches to the stage before we step into the spotlight. Jake is in the front row of the stadium, insisting he wanted the real concert feel. Not sure what that means, but he does his own thing, which I love. We’ve been together for close to eight months and each day’s stronger to where I can’t imagine my life without him.
And I can’t believe that our band has gone from just playing in dive bars to being a supporting act to a massive band that fills out stadiums for concerts. I’m not only singing to a handful of people in a bar, but to over five thousand in the stadium and live on TV, too. We’ve already been approached by a huge record label. I still can’t believe I’m living my dream.
My attention sweeps over the roaring fans in the audience to Dad, Jake’s mom, his brother, Ryan, and Sarah. They’re in the premium box stand, looking like royalty. I’ve also noticed Ryan and Sarah have been spending more time together recently… which is amazing.
Everything brings tears to my eyes lately. His mom’s presence tonight means the world to not only Jake but me, too. He catches my gaze as he turns and tries to see who I’m looking at.
Finally, we’re getting waved to get on stage, and with Trev and Lily, we emerge, the crowds already cheering wildly. Jake’s up on his feet, hooting and whistling.
Set in our position, suddenly, the lights on stage go down, which wasn’t planned. Is there a power failure? God no! The lights in the stadium are also lowered, and I’m glancing around but can’t see anything on stage and panic is crawling through me as I hear footsteps around me.
“What’s going on?” I whisper over my shoulder.
This just happens to be at our home stadium, and I don’t want things to go bad now. I’m more than exhausted. The last four months have drained every last ounce of energy out of me, but I’ve been frantically anticipating tonight’s concert.
Then the lights come back on in a flash, momentarily blinding me, but I’m alone on stage as the spotlight focuses on Jake, who is climbing the stairs to join me.
“Jake?” I say in surprise, a nervous shiver climbing up my spine.
He waves to the fans just as Trev announces who he is to the crowd on the microphone.
Of course, with Jake now being a superstar quarterback with the local team, everyone knows him. So, they burst into explosive cheers.
I’m nervous, excited, and confused.
Everyone’s screaming his name because, of course, they’re football fans, and then it’s as if everything becomes magical when he takes my hand.
He smiles at me with an enchanting glint in his eyes, and I can’t help but focus on what his other hand is doing. It’s reaching to his back pocket, and there it is—a small box.
Tears are already in my eyes… God, is this happening now?
Then he bends down on one knee.
The crowd goes mental, screaming, and I’m full-blown crying.
I put my hands all over my mouth in shock. We’d talked about our future, and both agreed that our careers were taking off, so we would hold out for commitment in the future. I had been disappointed by his reply. The days and nights we’ve been apart because of his games or my gigs have brought us closer together.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that. But I’m not expecting this…
Trev is there and hands Jake a microphone.
“Emily Anderson, I love you so much. Will you marry me?”
I love this man more than breathing. He’s taught me how to love myself, how to find love. He has shown me how to stop hiding my love for music and bridged that gap between my dad and me. He spoils me, wakes me with kisses—everywhere—and I miss him every second we’re apart.
I reach over and take his microphone with a shaky hand.
“Yes, I love you. And a hundred times yes.”
He puts the huge rock on my finger as my mouth drops open, then he swings me in the air. Pressing my lips against his, I’m the happiest person in the world.
The crowd is roaring in the background, clapping for us, whistling.
