Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Lorelei

I stand at the edge of the box the Callahans managed to snag for the Chiefs playoff game, staring down at the field with my hands trembling and my stomach in knots.

I'm not sure I've ever been this nervous for someone else.

Even on the flight to San Francisco, I was anxious.

I can only imagine how Kieran must be feeling right now.

Everyone is here to support him. Micheal and Jackie, Kian's stepmom. King and Tate, Wilder, Hendrix, and Noelle.

It's the first time all season that we've all been in attendance. But it feels right. And if the Chiefs manage to secure a win tonight, then we'll do it all over at the Super Bowl in two weeks' time.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

I want it for them. I want it so freaking badly.

I glance over at Wilder. He looks as green as I feel.

Over the past few months, he's struck up a friendship with Kieran. At this point, I'm pretty sure Kieran has a god-like status in Wilder's life. But I can't complain. For a wild child himself, Kieran's been nothing but a good influence on my little brother. I just wish Wilder didn't have access to Kieran's social media to see what he gets up to off the field. I'm pretty sure Kieran's active dating life is one of the reasons Wilder is so keen to go pro. He's worked his way around the jersey chasers at school; he's ready to dip his toe into a bigger pool of willing women. God help them all.

"They're going to do it. I know they are," Tate says confidently, cradling baby Prince against her.

My eyes drop to my godson, and I swear my heart explodes with his cuteness.

Chubby cheeks, stunning green eyes, just like his daddy.

Just another Callahan boy to steal all the ladies' hearts. "Yeah," Kian agrees, eagerly waiting for Kieran to emerge. But as confident as he might sound, I know he's worried.

Kieran has been off his game a little recently. He's missing his good luck charm, and tonight is going to be no different.

"He's got this," I say, twisting my fingers with his and squeezing. "He's probably on the phone to her now."

"Yeah." He laughs, a smile playing on his lips as he thinks about his little brother's pregame ritual.

The next three hours are a blur of screaming and shouting, of excitement, disappointment, and frustration.

It's a good game. A really good game. But it also means that the Chiefs are behind just as much as they're in front. It's the epitome of a nailbiter.

Kieran is struggling. The rest of the fans in the stadium who are screaming for their beloved Chiefs might not notice, but we do.

A piece of his puzzle is missing, and while in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't matter, it does.

As the clock counts down, the teams are tied. The home team are about make a play and the nerves about how this is going to end are ramping up.

"I can't watch," I say, turning around in favor of getting a drink, the pressure too much.

"Get back here," Kian says, pulling me into his side and pressing a kiss to the patch of skin just above the neck of my jersey.

My skin erupts in goosebumps as a roar sounds out around us.

"Shit," Kingston curses before Prince begins wailing. It's like he knows.

"Come on," I urge, glancing at the clock.

But it's too late. The home team is already celebrating.

The final minute passes slower than any I've ever known before. Each second is more painful than the last.

Kieran's Super Bowl hopes are over.

The final whistle sounds and everyone sags in defeat. The home team fans erupt with excitement as Chiefs fans' hearts shatter across the country.

"They did good," Tate says, but there's nothing but sadness in her voice.

"He should be proud of himself," I say despite the fact my heart hurts for him.

Watching Kieran stare up to the sky with his shoulders slumped in defeat is painful.

"You think you can hack this in the future?" Hendrix asks Wilder.

It takes him a couple of seconds to respond, and I know it's because he's feeling Kieran's pain right alongside him.

"Can't win them all," Wilder mutters sadly.

"We're celebrating tonight," Kingston says loudly as he stands in the middle of the room with Prince in his arms. "Kieran has had a killer season, and he deserves to celebrate that. Next year, he'll be back, and we'll all watch him lift that trophy."

"Hell yeah," Wilder shouts as Kian wraps me up in his arms.

With smiles on our faces, we head out in search of the youngest Callahan brother to remind him just how awesome he is.

" H e'll be okay, you know," I say as we make our way into our suite later that night.

It's almost midnight, but I'm still buzzing from the excitement of the day.

Kian is too.

It doesn't matter that we didn't win; the adrenaline is still there.

"Yeah, I know. It's just a bitter pill to swallow. Especially when he feels like it was his fault."

I watch as Kian pulls open the sliding doors. It's cool out, but I don't argue.

There's a swing seat under a small outdoor heater.

Ignoring the seat for a moment, I walk over to the railing and look out over the city.

We've barely had a chance to explore yet, but I'm looking forward to the next few days here.

In just a few short months with Kian, I've traveled more than I ever thought I would. It's been incredible, seeing just a small part of the world with him.

I shiver as the light breeze blows around me, the loose tendrils of hair tickling my face.

I expect Kian to join me, but his warmth never comes.

He isn't far away, though. My skin tingles with awareness, just like it always does when he's watching me.

"Lorelei," he says, his deep voice cutting through the air.

"Yeah?"

"Turn around," he demands.

Just like always, I follow orders, ripping my gaze from the view in favor of finding him.

I spin around, but I don't find what I'm expecting.

Kian isn't standing before me, waiting to cuddle up on the swing seat. Instead, he's…

"Oh my god," I gasp, my hand lifting to cover my gaping mouth.

He's on one knee.

He's on one freaking knee.

My heart begins to race, yet I'm pretty sure I stop breathing as Kian holds out a small black box.

"Lorelei, you rejected me from the get-go and ensured that I would never forget you," he starts, making me laugh. "From the first moment I saw you—which, by the way, was long before my brother's wedding—I knew there was something different about you. Even then, you weren't scared to voice your opinion and tell me what you really thought of me. You enthralled me, confused me, and captivated me.

"The day I saw you inside Callahan Enterprises, I just knew I couldn't let you work for anyone else. You were there for me. You just didn't know it yet.

"Every day, you make me a better person. A better brother, uncle, friend, boyfriend, and hopefully one day, a better husband.

"Lorelei Anne Tempest, will do you me the honor of agreeing to be my wife and spend the rest of your life by my side?"

"Kian," I breathe, unable to believe what I'm seeing and hearing.

Kian flips the ring box open, but I can't take my eyes away from his for a second to look at it.

I'm lost in the emotion and hope that's swimming inside them.

Seconds pass, but I barely notice as I lose myself in the feeling of the moment.

The surprise. The joy.

The love.

"Temptress, I think it's about now that you're meant to say something," he says almost nervously.

Surely he doesn't think I'd even consider saying no?

"Yes, Kian. Yes, of course I'll marry you," I cry.

In a heartbeat, I'm on my knees before him, my arms locked around his neck and my lips on his. Any thoughts of the ring have been long forgotten as I lose myself in my fiancé.

Holy shit, I'm marrying Kian Callahan.

"I'm not sure you should be laughing right now," he says when I break our kiss.

"It's happy, I promise."

He studies me closely before his own smile emerges.

"You just asked me to marry you," I say in disbelief.

"I did. And…you said yes."

I sit back as he holds the jewelry box between us, and I finally look down.

"Oh wow," I breathe, taking in the untraditional ring. There's a large emerald with smaller diamonds on either side. The green is the exact same color as Kian's eyes. I haven't put it on yet and I'm already obsessed.

Kian plucks it from the cushion and holds it out for me. My hand trembles as I lift it, and it only gets worse as he slides the ring into place.

"Oh my god," I whisper, the significance of the moment hitting me full force. But it's soon forgotten when Kian suddenly bellows, "She said yes," scaring the ever-loving shit out of me before a loud cheer erupts from the balconies around us.

"They knew?" I ask, although the answer is obvious.

"Well, I asked Wilder and Hendrix for permission to marry their big sister, and it just kinda got out."

"You did not," I gasp.

Kian shrugs. "I totally did. I needed to make sure the most important men in your life approved of me being their big brother."

A laugh tumbles from my throat.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Mrs. Callahan."