Epilogue

EPILOGUE

EARLY FEbrUARY

LUNA

" G reat job today, Luna. The students were really engaged."

"Thank you." I turn to Principal Stevens and shake his hand.

"I think you'll fit in great here at Wakefield High. If that's what you want, of course, we've been very impressed with your approach and resumé and would like to offer you the position."

Trying not to leap into his arms because I've learned along the way that it's not always appropriate, I shake his hand once more. "This school is absolutely where I want to be."

"Excellent! Well, we'll have all the necessary paperwork drawn up and sent across to you for review, but suffice it to say, welcome to Wakefield."

"I can't wait," I reply, trying to keep my excitement under control.

Turning on my heel, I begin walking down the hallway and past all the lockers. I love the feel here. I never thought I'd find a place like my last school, but somehow, this one feels even better.

Settling into Seattle has been far easier than I could've ever imagined, especially since Amie is officially out of the picture. Unfortunately for her, she didn't heed Zach's advice to stay out of our lives. She continued to turn up at our apartment, and when she posted on social media, spreading lies about how her relationship ended with Zach, trying to drag his name through the mud, that was the final straw. His agent, the Scorpions media and press team, and his lawyer—Kate to be precise—all went about setting the records straight and saying what really happened. Amie seemed to forget that when you send manipulative and abusive text messages, there's a chance people might save them, you know, just in case. And the thing is, the general public doesn't like liars and neither do they like her sport and fitness brand anymore. I just hope she checks her behavior since shes's a new mom.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my coat as I step out into the frigid air. The sky is slowly turning dark, and Seattle is definitely experiencing a cold snap.

"You got it, right?"

"Yes!" I squeak out and then quickly turn around to check no one is behind me to witness my embarrassing happy dance.

"I don't like to say I told you so," Felicity replies.

"Yeah, go ahead, say it anyway."

"I told you so."

I pull out the key for my new car—a sunshine yellow Jeep Wrangler. Turns out Zach wasn't finished with his Christmas gifts and ordered me to sell my old one since it was "dangerous." That lit a fire under Jon, who has tried twice more to replace Martha Mini, but Felicity clings to her for dear life.

"Congratulations, babe," she sings through the speakers as my phone connects to the Bluetooth.

"Thank you. No more boredom at home."

"Have you heard from your mom?"

My excitement dulls. "Yeah, but she says she needs time to ‘deal with it all.'"

She scoffs in disbelief. "What? To come to terms with the fact her daughter is happy and in love with the man of her dreams?"

"Yep," I say, cranking the engine and switching on the heated seats.

Felicity clears her throat, and I can tell she's biting back her frustration toward my mom. But being the positive person she is, she decides to move past it. "So, what do you have planned to celebrate?"

I look in the back seat and at the gleaming white skates Zach bought last year, along with the huge pink coat and matching earmuffs he said I'd need. "I think I'm going to break my neck and go skating."

She barks out a laugh. "What at the rink?"

"No, he told me to meet him at Lake Washington. I'm headed over there now." I check the time and wince. "And I'm running behind."

"Best I let you go then," she replies in a giddy tone.

"You sound more stoked about this job than I am," I say, pulling out of the school lot.

"It's a big deal, babe. Make sure you celebrate hard. Even if it's on a freezing cold lake in the middle of nowhere."

"Hmmm you're not selling it."

"Just don't fall on your ass. Enjoy! Mwah!" she says before hanging up.

I hit the freeway, needing to make time, and fast.

I throw my car into park and hop out, pulling the back door open and grabbing my coat, gloves, and earmuffs.

God knows how I'm going to get these skates on.

"Need some help, Rocket?" My boyfriend makes me jump as he comes to stand next to me, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

He looks hot in a backward cap, don't get me wrong. But Zach Evans in a black beanie is another level of delicious. His brown hair curls around the edges and frames his gorgeous face perfectly.

"If we want to get on there before midnight, then yeah, please."

He pops my trunk and points to the bed. "Have a seat."

With my feet dangling over the edge, I watch as he carefully laces up each skate. He doesn't say much which is unusual for him, and he kind of seems nervous.

"Are you okay?" I finally ask as he removes the blade guards and takes a couple of steps over the verge with me in his arms.

Setting me down on the ice, he joins me as we glide out into the vast open space. There's no one around other than fir trees and lights from surrounding buildings, but I can tell people have been skating earlier since there are blade marks crisscrossing all over.

"I'm good. Even better since you texted me to say you got it."

"Yeah, hopefully, I'll have a confirmed date soon, and I can start pulling my weight." I nudge my shoulder into him, and he slides behind, wrapping me in his arms. His nose has turned slightly pink in the cold air, and I reach up and rub it with my glove.

Smiling down at me, he kisses my forehead. "You never have to worry about money. I told you that."

"Thank you."

Turning so he's now skating backwards, he takes both of my hands in his. "You're definitely steadier."

"I have a good teacher."

He smiles and looks up at the clear night sky. "They're all out tonight."

We come to a stop in the middle of the huge lake. "They are."

"They're aligned," he whispers, and I'm not sure if it's to himself or to me.

I squeeze his hand tighter. "Aligned?"

"Yeah, they're all here. There's even a full moon."

I inhale a deep breath.

"Don't."

"Don't what?" I say, a cheeky smile on my lips.

"Fucking howl."

I push my bottom lip out. "Why not?"

"Because it will ruin the moment."

My brows knit together. "What mom?—"

"This." Keeping his sparkling turquoise eyes on mine, Zach slowly drops to one knee, holding one hand in mine and sliding his other into the pocket of his long black coat.

"Zach, what are you doi?—"

"Shhh." He brings his pointer finger to his lips, and I see a tiny black velvet box buried in his palm.

"Can you keep yourself upright for a few seconds?" he asks in a breathy voice.

I nod, the words dying on my tongue.

Taking his other hand from mine, he hovers it over the lid of the box.

"Luna Rose Johnson. My Pocket Rocket. The woman who gives me more shit than anyone I've ever met. The woman who tells me just like it is. You drive me to the point of insanity sometimes."

I sniffle a laugh, my swirling hair getting caught in the dampness of my cheeks.

"But insane feels like a great place to be because, baby, I'm fucking crazy for you. Crazy about how you take my breath away every morning. Crazy over wondering how I didn't steal you as mine when we were younger. I'm crazy over the way you make my heart beat harder each day, and it drives me crazy trying to figure out how it even functioned before I called you mine. Truth is..."

He pops the lid on the box, revealing a pink princess-cut diamond set in a yellow gold band. My hand flies to my mouth, and I stumble, but quickly, his hand comes to my arm to steady me once more.

"The truth is, it didn't. It was frozen in time. Waiting for me to wake the fuck up and realize what true love really is. It's being crazy in all the best ways with the best person. The other truth is—" He plucks the ring from the velvet cushion, and I watch as the gorgeous diamond dances against the moonlight. "I got your ring measurements at the same time as your wrist."

I've already pulled my left glove off before he's even asked the question and he chuckles as he notices.

"So, yeah, I'd say they've finally aligned." He blows out one last anxious breath.

"Be my wife."

"Yes!" I shout, leaping forward and into his arms.

It's a good thing he's built like stone as he clings onto the ring grasped between his thumb and forefinger. "Let me put it on you."

"Oh, yeah."

I hold out my hand as he slowly pushes it onto my finger. It's a perfect fit.

"Zach, it's, it's."

"Is my fiancée lost for words?"

I nod, the sobs breaking free.

"You'd better find them, Rocket, because we've got some celebrating to do."

Zach nods over my shoulder as I turn to look in that direction.

In the distance, I can't miss the familiar outlines of the people I've come to love. I laugh as Kate helps Felicity along. "Kate's got some moves on the ice," I say.

"Sure has."

I turn back to Zach as an admission forces its way from me. "I know I just got this job, but when you're ready, I want you to know, so am I. My family is here, and I want to start one with you too."

He drops to his knee once more, resting his forehead against my stomach for a second, and then he wraps his arms around me.

"When it comes to you, I've been ready forever."

THE END.