Epilogue

Aaron

One year later…

I’m watching Starla, sitting around the burn pit, surrounded by our friends. The things this woman has accomplished since being in Kissing Springs astounds me still. The protests finally stopped, the love and support she gives me, make everything that we have been through worth it.

I see her laugh at something Poppy says, and it makes me smile. Tonight is the night. I have the ring ready. Our friends are prepared and know what to do, everything is set up just the way I need it to be.

I don’t worry that she’ll say yes. I know she will. We have been through too much and our love is too great for her to turn me down. I know she is it for me. My forever. No career, no struggle, no amount of money can compare to Starla.

I leave my spot where the guys and I were standing and make my way over to Starla. She carries on her conversation, but her eyes focus on me, looking me up and down as I approach.

“Hey tiger,” she says as I wrap her in my arms. “Good game tonight. You played hard.” The subtle scrape of her teeth across her bottom lip is almost my undoing.

“Only because I was thinking of you, Star,” I whisper in her ear, making her blush.

Her friends all gathered around her giggle at her unease, and I use that moment to signal our friends that the time is now.

Cru and Trip rally around us, holding their signs we made that read SAY YES. Poppy, Nola, and Lennox each grab their roses from the seat of my truck, and they form a circle around Starla and me.

Starla, looking around confused, misses it as I drop to one knee and raise the ring box. With a nod of Nola’s head as they hand her the roses, Starla turns back to me finally.

The gasp that leaves her lets me know this is exactly the way it should be. Everything is perfect, so I begin.

“Starla, from the moment we met, I knew that something between us was different. I have never felt the feelings I have for you for anyone else. Your heart, your support, your love keeps me going throughout all of my days. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to continue to do the things I love doing the most. Your presence in my life shines so bright. You are the shining star that leads me home, and I would give anything if you would make me the happiest man alive and become my wife. My love. My Star. Will you marry me?”

Tears stream down her face as she nods.

“Yes. A thousand times, yes! I love you so much, Aaron! Of course I will marry you!”

Cheers erupt around us as I place the ring on her finger. I scoop her up in my arms as our group of friends shout out ‘SHE SAID YES!’ to the rest of the crowd gathers in the parking lot.

Just then, a shrill ringing breaks up the excitement. Trip pulls his phone out of his pocket and begins to apologize.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry. I have to take this.” He steps away to answer the call, but not far enough that we can’t see him. His expression turns serious, almost forlorn, as he listens intently to the person on the other end of the call. After a few minutes, he hangs up the phone and sighs, walking back over to us.

“Sorry,” he says again. “That was my aunt and when she calls, I have to answer.” He looks torn, almost sad in a way, and I worry for my friend.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“It’s fine, I guess. It’s just… my grandfather passed away and left me an inheritance, I guess. The life changing kind, you know? But my aunt says there is a stipulation. I have to be married within a year, or I will forfeit everything.”

The shock on all of our faces is quickly replaced with resolve as we all look at one another. We know we’re about to band together and help our friend.

“Alright, let’s get to work. I’ll set up your dating profiles,” Cru chimes in.

“We’ll go through our single friends,” Lennox chimes in. The girls all gather around each other, starting the search for someone for Trip.

Starla wraps her arms around my waist and leans her head on my chest. A huge smile on her face.

“Guess there will be two weddings we’ll need to plan,” she says on a small laugh.

I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. As I look around at our friends and the love pouring out of them all, I know that, finally, my life is full. I couldn’t have chosen a better family for Starla and I to begin our lives with.

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WHAT'S NEXT WITH brITNEY'S STORIES WITHIN THE WELCOME TO KISSING SPRINGS SERIES?

Book 1: Scoring Santa – Nash

Book 2: Sunshine & Sidelines – Tobin

Book 3: Bourbon & Blindside – Chance

Book 4: Midnight and Mitts – Aaron

Book 5: Southern and Shutout – Trip

Book 6: Chances and Champs – Cru