Epilogue

PARKER

I woke to the gentle press of Travis's lips against my neck, his stubble tickling my skin. I smiled, eyes still closed, and snuggled back against his warm chest. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer.

"Mmm, morning," I replied, finally blinking my eyes open. I turned in his embrace, drinking in the sight of his sleep tousled blond hair and full, rose-colored lips. Even after a year, the sight of him still took my breath away.

Travis grinned, that heart-stopping smile that never failed to make my pulse race. "Happy anniversary, babe."

My heart swelled. "Happy anniversary." I leaned in to kiss him softly, savoring the familiar taste of his lips. "I can't believe it's been a whole year since we got together," I mused, tracing my fingers along his stubbled jaw. "Sometimes it feels like just yesterday we met at the clinic."

He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "Best fucking day of my life was when I decided to hire you." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Though I gotta say, if I'd known back then what a fox you were under those polo shirts, I might not have been able to keep it professional."

I laughed, swatting his chest playfully. "Please, you were the epitome of professionalism. I was the one struggling not to stare at your ass every time you bent over to help a patient."

"Oh really?" His eyebrows shot up, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "And here I thought I was being so subtle, bending over extra slow just for show."

I felt my cheeks flush. "You did not!"

"Did so," he insisted, rolling us so he hovered above me. "I wanted you so badly. Took all my willpower not to kiss you senseless right there in front of our patients."

My breath caught as his lips ghosted along my jawline. "God, I felt it too, this undeniable pull towards you," I admitted, tilting my head to give him better access. "I kept telling myself it was just a crush, that it would pass."

Travis pulled back slightly, his expression softening. "I'm glad it didn't." He cupped my cheek, thumb stroking gently. "I love you so fucking much, Parker. This past year with you has been the happiest of my life."

Emotion welled up in my chest, threatening to spill over. "I love you too. More than I ever thought possible. I feel like with you, I've found my other half." I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down for a deep, passionate kiss.

We lost ourselves in each other for long moments, hands roaming well-known territory as our kisses grew heated. Just as things were about to escalate further, his stomach let out an impressive growl. I broke away, laughing. "Sounds like someone's hungry."

Travis grinned sheepishly. "Can you blame me? I worked up quite an appetite last night." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I felt my cheeks heat at the memory of our rather vigorous celebration the night before. "Mmm, that you did," I agreed, pressing one last quick kiss to his lips before gently pushing at his chest. "Come on, let's get some food in you before you waste away and then we need to get going if we want to get ahead of the game day traffic."

He rolled off me with a dramatic sigh. "Fine, but only if you make those blueberry pancakes I love."

"Deal," I said, climbing out of bed and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I tossed Travis's to him, admiring the view as he stretched languidly before putting them on.

Walking through the hallway, I took a few seconds to admire the many framed photos of us that hung on the wall. Vacations to the mountains, weekend trips we'd taken, the two of us at my parents' house in Ohio, us with all of his—make that, both of our—friends. It was a year's worth of memories, with plenty of wall space for all the years to come.

In the kitchen, I gathered ingredients while Travis started the coffee maker. We moved around each other with practiced ease, stealing kisses and touches as we went about our morning routine. It struck me how seamlessly we'd fallen into this domestic bliss, how natural it felt to share my life with him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, setting a steaming mug of coffee beside me on the counter as I poured pancake batter onto the griddle.

I smiled. "Just thinking about how different things were a year ago. How lost I felt after David and I broke up, how scared I was. Worried that I'd end up all alone, that I'd never know what true happiness felt like."

His expression softened. He set his mug down and pulled me into a gentle embrace. "I'm so glad you decided to give me a chance," he murmured against my hair. "I can't imagine my life without you in it now."

I melted into his arms, breathing in his familiar scent. "Me neither. You make me happier than I ever thought possible, Travis."

We stood like that for a long moment, just holding each other close. Finally, he pulled back with a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, does this mean I get extra blueberries in my pancakes?"

I laughed, giving him a playful shove. "You're incorrigible."

"You love it." He grinned, stealing a quick kiss before grabbing plates from the cabinet.

We ate breakfast then quickly cleaned up the kitchen before heading to the bedroom to get ready for our day. I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This was everything I'd ever wanted—a love that felt like coming home, a partner who supported and challenged me in equal measure. Travis and I had built something beautiful together over the past year, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us.

The roar of the crowd washed over me as Travis and I stepped onto the field at Wrigley. The familiar scent of hot dogs, beer, and popcorn filled the air, mingling with the electric anticipation that always preceded a big game. I inhaled deeply, savoring the moment.

"God, I love this," he murmured beside me, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Never gets old, does it?"

I shook my head, grinning. "Never."

We made our way to the dugout, where several of the Cubs players we'd been working with, greeted us warmly. Jake, a pitcher recovering from a rotator cuff injury, clapped Travis on the back.

"Hey, doc! Here to make sure I don't fuck up all your hard work?" he asked with a wry smile.

Travis laughed. "You better not, or I'll have you doing extra reps next session."

As the players began their warm-up routines, I leaned against the railing, watching them with a critical eye. It was gratifying to see how far they'd come, the fluid ease of their movements a testament to hours of grueling therapy and rehabilitation.

"They're looking good," I remarked to Travis. "Jake's follow-through is much smoother now."

Travis nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, he's made amazing progress. They all have."

There was something in his tone that made me glance at him curiously. He seemed off, almost as if he was nervous. Which was odd, because Travis was rarely anything but confident.

"You okay?" I asked softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

He startled slightly, then gave me a quick smile. "Yeah, of course. Just excited for the game to start."

Before I could probe further, the stadium announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin with our National Anthem, we have a special announcement from the Cubs' physical therapy team."

I blinked in surprise, turning to Travis. "Um—did you know about this?"

His answering grin was both mischievous and slightly hesitant. "Maybe. Come on, let's head out to the field."

As he grabbed my hand and led me towards the pitcher's mound, my heart began to race. What was going on? The knowledge that thousands of eyes were on us made my palms sweat, but Travis's steady presence beside me was reassuring.

"Travis," I hissed, "what are you doing?"

He just winked at me, that infuriatingly charming grin still in place. "You trust me, right?"

"Of course," I answered without any hesitation. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as we reached the pitcher's mound. The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath, a palpable tension in the air. Travis's hand was warm in mine, his thumb rubbing small soothing circles on my skin.

"Ladies and gentlemen." His voice rang out, amplified by the microphone he'd picked up off the ground. "I hope you'll forgive this brief interruption, but I have something important to say." He turned to face me, his blue eyes sparkling with emotion. "This man walked into my life a year ago and turned my world upside down. He's the kindest, most compassionate person I've ever met. His dedication to our patients, his unwavering support for me, and his ability to make me laugh even on the toughest days—make him everything I never knew I needed."

I felt my cheeks flush, overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze and the sincerity in his voice. "Parker, before we met," he continued, his voice softening, "I thought I had it all figured out. But you showed me what it means to truly connect with someone, to build a partnership based on trust, respect, and love." He paused, taking a deep breath. "You've made this past year the happiest of my life. And I want nothing more than to spend every day trying to make you as happy as you've made me."

As Travis dropped to one knee, the world around us seemed to fade away. The roar of the crowd became a distant hum, the bright stadium lights dimming until all I could see was Travis's face, his eyes shining with love and hope.

"Parker Scott Reyes," he said, his voice trembling slightly as he held up a ring. "Will you continue to make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my husband?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I nodded emphatically. "Yes," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Travis. Of course I will!"

His face broke into a radiant smile as he slipped the ring onto my finger. In an instant, he was on his feet, pulling me into his arms. His lips crashed against mine, warm and familiar, yet electrifying in this moment. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I poured every ounce of love and joy I felt into that kiss.

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted around us. I broke away from Travis, startled, only to realize it was the entire stadium cheering for us. The sound was overwhelming, an outpouring of support and celebration that left me breathless. "Holy shit," I laughed, wiping at my eyes. "I forgot where we were for a second there."

He grinned; his arm still wrapped securely around my waist. "That's a good thing. Though I have to admit, I didn't expect quite this level of enthusiasm from a bunch of baseball fans."

We held hands as The National Anthem played then made our way back to the dugout. Travis suddenly nudged me, pointing up at the stands. "Look who made it," he said, his voice warm with affection.

I followed his gaze, my heart swelling as I spotted a group of familiar faces. There, sitting just above the dugout, were Travis's friends, our co-workers, and—my parents? I blinked in disbelief, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

"Mom? Dad?" I called out, waving excitedly.

They waved back, both of them beaming with pride. Next to them, I saw David, my ex-boyfriend-turned friend, sitting with a handsome man I recognized as Dr. Martinez from the hospital. The two of them had been dating for about eight months and seemed to fit together in a way David and I never had. David caught my eye and flashed me a genuine smile, mouthing ‘Congratulations' as we passed, and I felt a surge of warmth in my chest. It seemed like we'd both ended up finding happiness.

A wave of contentment washed over me. Here I was, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, having just gotten engaged to the man of my dreams. I squeezed Travis's hand, overcome with emotion. "You okay?" he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face. "I'm great," I replied. "Everything is perfect."

The game flew by in a blur of excitement and stolen kisses between Travis and me. Before I knew it, we were filing into Gibson's Grill, a swanky steakhouse overlooking the Chicago River. The warm glow of the restaurant's lighting seemed to mirror the happiness radiating from our group.

"To the happy couple!" Jasper raised his glass in a toast. The rest of the group followed suit, a chorus of cheers and clinking glasses filling the air.

I caught my mom's eye across the table, noticing the way she was beaming at my fiancé. God, that had a nice ring to it. "So, Travis," she began, leaning in conspiratorially, "tell me more about how you fell in love with our Parker."

Travis chuckled, his hand finding mine under the table. "Well, Mrs. Reyes, it all started when this incredibly talented physical therapist walked into my clinic for his first day of work?—"

As he regaled my parents with the story of our first meeting, embellishing it with his trademark charm, I couldn't help but marvel at how seamlessly he fit into my family. My dad was laughing at Travis's jokes, my mom was hanging on to his every word, and I—well, I was falling in love all over again.

"I have to say, Travis," my dad chimed in, cutting into his perfectly cooked ribeye. "It's clear how much you care for our son. We're thrilled to have you join our family."

I felt a lump form in my throat, overcome with emotion. "Thanks, Dad," I managed to say, squeezing Travis's hand under the table. His eyes were watery as he thanked my dad.

The evening passed in a whirlwind of laughter, stories, and endless congratulations. As we stepped out into the warm summer night, my parents hugged us both tightly before heading back to their hotel. "We'll see you for brunch tomorrow, sweetie," my mom said, kissing my cheek.

After waving goodbye to our friends, we found ourselves alone for the first time since the proposal. Travis turned to me, his smile radiant in the city lights. "Ready to head home, fiancé?" he asked, the word sending another thrill through me.

I bit my lip, an idea forming in my head. "Actually," I replied, feeling a surge of spontaneity that I knew came from being with Travis. "There's something else I want to do first."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be, Mr. Reyes-soon-to-be-Brooks?"

I grinned, tugging him closer by his belt loops. "It's a surprise. You up for an adventure?"

"With you?" He smiled, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. "Always."

The pulsing beat of the club enveloped us as we stepped through the doors of Whipped, the scent of sweat and beer, familiar to all clubs, hitting my senses. Travis's hand was warm in mine as I led him through the crowd, bodies already writhing on the dance floor.

"So," he leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear, "why exactly did you want to come here?"

I turned to face him, taking in the way the flashing lights played across his chiseled features. Damn, he was beautiful. I shrugged, feeling a mix of shyness and pride. "I guess I just wanted to show off my fiancé. Let everyone here know he's really and truly off the market now."

Travis's eyes softened, a slow smile spreading across his face. He pulled me closer, his strong arms encircling my waist. The music faded to background noise as he cupped my face in his hands, his intense gaze making my heart race.

"Baby," he said, his voice low and full of emotion, "I've been really and truly off the market from the day we first met."

My breath caught in my throat. He still had the ability to make me weak in the knees and I suspected he always would. I leaned into his touch, overwhelmed by the love I felt for this man. "Travis, I—" I started, but he silenced me with a kiss that made my toes curl.

When we finally broke apart, both of us slightly breathless, I couldn't help but laugh. "You know, when I pictured bringing you here, I thought there'd be more dancing involved."

He grinned, that mischievous glint I adored appearing in his eyes. "Oh, we'll dance alright," he promised, his hands sliding down to my hips. "But first, I want to make sure everyone in this club knows exactly who you belong to." As he pulled me into his arms, our mouths connecting and our bodies moving in perfect sync, I knew without a doubt I'd never felt happier or more loved in my entire life.

THE END