Epilogue Grayson

I always thought I was the kind of guy who would never settle down. Charlotte has shown me that’s not true at all.

Just a text from her while I’m out on assignment for Platinum Security makes my heart feel light. When I get home and see her smiling face, my heart always skips a beat. Whether she’s wearing a bun and baggy sweatpants or something she’s picked up from a lingerie store, I’m always happy to see Charlotte at the end of the day. Time has just flown by, it doesn’t even seem like we've been together for almost half a year.

When I got home from work today, she sure as Hell wasn’t wearing baggy sweat pants. I barely had time to hang up my jacket before we were all over each other. Now, we’re making love in the golden sunshine coming in through the bedroom window.

I can’t get over how good Charlotte tastes. I could kiss her forever. My heart feels lighter than a cloud.

The darkness has been shooed away, held at bay by her magnificent brilliance. I pull back, cupping her cheek as I gaze into eyes bluer than the most perfect sky.

“Charlotte, I never want to let you go.”

She smiles, her eyes holding that perfect happiness that seems just on the verge of tears.

“Then don’t.”

We lay there together, sweat mingling as our glistening bodies cool. I stroke Charlotte’s midnight black hair, basking in the utter, simple joy of her body laying against my own.

I don’t see how life can get any better.

Eventually, I drift off into blissful sleep. Which, of course, is interrupted. My phone buzzes, and when I go to answer it in a sleep induced stupor I wind up knocking it on the floor. By the time I retrieve it, the call has already gone to voicemail.

I only have time to see that the message comes from Ryker before I get a text.

Hey! Everyone’s here, where are you? Did Charlotte catch on?

My heart skips a beat. I can’t believe I forgot! After I’d done all that work to arrange everything, too.

I hastily send off a text telling him we’re on our way. At this point, all the texting and dinging has woken Charlotte up.

“What’s up?” she asks, voice thick with sleep.

“I totally forgot we were supposed to hang with the Platinum Security crew this afternoon. We’re late.”

She sits up in bed and stretches, which is lovely to behold.

“I guess we should get going, then.”

After a quick shower, we dress for the occasion. Charlotte is going semi-casual with her summer dress with peplum skirt, so when I finagle a tie around my neck she gives me a look.

“A tie? I never see you wear a tie.”

“I just felt like it.”

Her eyes narrow. I can tell she suspects something is up. Hopefully she won’t figure it out earlier than she should.

When we arrive at Easton’s palatial estate, we find the crew gathered on an expansive patio beside a pool that makes Wyatt’s grotto look like a cheap plastic kid’s toy. Bastian does a cannonball dive into the pool, splashing Harlowe with water.

“Grow up,” she sputters, wiping her face off.

Jax and Easton rise from their spot on a porch swing and come to greet us. I whisper to Jax while Easton keeps Charlotte busy.

“Is it all set up?”

“Yeah, of course. I was starting to think you’d gotten cold feet or something.”

I check the sky. The sun has just set, but it will be an hour or so until the sky is dark enough for what I planned.

It’s going to be a long wait. I can’t believe I’m so nervous. I’ve risked my life time and time again while working for the CIA, but tonight I’m actually scared.

I can’t even taste the excellent food that Easton’s servers have set out for us. At least Charlotte has a good time, though I can tell she still knows something’s fishy.

Charlotte, in fact, has discovered she and Easton have a mutual friend. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman named Emory, who worked with Charlotte on her dance moves before the whole Aegis Order thing started.

Emory and Easton met on the set of a movie, I think, and became good friends. But this isn’t a social call. Emory has a haunted look in her eyes.

I pick up some of their conversation as I get another brew.

“...if you’re worried he might try something, then talk to Jax,” Charlotte says softly, putting a hand on Emory’s shoulder. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“I don’t want to be an alarmist,” Emory replies, her azure eyed gaze filled with anxiety. “But I’m having trouble sleeping, and sometimes I feel right on the edge of a panic attack.”

Charlotte squeezes her shoulder, and Easton motions her husband over.

“Jax, come here for a sec.”

As Emory speaks with both Easton and Jax in a quiet corner of the garden, I catch up with Charlotte.

“Is your friend going to be okay?” I ask.

“I hope so. She has issues with her ex. Like criminal issues.”

“Well, Jax can help.”

“He definitely helped me when he assigned you as my bodyguard.” Charlotte gives me a wink and peck on the cheek. “I’m going to chat with Lexi. She wants to hear about my parent’s anniversary trip to Hawaii, and I want to talk about my podcast.”

I watch as Jax, Emory, and Easton return. Easton and Emory go inside the main house, while Jax joins me at the cooler to get himself a brew.

“Trouble?” I ask.

“Maybe. Not something you need to worry about, tonight, though. Relax. You’re so tense I'm afraid you’ll explode.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah, you’re not doing a good job of hiding your feelings, you old spook. Chill out, listen to some tunes, and maybe get yourself another beer. It’s going to work out fine.”

“Easy for you to say. But I think I will take you up on a cold beer.”

I bump into pretty boy Griff when I go to grab another brew. His gaze darts up to me, and to the empty bottle in my hand.

“Only one beer so far? You on the wagon, or something?”

“Nah, just trying not to get sloppy drunk.”

Griff nods.

“Yeah, because of the, the thing, right?”

I pop the top off my brew and try to mask my frustration.

“Of course you know. Does everyone know what’s going on tonight?”

Griff shrugs.

“Except the one person who really matters. Why don’t you put on some suede pants and vape a little bit to relax?”

I can’t keep a scowl off my face.

“You guys are never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Nope.”

He juts his chin across the backyard. I follow the gesture and see Charlotte speaking with Lexi.

“What are they talking about?” Griff asks.

“Charlotte wants to have your baby mama on her podcast. Something about expanding into books and literature.”

He shrugs.

“I like the idea.”

“Pardon me, boys, hate to interrupt this meeting of the minds, but I’m on drink duty for my girl Lexi.”

We turn as one to see Avery sidling between us to reach a table laden with foo foo drinks. I cock an eyebrow as she selects a Mai Tai.

“Don’t worry, it’s virgin,” she says, moving the little umbrella out of the way with her pinkie finger like a pro.

“Only thing in this backyard that is, am I right, Grayson?”

Griff slaps me on the arm, but I’m too worked up about my planned surprise to appreciate his antics.

Avery rolls her eyes and heads back towards Charlotte and Lexi. I’m a little surprised she and Ryker got hitched, to be honest. Even if Avery wasn’t actually to blame for Ryker’s team getting wiped out in the field, there still had to be a ton of obstacles. But they make it work.

Just like Charlotte and I. We don’t work on paper, either, but in reality it’s damn near perfect.

I escape from Griff with my new brew, making a beeline for Lexi and Charlotte. But Cole heads me off at the pass.

“Hey, who’s the blonde? I hear she’s friends with Charlotte.”

“Blonde?” I look over to where Emory helps Easton set up lawn chairs. “Oh, you mean Emory. She’s friends with Easton, too, as it turns out. I guess if you’re a hotshot dance choreographer, you get to work with all the famous folks.”

“Dance choreographer?” He swipes a hand through his hair, his gaze faltering. “Do you think she’d expect to be taken out dancing?”

I give him a look.

“I can pretty much guarantee she’ll expect it. It’s kind of her thing, man. Anyway, didn’t you take dance lessons?”

“Yeah, yeah, right...but I don’t dance anymore.”

He retreats to the other side of the pool, and tries to pretend he’s not checking out Emory from across the yard. I chuckle to myself. Apparently Cole is not as impenetrable as he seems.

At last, the sky grows dark enough for the show to begin.

“It’s time for the laser light spectacular,” Easton announces, using a megaphone. “Everyone please turn off your devices and direct your attention to the sky above you…that means you, too, Ryker.”

I settle into a lawn chair beside Charlotte. She gives me an appraising look.

“You’re awfully eager.”

“I’m really into laser light shows.”

“Since when? You’ve never mentioned it before…”

“Lasers are a spy’s best friend.”

Walking on Sunshine plays over the speakers, and the lasers sculpt a picture of the sun with a smiling face.

“This is an odd choice. I thought Pink Floyd or Metallica would be more in keeping with…”

Her voice trails off as the laser lights change the sun slowly, morphing it into her likeness.

“Okay, this is pretty cool,” Charlotte says. “But who is that…”

The lasers trace out an outline of Charlotte standing in front of a lot of flashing cameras. It’s only the outline, but whoever Jax hired did a great job of capturing her likeness. You can tell it’s Charlotte.

“Is that me?” Charlotte gasps.

“Maybe,” I reply. “Keep watching.”

I can barely contain my excitement. I made some requests, but someone has gotten quite creative with this laser lights show. A laugh erupts out of me, and everyone else, when my own likeness arrives.

Whoever drew my face for the laser display made me look a little bit on the goofy side. I look over at Jax and he’s got a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I’ll get you, asshole,” I mouth silently to him as the show continues.

“Oh my god,” Charlotte says, grabbing my arm. “Look! They’re re-creating the car chase we had! Is this our life story or something?”

“Or something. Keep watching.”

The music changes and I Will Always Love You wafts through the loudspeakers. The two laser effigies of Charlotte and me share a kiss. A lot of ‘awws’ go up from the partygoers. A heart bubbles up from our lips and becomes the sole artifact painted in dynamic light against the smoke. Cursive writing appears in the center, spelling out her name.

“What…what is this?”

Her voice is barely above a whisper. The laser writing continues, spelling out the full message.

Charlotte, will you marry me?

Her hand flies in front of her mouth, muffling a choking sob.

She turns around just as I sink to my knee in front of her. My thumb flicks the black velvet case open, revealing a ring with a sizable diamond ringed by small yellow sapphires. A sparkling sun for my Sunshine.

“Charlotte, there could never be anyone else for me but you. Will you be my wife?”

The tears in her eyes bother me at first, but then she nods vigorously.

“Yes,” she says, sniffling. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Gray.”

A laugh bubbles up from my core, born of pure happiness. She holds her hand out and I slip the ring onto her finger. It looks perfect on her. It looks right.

Charlotte squeaks as I lift her into the air and spin her around.

“You’ve made me the happiest guy in the world…I should probably put you down now.”

She shakes her head and wraps her arms around me.

“No. Don’t. Not ever.”

Want to know what happens after the proposal? Read the Stars and Scars Extended Epilogue to find out.

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