Epilogue

Shit. Shit! Where is it? Where the fuck is it? I wore it today. I'm pretty sure I did at least. I was rushing around this morning because I had to be on set early since we were wrapping up the final scene, and I woke up late because my alarm didn't go off. I stand here for a moment, staring at my nightstand, and trying to recall if I put it on my finger.

I haven't been wearing my engagement ring as much now that things have settled down. The press don't follow me around the way they used to, and no one lingers outside our building. Occasionally we'll get some fans taking pictures, but that's it, so my ring hasn't been all that crucial for me to wear. Stone and I haven't figured out a way to gracefully back away from the engagement, other than for me to stop wearing the ring.

But I could have sworn I slipped it off my finger and set it right here before I got in the shower. Maybe it fell? I drop to the floor and search around the rug, under the bed, and around the nightstand. Nothing.

"Shit!"

How could I lose my fake engagement ring ?

Tonight is the wrap party for the film, and tomorrow Stone is taking me away for a week over New Year's before my Boston shows. I have to find this ring!

My hand slaps in frustration on the soft rug.

"Little Rose?" Stone calls out, and I jerk up and smack the back of my head on the edge of the nightstand.

Ow! That freaking hurts.

"I'm not trying to rush you, but we have to leave in about ten minutes to get to the party."

Double shit!

"I'm almost ready," I call back, rubbing the back of my smarting head. It's a lie. I'm not almost ready. I'm nowhere close to ready. I've spent the last twenty minutes since I got out of the shower searching for the goddamn ring. Did I leave it on set? That has to be it. Maybe someone found it. One of the crew or another cast member has it and they'll give it to me tonight at the party.

I race into the closet and scan through my clothes until I find a cute purple sweater that'll make the purple in my eyes stand out, a pair of fleece-lined leggings because those seem to be all I wear lately in this Boston winter, and cute black high-heeled booties. Then I race into the bathroom, brush out my hair, and do a quick blow-dry, followed by some simple makeup.

Twenty-five minutes later, I'm presentable and heading out of the bathroom and bedroom when I smash right into Stone.

"Sorry," he says, steadying me. "I was coming to check on you. Are you ready?"

"Yep." I smile. I hope it passes muster.

"You didn't get a chance to pack, did you?"

"Uh, no. I thought we had time in the morning." That's when I glance to my left and see his suitcase against the wall, all zipped up and likely already packed. Christ, I'm a hot mess today .

"We can fly out a bit later or even the next day if you need."

I shake my head and wrap my arms around his neck. "Nope. I'll be good to go. Promise."

He chuckles and takes my hand, intertwining our fingers, and when he feels I'm not wearing the ring, he stares down at my hand. The wrap party is going to have press there, and when there's press, I wear my ring. He frowns.

"You're missing something, baby girl." His thumb brushes over the base of my left ring finger where my ring should be.

"Um. So." Right. I don't know what to say. "I'm not going to wear it tonight." Not until I find it.

"Hmm." That's all he says and thankfully lets it drop.

We get to the party, and I peel myself away from Stone, who is thankfully sidetracked by the director, when I spot Loomis. I race across the room, grab him by the arm, and drag him to a dark corner.

"What in the bloody hell?"

"I lost my ring," I hiss, scanning around to make sure no one is close enough to hear that or see us.

"What do you mean you lost your ring?"

"I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Was I wearing it this morning when I came in?"

Loomis tilts his head, his eyes going foggy as he thinks about this. "Um. I honestly can't remember. Where was the last place you remember having it?"

"I don't know!" I cry, only to temper my voice and lower it to a whisper. "That's the problem. I thought I wore it today and took it off before my shower, but I couldn't find it, and I searched all over the goddamn bedroom."

Loomis snickers. "You're freaking out a bit."

"Um, that's putting it mildly. We're going away tomorrow."

"But it's just the two of you, yeah? You can say you didn't want to bring your ring and then search when you get home. "

I sag. "I guess. I didn't want it to be fake, but I sure as hell didn't want to lose it."

"Accidents happen, luv. He'll forgive you."

My forehead meets the center of his chest. "I love that ring. That's my ring. Even if it isn't."

He kisses the top of my head. "I know. I'm sorry. It'll be okay."

After everything that's happened over the last two months, the last thing I ever wanted was to lose that ring. Forest made it out of withdrawal and is now in a ninety-day treatment program. He can't receive calls, but Stone and I went up for a visiting day, and he unleashed some stuff, and we did too, and it was good. So good. So necessary.

He's getting the help he needs, and I know he'll come out on top with this. Apollo Sun didn't receive jail time, but he's not allowed back in Boston for a decade, and he's not allowed to contact me, come anywhere near me again, or even mention my name publicly. If he does, that's a violation of his plea agreement and he'll serve ninety days in prison.

Stone and I have been great. Our families have been great. And tomorrow we leave for a much-needed vacation.

So losing my ring… it fucking sucks.

I pull myself together, and the rest of the party is a lot of fun. I thank everyone, so grateful for this opportunity and what I know this film will become. Stone and I get home and climb into bed, falling asleep fast and hard, but my mind is unsettled. To the point where I wake up before dawn to search some more for it, and when I come up empty, I pack a large suitcase instead, feeling nothing short of miserable.

"Hey," Stone says, squeezing my hand as we step off the plane. "Are you okay? You seem… a little down."

"I'm fine. Just tired." Yet another lie. "I think being on Benthesicyme will help."

Stone has us sailing around for a couple of days and then straight for Cuba and other islands around the Caribbean after that. It's going to be romantic and fun and the escape we both need. That's what I have to focus on. Not anything else.

The ring will turn up. It's likely someplace I haven't thought to look for it yet.

It also feels good to be back here. Like it was a long time coming, but also full circle. I get why Stone feels at home in this boat on the sea. There is something so mind-quenching about it. And when we fall asleep with the waves rocking us gently good night, all feels perfect, and I forget about everything else but being with Stone.

For two days it's sailing, swimming, sex, food, drinks, and laughs. It's absolute heaven.

But when I wake up on the third morning at sea, nothing makes sense. For one, the ocean water is like pool water—turquoise and crystal clear. For another, the beach is about a hundred yards off the starboard bow and there is nothing there. Just an empty, secluded beach surrounded by grass, shrubs, trees, and a couple of buildings. No umbrellas or resorts or even people walking the island. Plus, the island is a hell of a lot smaller than what I imagine Cuba to be, though it still looks like a decent size. There isn't much to it other than one large house, a smaller house, and a large pool. That's seriously it.

"What in the hell?" I ask as I stare out at a strip of land that isn't a whole lot.

"Not what you were expecting?"

I laugh. "Um, no. This doesn't look like Cuba."

He comes in behind me, his chin on my shoulder as I take in the island. "Do you remember when you said you wanted your own island filled with champagne, charcuterie, vibrators, dirty romance books, and fucking peace?"

I snicker. "I said that?"

"You did. I remember it very clearly. You were yelling at me. But it got me thinking how that might not be a bad thing. "

"A private island?" I'm incredulous. And a little excited, truth be told. There is nothing around. There are a few scattered islands in the distance, but that's it. I could walk around naked if I wanted to. "You rented this for us?"

"No, I bought it for us."

"You what?!" I shriek and spin around in his arms. My sunglasses slide up my face so I can see him better. "Are you kidding?"

"I can't tell if you're upset by this or not."

"I don't know what I am. People don't just buy islands."

He grins and nips my bottom lip. "Actually, they do. All of these islands around us are privately owned. We're between Nassau and Eleuthera, but closer toward the northwest point of Eleuthera."

I blink at him, unable to wrap my mind around this. I turn in his arms, finding the blinding white land. "This is ours?"

"Well, mostly. Vander went in on it with me. I didn't ask why, but I can assume to a certain degree. Anyway, he doesn't sail, but you can get a charter from Eleuthera, or he'll come with me. The big house is ours and the guest cottage is his."

"Stone." I'm a bit at a loss. "How big is the island?"

"About seven acres. The house has full plumbing and running water.

"How many bedrooms is it?"

"Six, so we can bring people. You see that rocky area?" He points past my shoulder to the space behind the house. "That's partly why I picked this island. That bluff will protect us against storms. I mean, it's far from foolproof, but that's the east side of the island where larger storms come in from, so it'll help keep the house and the rest of the island protected."

"You did that for me, didn't you?"

"Yes. My little Rose doesn't like storms." He kisses my neck, and hell, I didn't think it was possible to love someone as much as I love him .

"It needs a little work. I plan to build a dock for Benthesicyme, and Vander wants to do some stuff with the internet or other technology. I'll likely have the bathrooms and kitchen updated too."

I shake my head. "What's her name?"

He smiles against my neck. "Rose Cay."

I laugh, reaching behind me to cup the back of his head. "You did not."

"I didn't, actually. It was the name of the island before I bought it, but it made it seem like it was meant to be."

"I love it," I exclaim. "I don't think I've ever been more excited for anything. Can we go to it? Explore a bit?"

"It's ours. We can do anything we want."

I spin back around and pepper him with kisses. "I love you. This is the best surprise ever."

"I love you and I'm glad, but I'm hoping this will be a good one too."

"What?"

He drops down to one knee and pulls a box from his pocket. I gasp, my hands covering my mouth. His green eyes sparkle up at me, but I can see the nerves all over him. "I had a whole speech planned. All these things I wanted to tell you, but looking up at you right now, I can't remember a single one. All I know is that I love you and want to spend forever with you. Not just the rest of my life, but beyond that. That's what soulmates do with each other. So will you marry me?"

He opens the box revealing my ring. "How?"

"I stole it the other day when you were in the shower. You told me you didn't want anything fake between us, and now I'm asking you for something very real. Marry me, Tinsley Monroe. Please, marry me."

I drop to my knees and throw my arms around him, hauling him against me. "Yes. Of course, yes. A thousand times yes."

His lips crash down on mine, and for a few minutes, I get lost in the feel of his mouth, the slide of his tongue, and the endlessness of how he loves me.

Then I smack his shoulder. "I can't believe you stole the ring. I was going out of my mind, thinking I lost it."

He smiles against my lips and chuckles lightly. "I know. But it was worth it." He slides the ring back onto my finger, and it feels right. It feels perfect. It feels like forever. Like us.