Epilogue

DANIELA

ALMOST FOUR YEARS LATER

"Doctor Daniela Ramos," Dean Stiles called.

My chest swelled with a sense of pride and accomplishment I'd never felt before as I walked across the stage and accepted my diploma.

Nothing about medical school had been easy. This degree was the result of countless hours of studying, so many sleepless nights, and a ton of hard work. But it was all worth it. In a few months, I'd be starting my residency and be one step closer to being a board-certified doctor of internal medicine.

And through all of it, I couldn't have asked for better cheerleaders than Braden and Isaac. They'd been my rocks for the last four years. They'd supported me every step of the way, encouraged me every time I thought I had reached my breaking point, and loved me through every single high and low. Isaac liked to tell me that I was a superhero because I was learning how to save lives.

God, my little man was growing up so fast. I couldn't believe he'd be starting kindergarten next year. He was the sweetest, most loving kid, and I saw so much of Amara in him. In his smiles. His laughter. His gentle, playful spirit. I'd been so afraid that raising him would be a bittersweet experience, that it would bring me pain every time he did or said something that reminded me of my sister. But as I got the privilege of watching him grow into his own person, I couldn't feel anything but pure joy. Because he wasn't a relic or a memory. He was her legacy, the mark she'd left on the world.

The rest of the ceremony flew by in a blur, and as soon as it was over, I went in search of my best friend. My other rock. The girl who had been right here with me through thick and thin, and who had worked just as hard as I had, though our educational paths had diverged a little bit since she'd decided to go into sports medicine.

"Dani!" Morgan squealed.

I spun around to face her with a huge grin on my face, throwing my arms around her. "Morgan! We did it!"

"We did it!" she screamed as we started to jump up and down, still holding on to each other. "Oh, my God!"

"I can't believe it's really over!" I exclaimed.

"I know," she giggled. "Okay, come on, let's go find our men!"

"And our kids," I laughed as we started to head out to meet our family and friends. "I need Isaac hugs. And baby snuggles."

Yep, Morgan was a mom now too. And a wife. She and Malachi had gotten married two years ago and welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Aisha – Braden and I's goddaughter – into the world last summer. I still had no idea how she'd juggled being the mother of a newborn while in her last year of medical school. Raising a baby during my first year of med school had been hard enough. But during the last year? I couldn't even imagine.

As for me and Braden? We hadn't tied the knot yet. Our relationship was stronger than ever, and I fell more in love with him every day. Every time he'd picked up the slack around the house because I was too frazzled and stressed to clean. Every time he'd gently slidden a huge textbook off my chest and carried me upstairs to bed when I'd fallen asleep studying. And especially every time I watched him being the most amazing father to our little boy. We both wanted to get married – hell, I was pretty sure he wanted it even more than I did, which was saying something – but he'd respected it when I'd told him that I wanted to focus on being a mom and finishing my degree before we took that step.

"Mamá!" Isaac squealed as he barreled toward me, almost hitting at least four different people on the way.

"Hola, mijito!" I laughed, wrapping my arms around him and kissing the top of his head.

"You're a real superhero now!" he exclaimed.

"She's always been a real superhero," Braden said as he joined us, looking at me with so much love and pride that I thought I might burst.

Pulling me into his arms, he claimed my lips in a fierce kiss that may or may not have been appropriate in public. But as I melted into his embrace and let my tongue slip out to stroke against his, I couldn't bring myself to care. Because all that existed was the two of us and our son and the overwhelming love we shared.

"I am so fucking proud of you, Dr. Ramos," he murmured against my lips.

"Papá!" Isaac scolded him. "Swear jar."

I laughed. Braden had tried so hard to cut back on his swearing, but a tiger couldn't change his stripes. At least Isaac was benefiting from his dad's potty mouth, in the form of the swear jar college fund. This boy was going to end up with enough money to go to Princeton, Cornell, and Harvard if he wanted to, though he insisted he wanted to be a pilot. This week. Last week, he'd wanted to be a veterinarian, and the week before that, a firefighter.

"I know, champ," Braden snickered. "Actually, just because it's such a big day for your mom, I'll put ten dollars in it. Deal?"

"Deal. And we get ice cream on the way home," he bargained.

"We've got ice cream at home," Braden reminded him. "And a shit ton of food for the party."

I snorted out another laugh. "Twenty bucks now."

Pulling out his wallet, my man retrieved a twenty and handed it to our son. "This time it goes to you directly. Don't spend it all in one place. Now, come on. Let's find Aunt Morgan and Uncle Mal and get out of here. We have a party to get to!"

As Braden pulled into our neighborhood, I saw cars lining both sides of the street for the whole block – all of them here for me and Morgan. The whole football team was here, plus some of Braden's old teammates from college who had been signed to different pro teams, and all of our friends and family. And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Spending the day surrounded by all the people I loved, my chosen family, was exactly how I wanted to celebrate earning my medical degree.

"There they are! The women of the hour!" I heard someone announce over a speaker as Braden, Morgan, Malachi, the kids, and I walked into the backyard.

Turning in the direction of the voice, I found Cassidy King, one of the most popular pop stars in the world – who had just gotten engaged to Braden's teammate, Evan Montgomery – standing on a small stage. Accompanied by her whole band.

Braden and I had been at the concert when Evan met Cassidy, and the way their love had blossomed after that was the cutest thing ever. I didn't know her well yet because she'd just finished a world tour, but I did know she was a sweetheart and that she'd wanted to be here to celebrate with us today. But the thought of her actually performing wasn't even something that had crossed my mind.

"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed as my jaw dropped.

"Surprise, beautiful," Braden chuckled.

I spun to face him and found him standing there with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"You…what…how?"

"All I did was ask if she'd be willing to play a song or two on her guitar." He pulled me in for a kiss. "Doing a whole mini concert was all her idea."

"Let's hear it for Dr. Ramos and Dr. Houston!" Cassidy exclaimed.

Everyone started applauding, cheering, and whistling…while Morgan and I both flushed crimson. Even though I'd been in a relationship with a pro football player for the past four years, I still hadn't gotten used to being in the spotlight, and I didn't think I ever really would.

"Congrats, ladies! Finishing med school is a huge accomplishment. I'm so proud of both of you and I'm so excited to be here celebrating with you today," she continued. "So, these first few songs are by request of Braden. Please sing with me if you know them!"

As the band started to play the whimsical opening notes of "Snow on the Beach," Braden put his hands on my shoulders, gently turning me to look at him.

"Fuck, I had this whole speech all planned out, but now that we're standing here, I can't remember a single word of it," he chuckled nervously. "Because the only thought that keeps running through my head is how much I love you and Isaac and the life we've built together. How proud I am of everything you've accomplished since I've known you. Not just graduating from med school in the top five percent of your class, but overcoming everything life's thrown at you. Bulldozing down every single obstacle in your path. Pouring your heart and soul into being an incredible partner to me and an amazing mother to our son. Every single day when I wake up next to you, I still wonder how the hell I got lucky enough that out of everyone in the whole world, you chose me to love and share your life with. Because you wanting me? It feels ridiculous. Impossible. And like the most beautiful dream ever."

Reaching into his pocket, Braden pulled out a small velvet box and dropped to one knee. As he popped the lid to reveal a beautiful platinum ring with a round-cut diamond in the center and two small pink and white diamond butterflies on either side, all the air seemed to vacate my lungs as tears of pure joy stung my eyes and started to trickle down my cheeks.

"Dr. Daniela Sofía Ramos, all I want is to spend the rest of my life showing you every single day exactly how much I love you. So…how do you feel about becoming Dr. Hicks instead? ?Te casarías conmigo, hermosa?" Will you marry me, beautiful?

Giggling and beaming down at him, I nodded like a bobblehead. "Sí. Sí. ?Claro que sí!" Yes. Yes. Of course!

Taking my left hand, Braden brushed his lips over my knuckles before sliding the ring onto my finger. And I couldn't even wait for him to stand back up. I bent down and crashed my lips to his, pouring every single bit of awe, wonder, amazement, love, and pure, unbridled joy in my heart into this connection. Vowing to spend every single day of the rest of my life showing him how grateful I was that despite all the heartache that had led us to this point, he'd chosen to love me through it. Choosing to love him through whatever obstacles might lay ahead.

Because together, we could get through anything. Together, we were a force of nature. Unstoppable. Unbeatable. And unbreakable.

THE END