Epilogue

EPILOGUE

MAY

It's been a week since everything happened at the hospital. Dr. Johnson, the administrator, has been really sympathetic and actually gave me the week off to recuperate. It was a scary experience, not only for me, but also for Aiden. He hasn't left my side since.

We're at Walker and Brooklyn's house for a cookout. Colt and all the guys got back from their mission just yesterday, and it seems like everyone is happy to be back together again.

It's been a little different since Knox got married and moved to Texas. And it's surprising to see really, but everyone is in pairs. Well, except for Logan and Nash. I don't think Logan will ever settle down—at least he says he never wants to.

But it's obvious that with Nash, there's a yearning in him. I'm sitting on Aiden's lap and point with my head toward Nash, who is sitting outside of the bonfire on his own, just staring at the blaze, lost in thought. Everyone else is talking to their significant others, and he looks as if he’s completely lost.

"I really like his wife, Emery. Well, I mean, his ex-wife."

"Whose ex-wife?" Aiden asks.

"Nash's ex-wife. Her name's Emery. She owns Sugar Glaze Bakery. I think he still loves her.”

"How do you even know that?" he asks in a loud whisper. "I work for the guy and didn't know that he had been married, let alone to some woman in Whiskey Run."

I roll my eyes. "I heard about it at Red's Diner from Violet. Not that she's a gossip or anything, but I think she just figured I knew. She was telling me about how sad it was. She wouldn't tell me the whole story, but it makes me think that even though they're not together, neither one of them wanted it to be that way."

He pulls me in closer. "That is sad."

We both sit in our own thoughts, thinking about things. Everyone is here, and I can't help thinking about Aiden. I turn in his arms and play with the collar of his shirt, knowing I want to ask a question, but I can't look him in the eye when I do it.

"Is this enough for you?" I ask him softly.

He pushes my hair off my shoulder and puts his hand on my neck. "What do you mean?"

"This," I say and shrug my shoulders. I point around the bonfire. "Everyone sipping on their beers, talking and laughing. It's all so tame, a cookout with a bunch of couples. I'm one woman. Am I enough?"

He raises his eyebrows. “Are you shitting me right now?”

I start to rise from his lap, but his hands grip on to my waist so I can’t move. “Aiden, forget it. Forget I even asked.”

He puts his hand on my chin and forces me to look at him. “Hell, yeah. You're more than enough for me," he says. "Actually, there's something that I wanted to talk to you about."

He stands up with me still in his arms and then turns and sets me down on the seat that he just got up from. He gets down on one knee, and it seems to pique the interest of everyone around the bonfire. I can feel everyone's eyes on me, but I only have eyes for Aiden. He grabs my hand and then pulls something from his pocket.

"I already talked to Colt about this and got his blessing. I knew that that would be important to you.”

I hear my brother say, “I sure did” and then Kinsey giggle. Ever since the day at the hospital, Colt has been completely on board with Aiden and me being together.

Aiden is looking at me with so much love on his face. I can’t believe I ever doubted him. “I love you so much, May. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you be my wife?”

“Yes,” I answer him. “Yes.” I lean down until we’re eye level, and as soon as he puts the ring on my finger, I’m kissing him. His hands are on each side of my face, holding me as he tells me he loves me between each kiss.

He groans and pulls back. “Fuck, I love you.” Everyone is cheering and laughing.

Kinsey, Brooklyn, Madison, Jenna, and all the other girls are surrounding me and hugging me. The men all get up to congratulate Aiden, and I watch as my brother is the first one at his side. I’m so happy right now, I feel like I could burst.

Aiden finds his way back to me and pulls me into his arms. He stands there while I talk to Kinsey, his chin resting on my head. I turn to look up at him. “You ready to take me home?”

“Yes,” he says as his hands go to my hips and pull me back against him. I can feel his attraction for me, and I know that we’re going to be celebrating when we get home.

I hug Kinsey one last time and then my brother before we tell everyone bye. As we walk hand in hand to our car, he leans down and whispers, “I’m ready to get started on our family, May.”

A quiver goes through me in anticipation of what that means. “Me too, Aiden. Me too.”

Do you want to hear Nash and Emery’s story? It will be the 3 rd book in the Whiskey Run Sugar Series called Second Chance Love . Get it here: Second Chance Love