Epilogue

Savannah

One Year Later

Waking up with a smile, I stretch out my arms and realize Hayden isn’t next to me. Peeling my eyes open, I see his side of the bed is empty and frown.

I hate work trips.

Even though it’s the middle of June and high schools have let out for the year, he had to return to California for a business meeting. While it’s only for the weekend, I still miss him anytime he’s gone. It’s just not the same without him.

Hayden: Good morning, beautiful! Hope you slept well. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

A smile splits my cheeks as soon as I read his text message. The absolute best way to wake up is with him on my mind.

Savannah: Morning! I miss you! Come home now!

Hayden: I miss you too, baby. I’ll be home ASAP! What are your plans today?

Savannah: I’m supposed to meet Donny in Times Square at two. But I’m thinking about canceling. It’ll be full of tourists anyway. Maybe I’ll just play with myself in bed all day until you come back to me…

Hayden: Well I wasn’t planning to walk into my meeting hard, but thanks to you now I am…

I can hear his groan in my mind and laugh as I think about him adjusting himself.

Savannah: Ha! Sorry about that ;)

Hayden: I’m sure you are.

Savannah: Text me after your meeting! I’m gonna hop into the shower. I’ll be thinking of you…

Hayden: Goddammit, Sav.

I chuckle, throwing the blankets off and walking to the bathroom. It’s only ten, which means I have time to take a long, hot shower. Times Square on a Saturday in the middle of June is going to be tourist central, but Donny has some street performing gig he wants me to watch. He does it for extra cash with a few other people we’ve done shows with before.

Donny: You still coming today?

I read his message after I wrap a towel around my body and contemplate my answer before responding. I’m off today, which is a miracle, and another reason I’m bummed Hayden’s traveling this weekend. There’s nothing else to do, but I could spend the entire day in bed binging Netflix for once.

Savannah: I don’t know… I’m feeling sad and lazy.

Donny: You can be sad and lazy on the sidelines watching me. Plus, I need you to record it for my Instagram.

Savannah: Can’t William do that for you?

Donny: He’s in Cali this week, remember? He comes home Monday, though :)

I laugh at his smiley face, knowing exactly what that implies. They’re so sickly in love, and I’m actually really happy for him.

With a groan, I type out a response.

Savannah: Fine! You’re buying me dinner then.

Donny: Meat on a stick?

Savannah: Funny. Keep your meat to yourself. I want real food.

Donny: Fine, 2pm in front of the Ernst & Young building. Don’t be late.

I send him back a middle-finger emoji.

Luckily, that’s not a far walk from me. Living close to the Theater District means I’m never too far from anything in the city.

I have a small lunch, finish getting ready, then leave my apartment at 1:30. The sidewalks are packed as usual, but people stop in front of me every twelve seconds to take pictures of the buildings and screen displays, causing me to nearly collide into them.

Deciding I’ve had enough, I walk on the street to bypass the crowd and then get back on the sidewalk. Once I’ve reached where Donny told me to go, I look around and search for him. I see him in front of Starbucks, and he waves me over.

“I want you to get a good view, so stand around here and wait a few minutes.”

Narrowing my eyes, I look around in confusion.

“Wait for what? I thought you were doing a street performance?”

“I am…” he simply answers. “Is your phone all charged?”

“Yes,” I say, sliding it out from my back pocket. “You want me to record the whole thing or just focus in on you?”

“The whole thing.” Donny pauses. “Well, maybe a little of just me.” He snickers.

Laughing, I shake my head at him and adjust my purse, pulling it back up on my shoulder. Being a New Yorker means wearing comfortable shoes and a shoulder-strap bag or purse.

“Alright, see you in a sec.” Donny leans in to kiss my cheek, then flashes me a wink before he takes off. I suck in a deep breath, wondering what he has planned.

A few minutes go by when I hear a bass beat thump and vibrate against my feet. Figuring something’s about to happen now, I get my phone ready. Someone starts breakdancing on the sidewalk, and people form a half circle around him. The guy a foot away from me jumps in and starts dancing right as the song “Uptown Funk” begins playing. Just as Bruno Mars talks about Michelle Pfeiffer in the lyrics, three more people around me pop out, and it’s then I know exactly what’s happening. Flash mob.

Laughing, I back up to get them all on video, waiting for Donny’s appearance. I look around, wondering when he’s going to pop out. The dancers clap to the rhythm and get the crowd excited and involved. I’ve seen him do a few mob flash acts in the past ten years, but I recognize more faces than usual. All the dancers are from past shows Donny and I have done, and everything is choreographed so well.

Right after the chorus of the song, it blends into another one, but slower. “All of Me” plays and more performers appear, rocking together in slow movements. It’s hypnotic to see the girls I personally know twirl around, and the guys lift and swing them in circles. The smile on my face feels permanent as I watch them.

Donny finally pops out when John Legend starts singing the chorus. He looks so focused, yet he’s grinning like a fool. I shout his name and add a few hoots and hollers, so he can hear me over the music.

Right before the second verse, the song fades out once again and is replaced with a faster beat. The crowd is so large at this point, and I look around to see how everyone is admiring my friends. Donny’s front and center and marches toward me as soon as the chorus of “Marry Me” plays. The group huddles behind him as he reaches for my hand and pulls me into the circle.

“What are you doing?” I shout at him, furrowing my brows. Looking around, confused and slightly freaking out that everyone is recording this, I finally notice the performers fanned out. I shove my phone into my front pocket when I see a chair for me on the side right before Donny pushes me into it.

Just as Jason Derulo sings about being forever in love, I spot Hayden in line.

Oh my God!” I shout, though neither of them can hear me, and giddily stomp my feet on the ground.

As soon as Donny joins him, they move together, doing the same choreography. My hands cover my mouth in complete shock as I watch the man I love move and dance with the group as if he’d been practicing it for weeks.

Amazement, stunned, disbelief. Tears pour down my cheeks as a mix of emotions roll through me. Hayden smiles at me with so much love in his eyes. I cannot believe he did this.

Toward the end of the song, Hayden walks toward me, reaching for my hand. He takes it, then pulls me up until I’m standing.

“What are you doing?” I ask with tears. The dancers kneel behind him with their arms up, and as the song descends into the final chords, he brings me into the center.

“You look so beautiful,” he mouths. “I love you.”

Then he drops to one knee, and my heart stops.

Both hands cover my face as I tremble; my entire body won’t stop shaking as the music fades and all I hear are cheers from the crowd.

“Savannah, baby,” he begins and reaches into his pocket, revealing a black velvet box. “I hope you know how much I love you. I hope you know that my world starts and ends with you every damn day. I hope you know you’re the most important person in my entire life, and if you’d give me the chance, I’d prove that to you every single day for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me and be my wife?”

Hayden pops open the box, and even though my vision is hazy with tears, I already know it’s the most stunning ring I’ve ever seen.

I nod frantically, trying to swallow down the lump that’s lodged in my throat and finally get the words out. “Yes! Yes, of course!”

Donny shouts behind him, “She said yes!” I didn’t even realize he was there, but as cheers from the huge crowd erupt, Hayden wraps me in his arms, and it’s just the two of us as we promise to love each other the rest of our lives.

I throw myself at my future husband, bawling and laughing as he spins me around. When he finally sets me on my feet, he grabs my left hand and slides on the ring. Cupping his cheeks, I pull his lips to mine and give him a heart-stopping kiss.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I tell him as people walk around us. Some stop to mutter congratulations as others stroll by. “I thought you were in Sacramento!”

Hayden smirks then flashes me a wink. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“You more than surprised me,” I tell him, pressing my mouth to his again.

Donny appears and quickly steals me away for a hug.

“You jerk!” I playfully swat at his chest. “All those ‘rehearsals’ huh?”

“Teaching your man to dance was no easy feat, so you’re welcome,” he says smugly, causing me to burst into laughter. “You two. I don’t even know what to say.”

I glance down at the ring and finally look at the diamond Hayden picked out for me. “You never cease to amaze me, Hayden Manning.”

He grabs my hand, then presses a kiss to my knuckle. “Get used to it, babe. You just signed up for a whole lifetime worth.”

“Sounds like the best deal of my life.”

Hayden cradles my face and kisses all the oxygen out of my lungs. “I think we should spend the rest of the weekend celebrating.”

“You know I’m still here, right?” Donny asks with fake annoyance.

I chuckle against Hayden’s lips. “Bye, Donny!” We wave him off as Hayden deepens our kiss, not caring where we are or who’s watching because at this moment, it’s just me and him.

Forever.


music note

Wanna see the wedding for Hayden & Savannah? Wondering about Hayden’s brother, Hunter? Will he ever get over the girl he can’t have?

Does he get his HEA?

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