Page 70 of One More Song

“For me?” I laugh. “Should we talk later, after the party?”

But she shakes her head. The room has gone quiet and I realize everyone is watching the three of us. “No, Mommy. Now. It’s kinda important.”

“Okay, now you’re making me nervous.” I look to Ash, but he doesn’t let on.

He simply takes my hand and kneels before me.

I cover my mouth with my other hand. “Oh, Ash.”

Cadence is bubbling over with excitement. “Mommy, we want to know if you want to be a family.”

“A family?”

Ash nods. “Marry me, Ember. Be my wife.”

Cadence is hugging us both, her happiness all I ever wanted. We found it. All three of us.

“Of course I will marry you, Asher Stone.”

He exhales, pulling out a ring. “I love you and Cadence so much, and I want to be the man you both need.” He slips a ring on my finger, and the glittering diamond catches the light.

Everyone claps, cheering for our engagement and Ash stands, wrapping both his girls in his arms.

“Shall we make another toast?” he asks, raising his glass of champagne.

I shake my head. “Actually,” I say, looking into his eyes. “I’m not drinking.”

“Really?” He narrows his eyes, reading between the lines.

I nod, my heart pounding. Everything is happening fast, and just like it should. “We’re having a baby.”

I hear Millie gasp, and Ash’s mom sigh and Cadence looks up at me in wonder.

“I’m gonna be a big sister?”

I nod. “Yeah sweetie, you are. And Ash is gonna be a daddy.”

Ash is stunned but in the most perfect way.

Synn is recording every minute of this on his phone, Saint takes photos and Dusky is speechless. Absinthe is more than a bad boy rock band - their lead singer is going to be a father.

“What do you think, Ash?” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck and he pulls me close.

“I think I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

Our noses touch, his mouth meets mine. We kiss, our souls linked, our hearts beating as one.

Our life together more than a rhythm.

It’s a perfect harmony.

Epilogue II

Ash

Five years later

Beingon stage never gets old - well, not anymore at least. There was a while there, before Ember, that I wondered if I’d ever step on stage again. But now, it’s my second home. When I’m not at the house with Ember, Cadence, Melody, and Lyric, I’m here - performing for my fans.

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