“You don’t have to do this. I’m not forcing you. I’m not leaving you.”

I laugh. “Farrah, are you talking yourself out of this before I even get to ask you the damn question?”

I take her hand, squeezing to settle her. “Let me tell you something. I’ve never been more clear on where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do next. For me. For us. For this family.” Leaning in, I kiss her quickly. “Now, stand up. Calm down. Listen to my question, mouse, and don’t tell me no.”

I give my best Casanova smirk and she returns her own smug grin.

But she listens and stands before me.

“Farrah DeAngelo, will you marry me?”

She nods her head, tears streaming while I push the ring onto her finger. Standing up, I grab her and wrap her legs around my waist while my family cheers and circles us.

“Glad you finally wised up, Casanova. Though, I’m pretty sure you’re only asking her because if you waited any longer, she was going to say yes to me.”

Hearing Cash’s voice beside me, I call out, “Get over here, Cassius!”

I let Farrah slide down my body to stand and I turn and yank him into me, slapping him on the back while the family echoes his name.

“CASSIUS?!”

He returns my hug, slapping me a bit harder and calling me an asshole. We stand together for a moment, just breathing it all in.

“Thank you.” I choke out.

“No, thankhim.This is all JT. I don’t even like you.” We both giggle like school girls but the love that surrounds me right now is only possible because of that night seven years ago. For those who believe, all things work together for good.

Her smile is everything. Her loving arms, her soft touch. The way she laughs. She drains me of the guilt that had stayed too long and fills me with all of her. That guilt told me I couldn’t move on. That it wasn’t fair for me to enjoy life again when JT wouldn’t ever have that chance. But when the guilt fades away and love takes its place, I know I’m living for him now. It would be two lives wasted if I didn’t hold on to my second chance.

I sacrificed my time and my happiness because I thought I needed to. But in the end, all I did was almost sacrifice the love of my life. Thank God she waited. Thank God she knew better than me.

THE END.

EPILOGUE

BILLY

THREE MONTHS LATER…

“I just wanna doromantic stuff like suck you off so good your eyes roll back.”

“Holy Christmas, Britt! Don’t say that shit in front of me!”

“I’m not saying it in front of you. I’m saying it to my husband. If you’re within earshot, that’s your own fault. Don’t you know by now not to listen to anything I say when Bobby is near?”

Jackson looks like he’s going to be sick, and I laugh at his discomfort. “For all the times I’ve heard you ask my sister to wear your jersey, and nothing else, that’s what you get. I’m glad you heard that. Now, picture it, too, Jackson. Really think about his eyes rolling back in his head!”

Jackson starts talking to himself and runs from the table. Francesca flips me off and yells at Britt to stop terrorizing her brother. I shake my head, still chuckling, and wipe down the bar in front of me.

“Last call! I want you all out of here so I can go home on time tonight.”

And with that sentence, Cash walks in.

“Oh fuck. I thought I was getting out of here early.”

“Nice to see you too, Billy!” Cash comes around the side of the bar, gives me a fist bump and I pull a beer from the cooler, pop the top and hand it to him.

“You’re the one who took this job. Now you’re stuck here with us.”