Epilogue
One Year Later
Trevor
I was more than excited to be back in Hawaii, and it was going to be one of those trips that neither of us ever forgot. Caroline had flown into New York a week before from a trip to Cambodia, and I surprised her with a trip to Hawaii for our one-year anniversary. It was a strange feeling being in a relationship like ours, but in the end, it really worked for us. We talked all the time, more than anyone I had ever dated before, and when we were together, it was like fireworks. We really cherished our time and didn’t take advantage of the fact that it was not as often as other couples.
I sat there on my surfboard floating in the water, watching a pair of dolphins swimming through the reefs. I wondered if it was the same two from the year before, returning after raising their child and coming back for some fresh fish and relaxation. I really loved being out there on the water, watching Caroline kill it on her board. I turned and smiled, seeing her pull herself up and raise her arms high in the air in celebration. She wobbled back and forth and then fell off, sliding through the waves and up onto the beach. She turned over on her back and looked up at the sun, a smile moving across her lips. She shot one hand in the air and gave me a thumbs-up.
We both burst into laughter, her lying on the sand holding her stomach and me balancing on the board as I tried to paddle back to shore with tears in my eyes. When my board hit the sand, I rolled off of it and landed next to Caroline, still laughing. I turned over and looked deeply into her eyes, pushing the hair out of her face. She smiled up at me and lifted her head, kissing me sweetly. At that moment, a wave crashed into us, spiraling us into another laughing fit. I had so much damn fun with this woman, it was unbelievable. She got up and dragged her board onto the sand, wiping her hair with her towel.
I watched her as she closed her eyes and let the sun warm her body. I couldn’t believe how amazing she was and that she had actually fallen in love with my dumb ass. After all of that, our lives just went right into motion, and we hadn’t had a single fight since then. I stopped going to the bars and, instead, went home and worked on my financial plan to get to the point to where I could stop working and travel with her. I never thought anyone could settle me down like that, but she had done it, and I had no problem with it at all. She kept me on my toes at all times, and Brandt thought it was good for me. I had to agree with him, even if I did so reluctantly.
I pulled myself up and pulled my board to shore, taking a towel from her to dry off. I smiled as she started to wax her board, most likely planning on getting one last surf before dinnertime. I sat down on the blanket and watched her go out there, catching one really good wave and riding it all the way in. I clapped my hands and bowed to her, making her laugh. I looked down at my watch and realized the sun was about to set, and I wanted to make that the beginning of our evening. I waved her in, and she jogged up, tossing her board on top of mine and plopping down next to me.
“That was a good one,” I said.
“Yes, yes it was.” She giggled. “And I smashed it.”
“My little surfing queen,” I said, pulling her sweater over shoulders and pulling her in close.
We sat on the blanket watching the sunset together, her head leaning on my shoulder. The smell of her shampoo wafted into my nose, and I thought about right before she took me to the luau a year before. It had been the best scent in the whole world, and a year later, I still felt the same exact way. She was the girl of my dreams. We had driven out to a different beach that day, so we packed up our things and made our way to the Jeep that I had bought for when I was in Hawaii. We stacked the boards in the back and hit the road, riding with the top off, feeling the warm, salty air blowing around us as we drove.
I glanced over at her and smiled, watching her wave her hand out the side of the Jeep catching the wind. She turned and smiled at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I had never been with a woman who made my heart do that and especially not after a year of being together. It was going to make that night even more special than it already was going to be.
“The waves were perfect today,” she said as we slowed down, approaching the bungalow. “I’m really glad you suggested we go out there. I wasn’t sure why since we have our own beach, but the way the waves broke out there was completely different than on our beach.”
“I figured you would really like it.” I chuckled, pulling up and parking. “We’ll have to go back out there before we leave.”
“Yeah, especially with that storm blowing in on Thursday,” she said excitedly as she pulled her bag out of the back. “The waves will be amazing, and I can finally see if you can survive a bigger crash.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll find a new boyfriend,” she teased, kissing me on the cheek.
“Good plan.” I laughed.
I stood to the side and let her walk up the stairs first, listening to her talking about the waves more. She was so cute when she got excited about something. There was no talking her down from it. I would be hearing about those waves until the next big wave came along. I walked slowly behind her, watching as she turned the corner and stopped. The entire deck was lit up with candles, and the table was spread with all kinds of foods and champagne. She looked back at me and then to the table. She put down her bag and walked over, smiling and shaking her head.
“How did you do all of this?” she asked, glancing over at me. “I’m speechless.”
“Finally.” I joked.
“Seriously, Trevor, this is beautiful.” She leaned over and smelled the flowers in the center of the table.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a small black box and lowered myself down on one knee. She stood there with her back to me gawking at the candles flickering in the ocean breeze. I cleared my throat to catch her attention, and she looked back at me, covering her mouth and turning to face me. I smiled big at her, reaching my hand out and waving her forward toward me. She walked slowly, her hands trembling as she reached out and took mine.
“Caroline,” I said. “I have been thinking about what to say at this moment since the day I met you, I think. I can still remember you that Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago, standing there in your Bohemian evening gown, your perfect waves of hair cascading over your shoulders. Until that moment, I didn’t think anyone could look elegant and wild at the same time. That was the day you turned me down, and it took another year or more to get you to go out with me. Then it took a trip to Hawaii and a trip to Maine to make you mine. Every single moment of that was worth it. Every single need, lust, and want was worth it, now that I have you in my life. You’re the light that shines my way. Please, please, make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife.”
“Trevor,” she said with tears in her eyes. “How will that work?”
“I finished my financial plan early with the help of Brandt, who gifted me enough shares of the company to be considered his partner,” I said. “He’s going to keep me on the board, so I have to be in New York a few times a year, but I’m now financially stable enough to do whatever I want with the rest of my life.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” I smiled. “And I want to be with you.”
“Then yes,” she exclaimed. “Of course, I’ll marry you!”
I stood up and took her in my arms, hugging her tightly. I set her back down on her feet and slid the ring on her finger, kissing her sweetly on the lips. Just then, Emma, Brandt, Gillian and her boyfriend, walked around the corner, clapping and cheering. Caroline gasped and turned around, clapping her hands over her mouth and squealing. She ran forward and hugged her two best friends tightly and then turned to Brandt and threw herself onto him, thanking him profusely. Everyone laughed, listening to Brandt assure Caroline that I still had my work cut out for me being part of the board.
“We’re going to miss him as Vice President,” Brandt said. “But where I lost my VP, I gained a partner, something well worth the hassle, especially with it being Trevor.”
“Thanks, man,” I said, shaking his hand.
“What are you guys doing here? This is so great,” Caroline screamed.
“Your fiancé invited us all out, set it all up, put us up at the resort,” Gillian said.
“And your friends from down the beach picked us up and brought us over here tonight,” Emma said. “They wanted to stay, but they said they would see you and congratulate you tomorrow at the luau.”
“Aw,” Caroline cooed. “I love them. They are the best. Okay, well let’s get this party started!”
We turned up the music and popped the champagne, laughing and talking about the surprise. Caroline and the girls immediately started to discuss wedding plans, and of course, Caroline said she wanted to get married in Hawaii. I personally couldn’t think of a better place to do it, and with my new partnership, we could afford to fly anyone we wanted out there. All I really cared about, though, was being with Caroline and starting our lives together. She was the love of my life, the light in the dark, and there hadn’t been a day that had even come close to that one. We partied through the night until all of us were so exhausted that I had to call a service to come pick everyone up and take them to the resort.
We stood in the driveway saying goodbye and making plans for breakfast the next morning. Caroline held my hand tightly as we watched the cars pull out of the driveway and back toward Oahu. When they were out of sight, I kissed Caroline sweetly, and we walked out onto the beach, sitting down in the sand. The sky was already starting to lighten in the distance, and we could see the ocean crashing against the shore. Caroline put her head on my shoulder and sighed, looking at her ring.
“This was an amazing day,” she said. “You are full of surprises.”
“You’re the love of my life, I had to make you one of those moments for your metal scrapbook.” I laughed.
“You did a good job, mister,” she said.
“I love you, Caroline,” I said, looking into her eyes.
“I love you, too, Trevor,” she said. “Forever.”
I finally got my own happily ever after.
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