Epilogue
Lee
Two Weeks Later
I walk into Spotlight after searching for a parking space for what seems like forever, before saying screw it and parking in Ellie’s old spot. A spot that fortunately remains vacant. Of all the places to grab a beer it had to be a place that reminds me of the girl I love, the one girl who wanted to stay. The girl I encouraged to leave.
It was for the best. It’s what she needed to do. Prove to herself what I already know, what everyone knows — that she can make it.
And I needed to deal with my Grans, and even my mom. I needed this time to live for me. Make something of myself, so I could be the man she needs. Someone not living in the past.
Kyle waves me over, and I shake off the pity party. “Hey man, you made it.”
“Yeah. Turns out I didn’t have plans after all.” I try to hide the disappointment in my voice. Ellie didn’t make it home this weekend, she has some big gig she’s excited about. I’m happy for her, but damn I’m dying to see her.
Hold her.
She said she would only be gone a month, but now it’s been six weeks.
I thought about driving down to surprise her, but with work, this flip project and now my furniture business taking off, I just couldn’t swing it. Thanks to Ellie and her recommending my guitar stands, I’m getting all kinds of calls about custom pieces.
I feel a little guilty that I’ve been zoning out. She’s invading my thoughts like she always does. So I focus and catch up with Kyle. We go over the coming week’s projects and discuss the possible early sale of the current flip. An out-of-state corporation wants to come in and buy it as-is. Drew and Kyle want to sell, but they said I have the final decision since I was counting on the full profit.
I’m all in. It’s still enough of a profit to finish paying Ellie’s dad back and tuck a little away for later.
“Enough shop talk. How about another beer?” Kyle suggests.
“Sure thing.” I glance around the restaurant area, which is starting to fill with bar patrons. I can’t help but really appreciate this place. The architecture. The mixture of old and new. Wood and steel. Multiple levels, something for everyone. “I think I’ll take my chances at the bar, place looks swamped,” I comment, standing to go for the drinks.
“Some big performance tonight, I guess.” Kyle shrugs.
Walking to the bar, I hold up my beer and two fingers, trying to get Chloe’s attention. Jake finally let her get behind the bar. I laugh to myself at how overly eager she appears to be, but she seems to make all the regulars happy. It appears to be irritating the hell out of Jake.
The bar is standing room only now, completely packed. “Hey,
man!” I holler when I see Jake come around the corner. “Who’s playing tonight?”
Jake turns to face me at the same time the crowd roars. He smiles but I can’t hear what he’s saying over the clapping and whistles. Then I hear the opening chords of a song begin to play, just a soft melody. But not just any song. I turn toward the stage and my eyes confirm what my heart already knows. It’s the same one I heard in the park that day.
“It feels so good to be back at SPOTLIGHT!” Ellie croons into the mic. The crowd goes wild, my heart doing the same.
I can’t believe it. She’s back. Why wouldn’t she tell me? If Kyle wouldn’t have—
Kyle?
Shaking my head, not believing what I’m seeing, I turn to find my boss giving me a big thumbs up, wearing a cheesy-ass grin. Our table is now filled with his wife and the rest of the crew, people who are more than coworkers and friends, people who are like extended family. They pulled through for me when I needed them most.
Something jabs me in the ribs. “Damn!” I grab my side and look next to me. It’s Rain.
“Surprise, lover boy.” She wears a smile that honestly scares me a little.
“This was planned?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. She did this. She came back.
See you later.
Today is my later. Later is now.
“Well, duh!” Rain shouts over the crowd, which keeps getting louder the more Ellie talks about being back and missing home. “What are you waiting for?” she shouts after me. But I only hear one voice. Hers.
Get to her. Now.
Just knowing she is here I can’t think straight. I push my way through the crowd; I can’t get there fast enough. She is all I need.
It’s her.
It’s her.
It’s her.
“And you know what I figured out while I was gone?” Ellie coos to the crowd, strumming her guitar as she catches me standing in the middle of the floor. Her breath hitches, her smile widens. “I can sing from anywhere in the world. I can write anywhere. Record almost anywhere. But there’s only one place I’m inspired. Here. See there’s this guy.” She keeps strumming and every chord makes my heart beat louder. “He’s not just any guy, he’s the guy. I met him when I was performing, and he walked away.” The crowd boos and I cringe, not sure where this is going. She smiles sweetly and continues, “Then I saw him again, right here in this very place. After falling in love, I was the one who walked away.” The crowd gets quiet. “Not because I wanted to, but because he wanted me to. He was trying to be selfless and push me to follow my dreams, my heart. And I did.” A lump forms in my throat.
“It led me back here. And this time, no one’s walking away.”
She may be talking to the crowd, but those words are for me. And I drink them in like a man dying of thirst as I inch my way closer, pulled by the sound of her voice saying words that mirror my feelings.
Ellie sets her guitar down and hops off the stage and just like some cheesy movie the crowd parts. I stand there mesmerized as she rushes into my arms. “I’m back!”
“About time.” I begin to twirl her as the band starts to play.
“Wise men say, only fools rush in...”
I tense, but not because of the song.
“Lee, stay with me.” Ellie reaches up for my face.
“Is that?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
Ellie nods excitedly. “It’s our moms.”
Just six weeks ago, I would have been upset, scared, angry, hurt, but right now I can’t help but feel happy. Everything happens for a reason and this girl, my girl, saved me from myself. Saved me from a world of regret and helped me to see forgiveness.
My mouth finds hers in a kiss that can only be described as coming home. Ignoring the catcalls, I grip her tighter, pulling her body against me. The house lights dim and everything else fades away as I hold her in my arms. My entire world.
My life.
“Welcome home baby,” I murmur against her lips.
“It is, you know? My home.” Pressing my forehead against hers I look into her eyes. Eyes that are filling with tears. “You are my home, Presley Aaron Scott.”
A blinding spotlight lands on us, and colors and smoke surround us on the dance floor.
“And you’re mine, Ellie Hawthorne.” I show her a promise of what’s to come later with my lips.
I swear I hear Rain catcalling to get a room, which causes Ellie to giggle, the sound vibrating against my mouth. I lean back, so I can see my girl smile.
“You ready to go?” Ellie already has my hand in hers, pulling me along.
Yanking her back, I wrap my arms around her waist. “Did you just come from Nashville?”
“You know I did.” Ellie is confused.
“I thought so.” I wink. “Because you are the only ten-I-see.”
Works every time.
The End