Epilogue - Max
When I invite Naomi over to my parents’ house, I see my mother’s eyebrows raise ever so slightly in surprise. To their credit, my parents don’t make any untoward comments. I think they were disappointed when it didn’t work out between us, and they’re happy to see us together.
Ever since I quit the company, they’ve given me a lot more space. It feels good to have my own job, and to be my own man. I think my parents, for all their faults, understand that. I think they respect it, too.
Naomi’s mom is happy, too. She doesn’t hide it as well as my parents. She wraps her arms around me and lays a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek whenever she sees me. Her eyes are brighter than they were when we first met, and when I see her with Jerry, I understand why. They look as starry-eyed as I feel when I look at Naomi.
Naomi moves in with me, and her mother spends a lot of time at her apartment. She says it’s for doctor’s appointments, but I think it might have something to do with Jerry.
The partnership between PhysioFIT and my football team works perfectly, and we renew the contract for another year. I tell Coach Carter about Naomi and me right away, and he just grins at me.
Life just slips into place. It feels natural.
One sunny summer morning a few months after we decide to start over, Naomi wakes me up by wrapping her arms around me.
“I have a surprise for you,” she says.
I open my eyes one at a time, clearing the sleep from my throat. She’s grinning like the Cheshire Cat, and I look at her suspiciously.
“I thought you hated surprises.”
“I hate being on the receiving end of surprises,” she says. “I like giving them.”
I grin, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her down beside me. She yelps, laughing as I roll on top of her.
“Five more minutes,” I groan, closing my eyes and clamping my arms around her.
“Come on,” she laughs, poking me in the side. “Get up, get up, get up!”
I groan, trying to stop the smile from spreading on my face. “Fine. What’s this surprise?”
Naomi grabs my hand and pulls me out of bed. She smiles at me, nodding towards the living room. When I walk out, I notice the couch has been moved and she’s cleared a space in the corner. There’s a yoga mat on the ground, and a foam roller with a few bands hanging off the wall.
“Your very own physio corner!” She proclaims. “I bought all the stuff online and set it up this morning. You’ve been slacking on your knee.”
“I thought this surprise would be nice and romantic,” I say, rubbing my eyes. “This just looks like work.”
Naomi wraps her arms around my waist and lays a soft kiss on my lips. “It is work, but I remember you saying that Connor had asked you to be on his fall football team. The season starts in three months, and I think we can get your knee strong enough to play.”
My heart jumps. “Yeah?”
She nods. “I can work with you right here at home. I’ve developed a plan that I think should get you well enough to play by September.”
My eyes widen as I look at the little physical therapy corner she’s made. I tighten my arm around her as my throat closes with emotion.
“Naomi…”
She smiles. “Come on, let me show you. So I bought a foam roller and one of these spiky balls that you hate.”
“Great,” I say. Naomi laughs. She explains what all the things are for, and walks me through her plan for the next few months. I sit down and rub my hand over my knee, watching her stretch one of the rubber bands and demonstrate a new exercise for me.
My heart grows in my chest as I watch her.
She’s incredible. Thoughtful, smart, dedicated, and all mine. I feel like I’ve won the lottery. When she’s finished her demonstration, she stands up and puts her hands on her hips, looking at the equipment and smiling at me.
“So what do you think?”
I stand up and wrap my arms around her. “I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
She smiles and tilts her chin up. I kiss her, holding her close to me and feeling my heart beat along with hers.
It takes almost three years for me to propose to her again. My heart thumps when I open the little black velvet box and show her my grandmother’s ring once again. I’m down on one knee, proposing to her how I should have done it the first time.
“Get up, you goon,” she laughs with tears in her eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you. But I’m not signing any stupid contracts this time.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to.”
I slip the ring on her finger. This time, she doesn’t look scared. She doesn’t look overwhelmed. She looks as happy as I feel.
I kiss the woman of my dreams for the millionth time. And for the millionth time, my whole body thrums for her, and my heart beats faster. This time, I’m not going to lose her.
This time, I’m going to marry the love of my life.