Chapter 23: Epilogue

Paisley

Watching the guys perform to the screaming crowd is mesmerizing. Caleb’s voice belts out over the crowd.

Zeke has a smile on his face so big I’m not even sure if it’s from doing something he loves, or because he’s in love.

I never thought I would be in a place where I would truly be able to trust my heart in someone else’s hands.

I don’t fear he will break me, even though Zeke has the power to destroy me. I never truly knew what it was like to be loved, what it felt like to give myself completely.

Butterflies swarm my stomach, watching the man I love do his thing. His strong arms strum through each song they play, and I wish he was strumming something a little more intimate.

To think that I almost threw it all away over my insecurities… If I’d told him everything from the beginning, we could have avoided a lot of unnecessary heartbreak.

London wraps her arm around my waist. I rest my head on her shoulders and watch from the sidelines as the guys play. Wrigley Field has been turned into one hell of an arena with over twenty thousand people watching the show.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” London shouts.

I smile up at her, nodding my head as the guys finish the track they’re playing.

“Good evening Chicago!” Blake roars into a mic, and the guys start waving.

I jump up and down, caught up in the energy.

“We’ve got a little bit of an exclusive tonight,” Blake tells the crowd and they roar in anticipation. “Our man, Zeke, has prepared a song for y’all this evening.”

I look at London. “Did you know?”

She shakes her head as we continue to watch. My body shakes with nerves. I’d heard Zeke rehearsing a few times…but mostly on the new stuff they had been mixing with the old.

He takes the mic, winking at me before talking to the crowd

“Hey y’all, this song was written for someone who means the world to me. She came into my life at the right moment and it knocked me on my ass. Paisley, this is for you.”

Caleb takes over on one of the other guitars and a soft melody floats out. Zeke concentrates on the vocals, and silence covers the arena as the first lyrics leave his husky-toned voice.

Baby girl, don’t worry,

I’m always here for you.

Baby girl, just breathe,

I really need you too.

Girl just listen,

stop rolling your eyes.

Baby, I love you,

even more than my love for pies.

Baby girl, hush,

let my words caress.

Baby girl, remember,

I’m the fucking best.

I’ll catch you when you fall,

I’ll be there when you call.

Never once will you doubt,

You know exactly what I’m about.

It’s you and me, girl,

Taking on the world.

My eyes well up as I listen, and my heart beats hard. My hand rests over my chest as each lyric drags me further in.

Baby girl, you’ll always be mine,

Infinity’s forever, Baby that’s fine.

Baby, don’t be scared,

I’m showing you how much I care.

I’m down on my knees,

Girl, I’m begging you, please.

Take that leap of faith to be with me,

C’mon baby girl, set yourself free.

I’ll catch you when you fall,

I’ll be there when you call.

Never once will you doubt,

You know exactly what I’m about.

It’s you and me, baby girl,

Us against the world.

Love is our key,

You’re my destiny.

I wanna start a family tree,

Baby girl… Will you marry me?

The tears fall freely down my cheeks as Zeke lowers to one knee, facing me. My heart pounds, and I’ve lost all control. Right now, I see the vulnerability in his eyes too.

It becomes quiet. All the guys and the twenty-thousand fans watch in eerily silence. Time has ground to a halt.

“Paisley, you’re killing me here,” he speaks into his mic.

I walk out onto the stage, my gaze never leaving his. When I’m in front of him, I lower myself to my knees. Reaching for the microphone, I take a final deep breath. ~C’mon Paisley, you got this.~“Baby, I love you, and here is my leap of faith… Oh God, Zeke. Hell, it’s a freaking yes!”

Our lips connect, and I smile as Zeke swings me around. Cheers roar through the stadium as everyone joins in the celebration.

My life has had more downs than ups, but this man loves me. He has saved me, and as cliché as it sounds, I wouldn’t change a single moment of it.

“You have made me the happiest man alive,” Zeke says.

I press my hand against the side of his face, and our eyes lock. My heart is burst with the love I have for him.

“No, Zeke, it’s you who has made me the happiest girl. I will always love you, but right now…at this very moment, I don’t think I could love you anymore.

You have made this memory…unforgettable.”

Zeke

Who knew that in a matter of days, I would bump into the most beautiful girl in the world and change my manwhoring ways?

Who knew I’d have one hell of a whirlwind romance and meet my match in the said girl? That I’d get in way too many brawls over the same girl, lose my shit, fall in love, and have the most amazing sex ever known to mankind?

Who knew that I’d have my heart broken and lose my shit all over again as my damn woman runs away when shit hit the fan?

That I’d have Paisley back in my arms on the opening night of our farewell tour and just propose to her in front of over twenty-thousand paying fans?

Honestly, I don’t think you could make this shit up!

Now, I have one hell of a future to look forward to, and I’m not completely sure it could get any better. I am one lucky SOB.

I don’t think anything could change the fact of how fucking happy I am right now.

Seriously, I never thought I would be one of those settle-down types. But when love comes around, that little shit cupid knocks you on your ass, and then sits in that damn cloud laughing his head off.

Do I wish things could have gone more smoothly with less drama? Of course, I do, but I wouldn’t change the fact that we got together and my girl is officially MINE!

Paisley

I’m not sure where I should start. I thought my past was left right where it should be…in the past. But that bit me on the ass big time.

Am I happy it did? Hell no, I wouldn’t want to go through any of that pain again…EVER!

What can I say? Mush is… I have no clue where my lawyer dealt with my divorce. I wanted nothing from him and happily gave up all my rights to the home we had together.

I hope he gets a taste of his own medicine one day.

As for Mama, I haven’t spoken to her since that fateful day either. Those two are more than welcome to get down and nasty with each other. I want no part of whatever goes on between them.

I have the man I should have been with from the beginning—my happily ever after.

The hardest thing I thought I had ever done was pick myself up and become the Paisley all the guys—and London—knew.

I think back to the things that had happened leading up to the day. I’m not sure when I stopped listening to my dad and his stories about how I should never allow anyone to have power over me.

I thought I was in love and got lost in the moment in a way, I guess.

When we arrived back at the hotel that first night, it took everything to keep Zeke at arm’s length so I could explain everything.

I had to stop in parts as I thought he was going to go thermonuclear on the room or something.

Through gritted teeth, he’d tell me to continue and with each word I whispered to him, I felt every last brick I had built around my heart disappear.

That was the last night I allowed myself to let the tears fall over all the pain I had suffered. I was done beating myself up.

As for Dusty, I’m not sure what happened at the sheriff’s office. All I know is he walked away that afternoon, and honestly, I’m scared shitless that he will come after me again.

Mostly, I’m scared he’ll come and hurt my new family. I just hope with everything that I’m wrong.

For now, I’m going to let myself be me again. I’m going to enjoy living life to the fullest and support Zeke and the rest of the guys as they do their farewell tour.

Mostly, I’m going to get to the bottom of London’s and Blake’s problems.

I know that girl is hiding something from me. And if she hasn’t learned from my mistakes, I’ll make sure to remind her what she can lose if she doesn’t open up.

“Here’s to our future.” I smile.

“I love ya, Pails.”

“I love you more.”

^End of Book One^