Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Do you remember our first time at this spot?”
“It was our first kiss,” I said automatically. “A perfect first kiss.”
“It was. I was hoping to steal another one tonight.”
“I do believe you’ve earned a kiss tonight,” I said with a mischievous look on my face. “Maybe more than a kiss.”
“You read my mind,” he said.
Then, he removed a box from his jacket. My mouth dropped open as he fell to one knee before me in the exact spot where we’d had our first kiss all those years ago. He opened the box, and inside was a glittering diamond ring that I recognized all too well—Gran’s ring.
“Josie Reynolds, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Maddox, oh my God, yes! Yes, yes, yes!”
He rose to his feet and plucked the ring out of the box. When he slid it into place, it fit perfectly.
“It’s Gran’s,” I said, a sob getting caught in my throat.
“She gave it to me before she went into the hospital,” he admitted. “Said that I would know who it belonged to. It was always meant for you.”
“I love you so much,” I said, crushing our lips together.
“I love you too. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Forever,” I agreed easily. “You’re never going to find anyone else to make those biscuits how you like them.”
He laughed. “That is a bonus, to be sure. But it’s just your incredible, brilliant self that made me fall for you.”
“Brilliant,” I said with a laugh.
He cupped my face in his hands. “You, Josie, are brilliant. That movie was brilliant. Everything you do is brilliant. I’m going to say it every day for the rest of our lives.”
I kissed him again, slow and languid. “I find that acceptable.”
“Hey! Are y’all coming?” Marley called across the street.
Lila was waving from the doorway.
I held up my left hand. “I’m engaged!”
They both screamed and ran straight into traffic. We all laughed as they nearly got hit by a car while crossing the street to get a look at my ring. They gushed over it for a few minutes, congratulating the both of us and then dragging us into the bar for rounds of celebratory drinks.
My eyes drifted to Maddox’s, and he reached for me. Our hands slid together, finding each other, as we always had so often in the past.
He pressed a kiss to my ring. “Mine,” he whispered.
I’d been his for a long time. And now, I’d be his forever.
EPILOGUE
CANNES
Next Year
The French Riviera was every inch as beautiful as I remembered it being, but twice as beautiful because of the reason we were here..
“So, how does it feel?” Maddox asked as we strolled hand in hand down the boardwalk.
“Like a fairy tale.”
“And yet it is your reality.”
“Still hard to believe. I mean, we’re in Cannes, and I still can’t believe the movie is in the Cannes Film Festival,” I said, gesturing to the glamorous coastal city surrounding us.
When I’d gotten the call that I was accepted into Cannes, I’d cried like a baby. I sat on the floor in the master bedroom and sobbed incoherently until Maddox threatened to take me to a hospital. When I’d told him the truth, he’d picked me up off of the floor and twirled me around until I was laughing instead of crying.
I’d gotten into Sundance too. And Toronto. And Berlin. And Venice. And a dozen other smaller festivals. I’d cried every time. All my dreams were coming true, and a year earlier, it had sounded impossible.
My film wouldn’t premiere for another hour, but there were already rumors that I might sweep the first-time film award. I was giddy and terrified at the idea. I’d find out at the end of the festival if I won, but it didn’t even matter. Just being chosen as a feature film for the festival was life-changing.
“I’m proud of you, you know?” Maddox said.
“I’m proud of myself.”
“That’s what matters. You went after what you wanted, and look at how the universe manifested for you. It’s been incredible to witness.”
“Thank you.”
“Just glad to be along for the ride.”
“You have Oscars, and you’re just along for the ride.”
He laughed. “Well, maybe you’ll have one too.”
“Then, I’d just need a Tony and a Grammy, and I’d be an EGOT.”
Maddox shot me a skeptical look as we headed back up to street level. “Can you even sing?”
“Oh God, no,” I said, bursting into laughter. “I guess I’d just be happy with an Oscar.”
“Just,” he said with a snort.
“Hey, you said I could do anything.”
“I stand by that.” He pulled me to a stop and pressed a kiss to my lips. “You can do whatever you put your mind to, and I’m the lucky guy who gets to be here for it all. Because I have exactly what I want right here. Everything else is icing on the cake.”