to him that happiness and love is possible—that not everyone is out to just shatter hearts. He’s proved his love to me in more ways than one and all we can do now is cherish each moment we have and grow with it.
He allowed me to be the person to prove to him that holding onto love is better than letting everything go.
And meeting Nolan Young was all I needed to prove that even through all of the pain, hurt, and tears, love will always conquer all.
Epilogue
Four years later
Natalie
“Natalie! Hurry up!” Harper yells from the front of the apartment.
“I’m coming, Harp! You came too damn early.” I sigh as I scurry around for my purse, thinking it’s on the bed when it’s actually hanging on the knob of my closet door. I check the mirror one last time, fluffing my hair that’s been dyed a rich brown.
Harper took me for a girl’s day out earlier and it caught me by surprise. She knows I have finals at the end of the week and that I should be studying but she says it’s important so I went with her on it. I bought a champagne colored dress, gold accessories, and gold sandals.
“Harp, we can’t be out all night. Nolan will kill me if he finds out I’m going with you when I have finals this week.”
“Screw Nolan. It’s your birthday. I’m taking my girl out.” She grins as she swings the door open. “Let’s go. We’re already late.” I stare down at the diamond that’s on her ring finger. I always forget she has it. Since I’ve moved in with Nolan, Harp and I haven’t been in a lot of contact lately but when we are, we talk way too much. Harp, Grace, and I talk on three-way as much as we can.
Grace actually moved to Texas with her brother to take up a singing opportunity a few years ago. I haven’t talked with her much lately but I know she’s doing well because she sends me a few photos to keep me updated.
The last time Harper called, she told me Dawson had proposed to her. I was in complete awe but beyond happy for her. Dawson and Harper have had some pretty rough times, too, but they’ve gotten through it. They’re meant for each other. Dawson got a job teaching kids how to surf while Harper finally got her dream job in becoming an assistant for a famous fashion designer.
Brittany and Jordan got married a year ago but are still in Miami, striving to accomplish their biggest goals in life. Brittany actually became a kindergarten teacher and also the host for Open Mic nights at lounge Haven. I still go to Haven on a few nights with Nolan to read my poetry or to listen to him and Jordan sing the latest songs they’ve written. Jordan is still singing his heart out but unlike before, when he did it for free, he gets paid for it by giving voice and guitar lessons.
There was a night when Nolan and I were watching the news and what we’d come across was shocking yet satisfying to see and hear. It was a mug shot of Tyler on the screen, mentioning how he’d been arrested for over twenty rapes and over fifty date-raping endeavors. It seems some girl had found his stash of drugs and ratted him out before he could get to her again and he was sentenced to prison for fifty-five years.
When Brittany saw that the law offices were looking for victims, she called me first thing and we’d decided to go to the police station and report our past encounters with Tyler as well. It felt good to rat his ass out and I knew on Brittany’s behalf, it took a load off her chest because her time with him was much worse. I couldn’t have been more relieved to know he and his demonic ways were locked up and never touching innocent girls again. I still had no clue where Sharon was or what she was doing and as long as she didn’t mess with me and Nolan again, I didn’t care.
“What if he calls?” I ask, locking the door behind me. “He’s at Dawson’s right now. He might leave early or something.”
“Don’t answer your phone if he calls. If he’s here when you get back, pretend you went to get some tampons or something. Nolan’s not big on complaining—plus I told Dawson to keep him around for a little