I. Heart Of Gold (Uneditied) ✔️ ORIGINAL

Epilogue - The "L" Word

Maddox's POV:

Friday was finally here and the evening couldn't come any faster. I was so excited for my date with Emmi. I've never been excited for a first date, but damn my nerves were all over the place. I took five showers before I officially got ready, because I was that nervous. Wes spent the night and he just laughed at me. "Shut up! I'm freakin' out!"

"I can see that," Wes said as he laughed. "It's not like you're proposing to her. It's just a date. Relax."

"It's not just a date, Wes. It's a date with someone I can see myself with for...for...for the rest of my life." I admitted. "I know, I'm almost eighteen and she's almost sixteen. Yeah, we're young,  but...there's just something about her that pulls me to her." I tugged at the bottom of my nice gray sweater nervously.

Wes smirked, "Dude, I get it. You don't have to tell me all of that. You need to tell her." He took a swig of his sports drink and continued, "What time do you need to get her?"

"Six. Dinner is at six-thrity and then the horse and carriage ride is at eight. Then we go back to her house for her party." I chugged my water and Briggs came in behind me, shaking me gently as he gripped my shoulders. I swallowed hard and coughed, "Briggs, don't make me choke. I gotta leave in an hour."

Briggs chuckled, "Sorry. But you need to relax. Tonight will go fine. Just be grateful you don't have to worry about her ex anymore. It should be a relaxing night with nothing that goes wrong."

I scrubbed my face with my palms and grunted. "I have never been this nervous about anything. Not even a football game! I should not be freaking out this much!" I paced the kitchen as I ran my hand down my face.

"Maddox," Briggs and Wes said in unison.

I looked at them and stopped pacing, "What?" My eyes darted between the two of them, worried. When they didn't say anything, my brows furrowed, "What?" I said louder.

"You're in love with her. You've said it before to me," Wes smiled.

I stared at Wes, thinking a little too hard. Every time I saw Emmi, my heart pounded so fast it stopped for a few seconds when our hands touched. Every time I was around her, she made me feel whole and happy. I never knew I was missing something in my life until I saw her. Oh my God. Wes was right. I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm in love with Emmilia Rose Fischer. "You're right, I am in love with her."

"Wanna yell it to the world?" Briggs smirked.

"I LOVE EMMILIA ROSE FISCHER!" I shouted with a huge smile on my face.

We chuckled and I looked at my watch that I wore on special occasions. It said five and my heart sped up. "You gotta go?" My brother asked.

I gave a sharp nod, "I do. Gotta pick something up before I get Em. But I'll see you both at her house for her birthday party." I grabbed my keys, felt my pockets for my wallet and phone, and went to the car.

Emmi's POV:

My black heeled ankle boots clacked with every step I took as I paced my living room in the beautiful wine-red dress I wore. It was long sleeved and ended just above my knees. The fabric on the sleeves was see-through with fabric dots scattered down the sleeve. The dots were all over the dress and the fabric turned to see-through at my waist. It was perfect, but felt super fancy for a first date. I had no idea where Maddox was taking me, so maybe it was somewhere somewhat fancy.

I questioned Nikki as to where the dress came from when she handed it to be this morning. She told me Maddox got it for me, but I knew she had to have gone with him. Most guys weren't great with girl fashion. I looked at Nikki and sighed, "Do I look okay? I feel like I have too much going on."