Daytona Baby [N.H]

Epilogue

—2 years later—

Olivia Campbell

The tears in my eyes weren't from the stage lights. They weren't from the camera flashes or the fact that I hadn't slept much the night before, wide awake with anticipation. But my vision blurred simply because my heart swelled watching Niall walk out onto that stage. Simply because I was proud of him—of us—for all that had been endured leading up to this moment. For the work he's put in, for the passion and the dedication that got him here.

I never used to be so sentimental.

The sold-out stadium cheered and screamed for him as the music began and it didn't come close to the praise I thought he deserved. I made sure to tell him—and show him—how amazing he is and how happy I am to stand by his side as his dreams come true.

The days of Duplicity are over, but Niall Horan is just getting started.

We spent weeks deciding the setlist for his opening night of his first solo tour. I appreciated immensely that Niall included my input in almost every decision. I wasn't part of his official team, but he consistently showed me that going forward we would be a team. Such a contrast to the way we started out so long ago, always at odds with each other outside of the bedroom.

We decided to open with Nice To Meet Ya.

"I wrote this shortly after we met," Niall said, staring at my lips with his eyes starting to glaze. We had just heard his first single on the radio for the very first time. "I saw you through the crowd and suddenly those girls in my lap didn't matter. You made eye contact with me and I knew I had to have you."

Hearing thousands of fans singing along to the words he wrote about me...

I couldn't describe the feeling.

Nova stood to my left, Louis' arms wrapped around her. She glanced at me every so often, but didn't speak. She knew how big this moment was for me, and I think she knew I didn't want to take my focus off of Niall even for a second. What had started as a shallow friendship had formed into a deep bond over the past two years.

This morning I asked her to be my maid of honour.

The diamond on my left hand glinted under the flashing stage lights.

Our engagement was intimate and private. The rest of Niall's life was constantly on display, so to have that moment be just us—no cameras, no fans—it truly was perfect. It wasn't some elaborate set up or grand plan. We were in San Francisco recording the album and he drove us up to that lookout he took me to so long ago.

"You took the words right out of my mouth that night," Niall said from behind where I stood on the edge of the lookout. "When you said you loved me for the first time, I was already thinking it. I was scared that day. But I'm not scared now."

I turned around to see Niall on one knee, ring in his hand.

My whole body trembled and I fell to my knees in front of him, tears flowing freely.

"I've known for a while that you are the only woman for me. No other ever has, or ever would go through what you went through with me. For me." Niall's hands were shaking. "And I know it's a risk, being with me..."

I shook my head. "Niall, I don't care about that—"

"I know it's a risk, Liv. I hope it isn't always that way. But I just...if I get the opportunity to be selfish one more time—all I want is to spend my life with you." Niall's voice was breaking, the raw emotion I used to beg for was being poured out for me. "There will never be another, Liv. Never. I promise I'll love you for the rest of my life."