Not in the Same Way

Epilogue

Three months later

"Can you believe it really took five months of this before we were finally able to be cleared to leave?"

"I know but I'm so ready to get back to like, just normal life." Calum replies easily, each of them excited about the stay at home order being lifted the following morning as the world attempted to return to normal.

"So, speaking of that, how would you feel about a date night tomorrow on our first night out of quarantine?" He asks, his eyes dancing with hope as he looks over to me.

"I'd love that. We gonna take Ava with us?"

"Ashton has actually already called and said that if we didn't let him watch her, he would no longer be our friend. I know he's missed her."

"He's so dramatic." I say with a playful laugh.

"Best not to set him off though. So, I was thinking we drop Aves off, go for lunch and then Michael is having everyone over to his house so we can get her back from Ash then. That good with you?"

"Sounds perfect."

•

"Geez, Calum, are you alright?" I ask the next day as we sit across from each other enjoying the sunshine on the patio of a local Italian place I love. His toe taps and his knee bounces uncontrollably beneath the table a sure sign he is antsy.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. It's just so weird to be out in the open again."

"I think it's fabulous."

He offers a half smile and a shake of his head as he returns his attention to his meal and we settle into comfortable conversation.

When we finish, he pays the waiter and slips his hand into mine as we depart.

"The car is that way." I say pointing to my left as he pulls me in the opposite direction.

"I want to take you somewhere." He says with a boyish grin, obviously with something up his sleeve.

I shoot him a concerned glare but allow myself to be pulled behind him, laughing as I see the entrance to the small park.

"You remember this?" He asks, his brow lifted, obvious hope written all on his face

"Of course I do. It's not everyday someone proposes to me the night we meet."

His face breaks into a wide grin as I reminisce on the night I'd first met Calum. I'd made a fool of myself splashing my drink all over him only to be greeted by his kind brown eyes, warm smile, and charming personality. We'd spent all night drinking and dancing before leaving the bar together when he'd brought me here, to this small city park.

Mid conversation he'd declared me to be perfect in every way and had jokingly gotten down on one knee in a mock proposal.

My back is turned to him, lost in my head and memories when I hear him clear his throat.

I turn back to him and my breath becomes lodged in my throat at the sight of him down on one knee.

"What on earth are you doing?" I ask him, my voice small and unbelieving.