Page 141 of The Catch

She gives me a quick kiss. "So this pie is to say goodbye to breakups. It's also a ceremony of sorts, so you can go back to baking without it involving a Bake and Bye situation."

"Can we acknowledge I used to bake for my friends too?"

"Sure. But let's take this one to Damián and Nat's house now. Let us let them make fun of us for the pie—"

"We both know they will primarily be making fun of me."

"And you'll take it like the champ you are."

I drop my forehead to her. "Soon, you'll go with me to the post-season dinner where we'll officially get our rings."

"Then we'll figure out our schedule. With trips and pre-season training…"

"And your filming dates and having to restructure your business."

"We'll do it holding hands," she says.

"I'll kiss you every chance I get."

"And isn't that the perfect way to go about it?"

Epilogue

Ames

Eighteen months later

I'm trying out a new recipe for the second season of my show. Saint keeps me company while practicing a simple piano melody.

I steal a glance at him and smile. He doesn't have much time to work on his piano skills, but he's been consistent. When I questioned him about it, he said he wanted to give me a thousand happy memories with the instrument. The plan, he said, was to help me forget any negative associations with my grandma's favorite possession.

"It sounds great in theory," I replied back then. "But it makes you only even more of a catch. An athlete who has such a sweet heart? Who will put it into music, too? You know there were a few of your exes that wouldn't believe you had settled down. What if one of them tried to cut in again while we dance at the club?"

"No need to be jealous, bella. We don't have to tell anybody and, even if they did, I'd reply like I always have." He kissed me.

I turn to goo just from the thought.

I'll marry her one day. I'm happily taken, he said every time.

He's said it so much, those exes that thought he would never commit to someone have finally caught on. It's been ages since anyone came up to us, that didn't fully understand we are an item.

Now I'm waiting for him to propose.

I thought of marriage once in a while. The world likes to think weddings are the best day of your life— the start to your happily ever after. While I always liked the idea of a big party to celebrate your love with someone else, I never pushed for it in my past relationships. Even back then I knew enough to know what you promise at a wedding doesn't guarantee forever. I cared so much more about doing things right, than having a party where I told people I had found what I was looking for.

These days, I can't think of anything sweeter than marrying Saint. It was about finding the right person, after all. The one who wants to be with me for who I am. Who wants to stick around no matter what. That was the key I was missing.

With him, I want the party andallthe promises.

It’s a good thing that Saint seems to be on the same page. I caught him checking my jewelry box recently. Evie and Pen said they caught their husbands giving Saint advice on proposals— Logan said to find something cute with significance, while Bear insisted it had to be honest and from the heart. A couple months ago, Saint asked me if I had any dreams about how my ideal proposal would go.

I said I wanted something simple, only for us. He smiled and said nothing else.

When he proposes, I know what I will say.

What we have feels right. I want it forever. You're my happily ever after.

I'm pretty sure it's happening soon.