“I love you too. I love you. Love you. Love you. Love you. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Noah holds me tight, his arms wrapped around my rib cage as he lifts me off the ground. And we kiss for what feels like an eternity until I pull away, a hazy glimmer in my eyes like I’m coming out of the best dream.
And I am.
“Mr. and Mrs. Noah Adler,” he whispers.
“I like the way that sounds, me plus you, forever.”
Epilogue
Eighteen months later
The theater’s dark, and everyone’s silent. Not even the sound of popcorn is interrupting the hero’s monologue. While the music builds, I squeeze Noah’s hand, not even blinking as I watch the movie ... my movie.
“Honeysuckle, we’re gonna be just fine because we’ve always got each other.”
The camera pans to the sunset as the two actors kiss passionately before fading out. Applause erupts, and I smile as I turn my head toward Noah.
He smiles back. “Okay ... ‘honeysuckle,’ though?”
I chuckle playfully and smack his shoulder. “I had to pick my battles.”
Over a year ago, as therapy, I wrote our real life into a screenplay. It was this weird kind of empowering idea I had one night as I colored Noah’s tattoos. The journey to find my birth parents and stop shaming myself for wanting a deeper self-discovery had definitely turned left when I’d turned right, but in the end, it made me realize that I decide who I am and what that means. Nobody else. I guess I had to go through it all to finally find me.
I suppose it was relatable because, atypically of Hollywood, not only was it picked up immediately, but the movie was made in record time.
So today Noah and I invited those closest to us to a private screening before the release date.
The lights come up as my mom leans forward from the seats behind us.
“Baby, I loved it. But I also hate it because when I think back to what could’ve happened ...”
She’s crying again. I stand from my seat and turn to hug her. “Mom, I’m okay and alive.”
She hugs me back before releasing me to rub Noah’s shoulder.
“I know, and I have my favorite son-in-law to thank for that.”
He gives her a wink. Telling my parents all the gruesome details was awful, but for Noah it was worse because he still felt responsible. However, in true Camilla and Stephen glory, not only did they understand, but they also welcomed him into our family without ever second-guessing their decision.
Chase leans over him, looking at me with his brows raised.
“I personally would like to say thank you for the accurate representation of my character. Because I think we can all agree he’s a bit of a scene stealer. And a hunk.”
“Oh my god. Why did you invite him?” Evie groans as my dad taps her leg, giving her a subtle hint to be nicer.
She won’t be. It doesn’t matter that Chase saved her life. I laugh and wrap my arms around Noah’s neck as he stands up.
He looks down at me, adoringly, as I say, “Hey, thanks for being such a sexy muse.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Adler.”
I smile wider.
Noah pats my ass. “I’m gonna go talk to my friends for a minute. I’ll be right back, okay?”
I nod. “’Kay, I’m gonna head to the bathroom anyway. Meet me out in the lobby?”
