“Soph, I swear this isn’t the end. This is just the beginning of us,” I tell her and it’s a promise I know I’ll never break.
“Okay, I know I shouldn’t be such a baby about leaving you, but Vince, I care about you so much. Yeah, it’s been a short amount of time, but it feels like I’ve known you a lifetime.” I can hear the yearning in her voice.
“Fuck, Babe, you don’t know how happy that makes me, to hear those words from you.” I tell her.
Chapter 25
Sophia
It’s been two months since I left Vince standing in the airport. I can’t even deny that I didn’t cry the whole way back to New York, because I did. I missed him that much already. When I got back to my apartment, I unpacked, did laundry, sat down at my computer and typed my resignation letter. I did my research while in Cancun and started looking in to all the ways to becoming a successful fashion blogger. I knew it would be hard at first, but I had a nest egg saved up. Not only that, I could do it from anywhere. I remember calling Natalie and telling her my plans, dreams, and everything Vince. She gave me the best advice I could ever hear. She told me to jump. Take that jump in life, because you don’t know what could happen, and she’s absolutely right. I took that jump and landed right where I was meant to be, in Vince’s arms. He’s been more than my rock these past two months; he’s been my champion.
Today’s the day I’m moving. I’ve been slowly packing when Vince isn’t here on the weekends. He asked, no, let me take that back. He demanded I move down to Alabama. He saw I was miserable in New York when he was away, and having no one here, including Natalie. It was hard.
I was just going to get a place by myself down in Alabama thinking it may be too soon to move in with Vince, but he made valuable arguments. It would be silly to pay for a place to stay when we both know I’d be at his place more than my own.
“Ready, Soph?” Vince asks.
“Yeah, that’s the last of it,” I take one last look at my apartment and say goodbye to a life that lead me to Vince. It was hard, but I’d go through it all over again if it meant I was meant to have him in my life. I can remember the first time we said, “I love you.” I all but blurted it out and Vince, all he said was, “Damn it, Sophia, I was meant to say I love you first.” It still takes my breath away every time he says it to me, and we both say it often, every morning, after every phone call, and every time we say good night.
We went down to Alabama to help Natalie and Zack with the twins, so they could take a much-needed weekend away. When we left their place after they came back, Natalie gave me the thumbs up and even Zack said he enjoyed his time with Vince and thought he was perfect for me. That’s saying a lot. When I wasn’t such a great friend to Natalie, he was upset with me. I ran away from not only my problems, but also my best friend. I went dark for days on end, not answering her calls, or texts. Not only did I have to make up with Natalie, I had to prove to Zack that I wasn’t going to hurt her again. He’s an amazing man for her.
I turn around, closing the door. Vince takes my hand and we head down towards the waiting car that’s taking us to the airport. I’m so ready to start my life with Vince.
Epilogue One
Vince
Six Months Later
Sophia and I settled into each other pretty seamlessly. Of course, we had our issues. When she was in the office working sun up to sun down I had to make sure she at least ate and was amongst the living. It created a few arguments, but for the most part it’s been bliss. Her blog has grown by leaps and bounds, and really taken off.
I’m just getting home from three days of traveling and overseeing a few hotels, this being one of the times Sophia didn’t come. It also gave me time to get her ring picked up from the jeweler. I had it designed so it will always be one of a kind. Something she can pass onto our children one day.
“Sophia,” I yell out as I walk in from the garage door. I can smell the aroma of dinner cooking as I make my way to the kitchen when she hollers, “Don’t you dare open that lid, it’ll ruin my rice!” I swear she knows me better than myself. I hear her huff as she comes down the stairs to finally greet me.