Page 96 of Wild For You

Epilogue

10 MONTHSLATER

They call it lovestruck. I was struck by a tractor, but I never got the love.

The footage seemsto be running on a loop. At least it feels that way. It’s probably been seen by every single one of our hundreds of guests. Everyone’s here—Cash’s dad, his brothers, his relatives, all his friends, every face I’ve seen in town. Everyone’s laughing and having a great time while I keep cringing and blushing. But even I have to admit that my sleepwalking is hilarious.

I look like I’m completely out of my mind proposing to Cash weeks after meeting him.

Even my mom can’t help herself divulging a few embarrassing stories about my past, recalling all the stupid things I used to do while sleepwalking, which, by the way, is said to be stress related and no doctor can cure.

I cringe some more and then give up kicking her leg under the table. I mean, what’s the point? She doesn’t seem to want to stop embarrassing me anytime soon, so I might as well give up.

Having a whole town knowing your private business and then some doesn’t come naturally to me, but like Cash once said, “You might as well just spill it out.” And then he said something about everyone being so far up your ass you can’t ever get rid of them, and went on to compare them with IBS. The analogy was so inappropriate I almost fainted from laughter.

I can only hope my embarrassing proposal to Cash won’t be uploaded on Youtube. If that happens, I’ll have to wear a paper bag over my head for the rest of my life.

As it turns out, I’ve sleepwalked a few more times since my unexpected proposal. Cash has made it a habit of conversing with me whenever it happens, if only to listen to the nonsensical things I say. According to him, he’s only making sure I don’t do something stupid and hurt myself, but I know better.

Secretly, he’s getting a good laugh out of it.

I’m such an open book, even in my sleep. I practically pour my whole self out to him, reveal my secret wishes, plans, and dreams while not remembering a thing.

Reminder for the future: Never deliberately ignore your thoughts and feelings because they’ll come back to bite you sooner or later.

They have a way to turn up when you least expect them. In my case, denying my feelings for Cash only made me want him more and fall for him harder.

My little sleepwalking secret isn’t a secret anymore, but Cash seems to love this side of me. Holding the mic, that’s what he tells our guests. That I’m perfect for him. That I helped him find his way out of a dark place.

That I was the one who changed him.

During his speech, Cash is standing without the need for crutches. He tossed those out ages ago. Even though he’s regained full mobility, he’s kept true to his word and riding is now a thing of the past, for which everyone’s grateful.

His green eyes remain fixed on me, as though the world as we know it has ceased to exist and we’re the only people left in the world.

With tears in my eyes, I stare at the man I’ve married, marveling at his beauty, his perfection, the amazing feelings he evokes in me.

“I love you,” I whisper so low he can’t possibly have heard me through the crowd, but it doesn’t matter. I let him know every day in as many ways as I can. Because once you find ‘the one’ don’t ever let him forget just how much he means to you.

“May I have this dance, Mrs. Boyd?” Cash asks, reaching for me.

“I’d love that, Mr. Boyd.” I wrap my arms around his neck, clasping my fingers at the nape of it. “Any chance you’re ever going to delete the video?” I whisper in his ear as we slowly begin to sway with the music, our bodies in perfect tune.

“That’s not ever going to happen. I’ve already uploaded it on the cloud. And what’s on the cloud, is forever.”

I sigh in mock exasperation. “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

The romantic music changes into some fast tune, and Cash starts to spin me around, just like we’ve practiced. He’s in such a great shape now, I can barely keep up with him.

The guy isn’t just a sex god, he can also move like one.

“Did you already know you wanted to marry me when you gave me that necklace?” I force him to slow down so I can catch my breath.

“The thought occurred to me the first moment you knocked the air out of me, which was the day we met.”

I laugh until I catch his serious expression. “You’re lying. There’s absolutely no way you thought about marrying me within a few minutes of meeting me.”

“I did.” He nods. “I thought, ‘damn, if she were my wife, I’d spank her ass and spank it good.’” It was only a thought, obviously, but it paved the way. After that, I tried to get rid of you because I thought you couldn’t possibly be into a guy who couldn’t even walk. That’s why I wanted to fire you.”

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