My heart pounds—first because it’s our song, and then, even more, because I’m on stage with the man I love, wielding one of my mom’s picks for him to play with me, while my dad applauds from the audience.

The melody swells, filling the theater, carrying me through every piece of our journey. And as I look into his eyes, feeling his steady breath beside mine, I know that even if everything had gone wrong, it would still be us.

When we finish, the theater explodes in cheers again. I make my final bow, smiling at every face, and see my dad wiping tears. He mouths, “I love you.” I place my hand on my heart and answer, “I love you, too.”

Two empty chairs sit next to Dani’s—and I wonder where Rick and Thomas are. The lights fade the question away, and I dash into A.J.’s arms. He lifts me off the stage and kisses me.

“You’re leaving the after-party tonight with a signed contract,” he shouts proudly.

“Thank you, love. For everything. For being you, most of all.”

“Thank you for letting me in.”

“You didn’t give me an option, did you?” I tease as he sets me down. “You swept me off my feet, made me jealous, and fulfilled all my dreams… No one could compete.” I laugh just before he kisses me.

“There’s only one more left,” he says. I freeze, curious. “But we’ll do it in Thailand.”

“What? We’ve done everything already!”

He shakes his head.

“Actually, I need to make you fly.”

I frown, knowing we have to join our friends and family—but this makes no sense.

“We already did that, love. The helicopter…”

He clicks his tongue in disdain.

“That wasn’t real flying, Alexandra. And you want to fly. So I’ll make it happen,” he says, slipping into that alpha role I love discovering.

“Do I have your word?” I hold out my right hand so he can lace pinkies with me again.

“You have my heart, babe.” He hooks his pinky with mine and shrugs like it’s just another impossible thing he’ll make possible.

And after everything we’ve lived together, I believe him.