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“We should go,” Sarah says.

“I guess it’s now or never.”

I follow her outside to the backstage area where the floats are waiting for us, and greet my fellow costume crew workers as if I’m not about to pass out.

We take our places on the float and Sarah squeezes my hand. “Everything is going to work out just the way you want it to.”

“Thanks.”

The music starts and the giant fence slides open. The floats roll out one by one. It’s time to focus on my job and that means performing my dance routine with a big smile on my face, not a look that says I’m so nervous I might throw up. It’s more of a choreographed series of movements than a dance routine, but still, I need to put on a show.

All along the parade route, guests are cheering us on and snapping pictures, pushing thoughts of Elle and me to the side. It’s only when the castle gardens come into sight that I start feeling jittery again.

“You can do this,” Sarah says with an encouraging nod of the head.

Right on cue, the parade stops, and I jump off the royal float. I walk toward the hot dog cart, my heart pounding in my chest. Elle stands as still as a statue, her face full of confusion and surprise.

I slip behind the counter. When I’m right next to her, I extend my hand. Man, I hope she’ll grab it. For a few moments, we’re enveloped in silence, but then she puts her hand in mine and the guests around us start cheering.

My face breaks out into a big smile. I pull her away from the hot dog cart and help her up onto the float. She’s looking mortified, probably because she hates that hot dog costume so much and doesn’t want to be in the spotlight like this.

The music starts up again, and I can see Frank strolling toward the float, giving me a thumbs-up.

I take Elle’s hands in mine and drop to one knee. A gasp goes through the crowd. Despite what they probably think, I’m not about to propose, but I need her to see I’m serious.

Her face goes pink. “What are you doing? Get up,” she whispers.

I grin at her. “I’m not getting up, Elle. I’m on my knees, in front of all these people, begging your forgiveness. I shouldn’t have kept things from you, and I certainly shouldn’t have told you I didn’t know whether or not we still have a future. We do. If you still want to be my girlfriend, that is.”

“Are you still set on moving away? Because I would understand if you were. I just want us to be honest with each other.”

“I’m staying right here with you. There’s nothing in Vermont, or the rest of the world for that matter, that will make me as happy as I am with you in Summerville Creek. Will you be mine, Elle?”

Tears spring to her eyes and as soon as I see her smile, I know her answer is going to be yes.

“Oh, Colton, you have a such a charming way of making a girl weak in the knees. Or in my case, the buns.” She pulls me upright. “So yes, I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.”

“I love you,” I whisper as I brush the red fabric from her ketchup hat to the side.

Our mouths find each other, and I’m transported to heaven. I don’t care that all these people are looking at us. This is our moment. Elle’s kisses are soft and full, just like my heart.

“I love you too,” she says as she pulls back.

I wrap her in my arms as well as I can with that big costume of hers. “Look up at the sky,” I tell her.

We both cast our gazes to the patch of sky above the castle. A loud bang startles her, but then she can’t stop smiling when she sees a colorful explosion of fireworks.

“This is how my heart feels when I look at you,” I whisper into her ear.

“I love you, Colton. Thank you for all this.”

The float starts moving again, the music volume is turned up, and the parade continues on its route while Elle and I hold each other in a heavenly embrace.

I let out a content sigh. If this is what pure happiness and love feels like, I’m never letting go of her again.

Epilogue

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