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EPILOGUE 1

David

One Month Later

I sat next to a crying Kassandra and a proud Nate as we watched Mikey walk across the stage to get his high school diploma.

Kassandra wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes. It didn't matter that I didn't know these young men until two months ago. I was so damn proud of the things they overcame in such a short period of time.

Mikey could've shut down after what happened between him and Brittany, just like I’d done after Madalyn left me. Instead, he flourished. He put in extra time on the ice. He proved how he earned a full ride to his top-pick university. He excelled in school. He was there for his mother every step of the way and he made sure to support his brother any time he needed it.

I was proud to call him my son. With Mikey and Nate's permission—and help picking out the ring—I proposed to Kassandra last night while sitting at the house I’d picked out for her ten years ago.

She said yes, and made me the happiest man on the planet.

She had one condition though.

We had to get married before Mikey left for college in two weeks. So it looked like a date with the courthouse was on the list.

That was okay. I would marry her in a heartbeat as long as I got to call her mine. But I had to give Addison and Liam time to fly in, or else.

Kassandra's words, not mine.

I wrapped my arm around Kassandra's shoulder and thanked Michael once again for his shitty decisions that led me to where I was today.