Page 35 of Right Where You Left Me

SAGE

Two Years Later

“ E mma, baby. You have to hurry the fuck up. Everyone is waiting for us.” I holler from the living room couch, that I’ve been sitting on, waiting for Emma to finish getting ready for the last twenty minutes.

Piper is hosting a party tonight to celebrate the fact that Emma is her new business partner at the cafe.

I’m so proud of her. She worked her ass off, saving enough money to buy into the business, working long ass days and creating new menus.

She hardly slept, and now it’s all paying off.

She’s over the moon about it, and I love watching my girl shine.

“I’m almost done!” She shouts back from our bedroom. “Sorry, not all of us can look so effortlessly cool with minimal prep.”

I laugh at that. She knows I’m just teasing, I’d wait all night for her to get ready. Besides, I’m used to this at this point. She’s lived here for a year now and she’s always primping before we go anywhere.

“Ugh, River left his razor on the bathroom counter. Again . There’s tiny beard hairs all over the sink.

” Emma says, walking into the living room.

My jaw drops when I take her in. My little elf is dressed up tonight.

Her babydoll style dress is a blush pink, the cap sleeves and silky material making her look like an actual elfin princess. Holy fucking shit.

“You sure we have to go?” I croak. “They probably won’t even notice if we don’t go.” Let’s just forget that she is the reason for this party. It’ll be fine.

“Yes.” She says primly. “Do not even think about it.” She says holding up her hands when she sees the look on my face. “You cannot wrinkle this dress before we get to the cafe.” Her eyes rove down my body. “You look very nice too, babe.”

I’m wearing black leather pants that fit snuggly, paired with a loose flowing white blouse. “Thank you, baby.” I murmur. “I could take it all off if ya want.” I say with a wink.

“Nuh, uh. We’re late, you’re right. We need to go.” She gives me another hungry look. “But, maybe we can leave the party early.”

I laugh and grab her hand, leading her out to the car. “You nervous?” I ask her, and she tenses in the passenger seat before schooling her face. But I saw it, she is nervous.

“Why would I be? It’s just a party.” She says lightly.

“A party to celebrate the fact that you own half the cafe now, baby. That’s a big deal!

” I say enthusiastically. I can be bubbly tonight if she needs me to be.

I can practically feel the nerves radiating off of her now.

She’d never admit it, but she doesn’t like this much attention.

I don’t know why Piper felt the need to throw this whole shindig, when we could have just had a family dinner.

But Emma insisted it was alright, so, off to the party we go.

I park beside River’s new truck and grab Emma’s hand again when she rounds the front of my car.

She squeezes my palm and smiles as we walk hand in hand.

There’s a banner hanging over the front door.

“Congratulations!” Written on it in big, bold letters.

“Well, that’s sweet.” I say with a chuckle.

“Piper really went all out, huh?” I say and look down at Emma whose cheeks match her pink dress now.

“Seems so.” She says softly, and smiles back at me. “We should, um. We should go in.”

“You okay?” I ask, cupping her cheeks before kissing her. “We don’t have to go in there if you don’t want to.”

She rolls her eyes playfully. “Open the door, Sage.”

“Alright, alright. Worth a shot.” I say and push the door open. I gesture for Emma to walk in and follow behind her.

The cafe is empty and eerily silent. The fuck?

There’s flowers and twinkle lights hung around the ceiling, every surface decorated for the celebration tonight, but no guests. No music.

“Emma… what’s going on?” I ask looking around confused. “Where is everyone?”

“Not sure. Guess you didn’t need to rush me, huh?

” She teases. She grabs my hand and leads me closer to the middle of the cafe where a lone table is set.

I didn’t notice it when I looked around at first, but laid out on the table are lit tea lights, accentuating eight cupcakes.

I swallow the knot in my throat, tears burning behind my eyes as I stare at those fucking chocolate cupcakes.

My favorite cupcakes, from my favorite person that spell out ‘ Marry Me?’

“Emma.” I choke out. “What?—”

I turn and find the love of my fucking life kneeling on one knee.

In her hands is a black velvet box, a brilliant emerald cut diamond nestled inside it.

“Sage.” She breathes. “You are, and always will be, the only thing I need in this life. I didn’t know what love and passion were until I found you again.

You are fucking everything , and I would be so honored and so goddamn lucky, if you would be my wife.

” I watch as a tear rolls down one of her perfect, freckled cheeks. “Marry me?”

I let out a wet laugh, my cheeks hurting with how big my smile is. “Yeah.” I say softly. “Fuck, yeah.”

She slides the diamond on my finger and immediately I have her wrapped in a tight embrace. “Love you so much.” I murmur into her hair. “For fucking ever.”

“Forever.” She says, squeezing me tightly.

“Can we come out now?” River’s voice shouts out from the kitchen.

“Yeah!” Emma says back. “She said yes!”

Cheers erupt from the back as our friends and family file out and join us.

We’re wrapped in hugs and congratulatory words as everyone showers us with love and it fills the whole room.

It’s warm and it’s bright and I can feel it soaking into us.

These people we love, here to celebrate how much Emma and I love each other.

A cork pops and glasses of champagne are passed around. River grabs me and pulls me aside. His eyes shining with unshed tears as he wraps me in a big hug. “I’m so happy for you, cheri.”

“Me too, Riv.” I say, squeezing him tight. “I don’t deserve her.”

He clucks his tongue. “You two deserve each other. You both are perfect for one another.” He sighs. “I love you both so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you, but I think it’s time for me to move out. Let you guys have the apartment now that you’re getting married.”

“What? No!” I protest. “We love having you with us. You can’t move out. Not yet, okay?”

“Sage—”

“Nope. Not going to hear it. You’re stuck with us until I say so.” I say. “I promise we don’t want you to leave.”

“Okay, cheri.” He chuckles. “Okay. As long as you’re sure.”

I squeeze him one more time. Hoping he can feel how much I mean that.

He’s always put other people before himself, and I won’t let him do it with this.

Emma won’t mind either. I look around the cafe and find her talking to Piper.

The two giggling together. My chest warms and I stare at her a little longer soaking in the image of her.

My perfect fiancé. If I could tell twenty-one-year-old me where we ended up, she’d tell me to go fuck myself.

We’ve been through so much, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it’s brought us here, to this perfect moment.

Emma looks over and meets my stare, a grin breaking out across her pretty face.

She holds her glass up and I cheers her from across the room.

I can feel how much she loves me in the look in her eyes, and I just know that this is it.

Our life together, our future. Everything is going to be perfect.

Because like River said, we are perfect for each other.

And our love will stay here, with us, right where we left it.