Starting Over •JJK• ✔️

Forty - Epilogue

**Six Months Later**

If someone had told me when I was younger that so many great things were waiting for me in my life, I would have laughed in their face. My life had always been a struggle, from parents who were barely around, to a small group of friends who I would hardly consider close, to a terrible and abusive relationship. I never thought that there would ever be any true happiness in store for me, and I had reached a point where I'd simply accepted it.

But here I was, enjoying every single aspect of my life. I had my dream job, friends who had become family, and a man who loved me unconditionally. Despite all of the baggage that I was carrying at the time, he never wavered. He stayed by my side and constantly reassured me that everything that I'd endured had only helped to shape me into who I am today. He'd said that all of my struggles could have easily turned me into a cold and heartless person, but they didn't, and that is one of the many reasons why he loved me.

Thankfully, the biggest obstacle I'd ever had to face was no longer a cause of worry. Trevor was now in prison. After what happened over the Summer, a lot of information about his business dealings started coming out, including many years of tax evasion. The guys and I, along with their security team, all had to testify against him regarding his assault on me, and I was glad that we were all able to keep that under wraps and away from the press. And if all goes according to plan, Trevor will be locked up for a minimum of fifteen years, and that was being generous.

The weight that was off of my shoulders, and my mind, was immense. JK's, too.

The rest of the tour went off without a hitch. Now it was over and everyone was taking a well-deserved extended break.

I looked over at him in the driver's seat, his eyes focused on the road, and he quietly mouthed along to the words of the song that was coming through the speakers. Even after all this time, every time I would look at him, I had to remind myself that I wasn't dreaming. This life was real. He was real.

And if I knew that all of my struggles would lead me to him, I would go through it all over again.

My eyes fell to the center console between us. His pinky finger was hooked with mine, like it always was, and I smiled as the early Autumn sun shimmered against the gemstones of my ring.

"You're staring at it again." JK playfully shook our linked hands with a chuckle.

I wiggled my finger and smiled. "I can't help it."

I'll never forget the day he proposed. The guys had thrown us a joint birthday party during a short break between the legs of the tour. We were all just hanging out and enjoying some drinks. It was a pretty relaxing night.

While sitting on the couch and laughing over this and that, he took my hand into his, asking if he could give me my birthday gift. Of course I said yes, even though I'd told him a hundred times that I didn't want anything. My breath hitched in my throat when he moved onto one knee in front of me.

JK had tears in his eyes when he spoke. "I've told you before that you are the light in my life that I never knew I needed. Every day that I've spent with you has been a dream come true. I have no idea what I did to deserve you, but I'm so beyond thankful that you were sent to me." He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it, showing me the most beautiful ring that I've ever seen. "I can't imagine going through a single day of my life without you by my side. Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?"

My own tears fell as I nodded. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed him and said yes over and over again. My hand was trembling as he slid the ring onto my finger and I was in awe. It's white gold, and the center diamond was square cut with a halo of alternating smaller diamonds and amethysts around it. It went perfectly with my necklace, and he said that he designed it with how much I love that pendant in mind.