Updated Mar 21, 2026 • ~9 min read
SUMMER – TWO MONTHS LATER (14 MONTHS POST-EXPLOSION)
Jax and I are walking through Prospect Park.
It’s become our thing. Weekly walks. Talking.
Building friendship.
Building trust.
“My mom asked about you,” I say.
“What did you tell her?”
“That we’re friends. Trying to rebuild.”
“What did she say?”
“That she hopes we can work it out. She likes you.”
“She’s never met me.”
“I showed her your work. From the exhibition. She was impressed.”
He smiles. “Your mom approves of a tattooed artist? Character development.”
I laugh. “Major character development.”
We sit on a bench.
Watch kids play soccer.
“Can I ask you something?” Jax says.
“Anything.”
“Do you regret it? The engagement. The lies. All of it?”
“Yes and no.”
“Explain.”
“I regret hurting you. Hurting Theo. The lies. But I don’t regret meeting you. Falling for you. Even if it was messy.”
“Even if you lost everything?”
“I didn’t lose everything. I lost my parents’ approval, Theo, and you. But I found myself. That’s worth something.”
He looks at me. “You really have changed.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am. A little. I’ve seen people say they’ll change and then just… don’t. But you did.”
“I had to. The old me was miserable.”
“And the new you?”
“Still figuring it out. But happier.”
“I’m glad.”
We sit in comfortable silence.
Then Jax says, “I think I’m ready.”
“For what?”
“To try. Us. For real.”
My heart stops.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve watched you for months. Seen you be honest. Set boundaries. Show up. I trust you, Summer.”
Tears fill my eyes.
“I won’t let you down.”
“I know. And if you do, we’ll talk about it. Like adults. No more lies.”
“No more lies.”
He takes my hand.
It feels right.
“So we’re doing this?”
“If you want to.”
“I do. More than anything.”
He smiles.
“Then let’s do it.”
JAX
I’m terrified.
But I’m also sure.
Summer’s put in the work. The time. The honesty.
She’s earned another chance.
And I’m ready to give it to her.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask.
“Please.”
I lean in.
Our lips meet.
It’s familiar and new all at once.
Fireworks.
Still fireworks.
SUMMER – THAT NIGHT
I’m at Rose’s. Packing.
I found my own apartment. Small. Affordable. Mine.
“You’re glowing,” Rose says.
“Jax and I are together. For real.”
She squeals. Hugs me.
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for this!”
“Me too.”
“Are you scared?”
“Terrified. But also… happy.”
“You deserve happy.”
“Thank you. For everything. For letting me stay. For not giving up on me.”
“You’re my sister. I’ll never give up on you.”
We hug.
And I realize: I have everything I need.
Not everything I wanted.
But everything I need.
THEO – 14 MONTHS POST-EXPLOSION
I’m at therapy.
“I keep dating women I don’t love.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Safety. If I don’t love them, they can’t hurt me.”
“But they’re not fulfilling either.”
“No.”
“What would a fulfilling relationship look like?”
“Someone who chooses me. Really chooses me. Not out of obligation or arrangement. But because they want me.”
“Do you believe you’re worthy of that?”
“I’m starting to.”
“That’s progress.”
It is.
Slow.
But real.
JAX – ONE MONTH LATER (15 MONTHS POST-EXPLOSION)
Summer and I are at a restaurant.
Our first official date in over a year.
It feels surreal.
“I’m nervous,” she admits.
“Why?”
“What if I mess this up?”
“Then we’ll talk about it. Work through it.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“It’s not. But I’m committed to trying.”
“Me too.”
We order.
Talk about everything and nothing.
She tells me about her new apartment.
I tell her about expanding the shop again.
It’s easy. Natural.
Like coming home.
“Jax?” Summer says.
“Yeah?”
“I love you. I know I said it before, but I need you to know. I really love you.”
“I love you too.”
It’s the first time I’ve said it since we got back together.
Her eyes fill with tears.
“I’m so lucky.”
“We both are.”
SUMMER – THREE MONTHS LATER (18 MONTHS POST-EXPLOSION)
Jax meets my parents.
Formal dinner. At their place.
I’m terrified.
But my mother greets him warmly.
“Jaxon. We’ve heard so much about you.”
“Good things, I hope.”
“Mostly.” She smiles. “Summer showed us your work. It’s very impressive.”
My father shakes his hand.
“Thank you for being patient with our daughter.”
Jax squeezes my hand. “She’s worth it.”
Dinner is surprisingly pleasant.
My mother asks about his business.
My father discusses art markets.
It’s… normal.
Afterwards, in the car, Jax says, “That went well.”
“Shockingly well.”
“Your mom likes me.”
“She does. I can tell.”
“What about your dad?”
“He respects you. That’s huge for him.”
Jax grins. “I met the parents. That’s serious.”
“Very serious.”
“Good. Because I’m serious about you.”
“Me too.”
JAX – SIX MONTHS LATER (TWO YEARS POST-EXPLOSION)
We’re at Marco’s birthday party.
Summer fits right in with my family.
Laughing with Marco’s wife. Playing with my niece.
She belongs here.
Marco pulls me aside.
“You happy?”
“Yeah. Really happy.”
“She’s good for you.”
“She is.”
“You trust her now?”
“Completely.”
“Good. Don’t let her go.”
“I won’t.”
I watch Summer from across the room.
She catches my eye.
Smiles.
That smile still does things to me.
SUMMER – THAT NIGHT
We’re at Jax’s apartment.
Curled up on the couch.
“Your family loves me,” I say.
“They do.”
“Even Marco?”
“Especially Marco. He said you’re good for me.”
“I hope I am.”
“You are. These past months have been the best of my life.”
I look up at him.
“Really?”
“Really. You’re different. We’re different. Better.”
“No more lies.”
“No more lies.”
He kisses me.
And I know.
This is it.
This is home.
THEO – TWO YEARS POST-EXPLOSION
I’m on a date.
Her name is Elena. She’s an architect.
We met at a coffee shop. Literally bumped into each other.
It’s our third date.
And for the first time in two years…
I feel something.
Butterflies.
Interest.
Possibility.
“What are you thinking about?” Elena asks.
“You.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I like you.”
“I like you too.”
“I should tell you—I have a complicated past. I was engaged. It didn’t end well.”
“We all have a past.”
“Mine is messier than most.”
“I don’t care about messy. I care about now.”
It’s exactly what I needed to hear.
“Okay. Now. I’m here. Present. With you.”
“Good.”
She smiles.
And I feel it.
Hope.
Real hope.
SUMMER – SIX MONTHS LATER (2.5 YEARS POST-EXPLOSION)
I’m curating another exhibition.
This one’s bigger. More prestigious.
Janet’s made me assistant director.
I have my own office. A salary I can live on.
A career I love.
Jax picks me up from work.
“Ready?”
“Yeah. Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He drives us to Brooklyn. To a rooftop.
The same one from our early dates.
Fairy lights. City skyline. Homemade tacos.
“You remember,” I whisper.
“Of course I remember. This is where I first told you I’d wait for you.”
“You did wait.”
“And you were worth it.”
He gets down on one knee.
My heart stops.
“Summer Chen. You’re the most complicated, frustrating, incredible person I’ve ever met. You drove me crazy. Broke my heart. And then put it back together.”
I’m crying.
“I don’t want perfect. I don’t want easy. I want you. For real this time. Forever.”
He pulls out a ring.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes. God, yes.”
He slides the ring on.
We kiss.
And I know.
This time, it’s real.
This time, I’m choosing love.
Freely.
Completely.
Forever.
JAX
She said yes.
My fiancée.
For real this time.
No secrets. No lies.
Just us.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too.”
We sit on the rooftop.
Looking at the city.
The same city where we met. Where we fell apart. Where we rebuilt.
“No more lies?” I say.
“No more lies.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
And this time, I believe her.
SUMMER – ONE MONTH LATER
We tell our families.
My mother cries happy tears.
My father shakes Jax’s hand. “Take care of our daughter.”
“I will.”
Rose squeals. “Can I plan the wedding?”
“Absolutely not. You’ll make it too avant-garde.”
We laugh.
Marco hugs me. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you. For giving me a chance.”
“You earned it.”
It’s perfect.
Not perfect-perfect.
But real.
Messy.
Honest.
Mine.
THEO – 2.5 YEARS POST-EXPLOSION
Elena and I are official.
Six months in. It’s good. Really good.
I’m not comparing her to anyone.
Not protecting myself.
I’m all in.
We’re at dinner when my phone buzzes.
Social media notification.
Rose posted a photo.
Summer and Jax. Engaged. Smiling.
“You okay?” Elena asks.
“Yeah. My ex just got engaged.”
“Oh. How do you feel about that?”
I look at the photo.
Summer looks happy. Really happy.
“I feel… glad. She deserves happiness.”
“That’s very mature.”
“I’m finally over it. Over her. Over the whole mess.”
“Good. Because I’m very much into you.”
I smile. “I’m very much into you too.”
And I mean it.
For the first time since Summer, I mean it.
SUMMER – ENGAGEMENT PARTY, THREE MONTHS LATER
Rose planned it anyway.
It’s perfect. Small. Intimate.
Our families. Close friends.
Jax’s shop crew. My gallery team.
Even Theo sent a card.
Congratulations. I’m happy for you both. – Theo
“That’s big of him,” Jax says.
“It is. We’ve all grown up.”
“We have.”
I look around the room.
My mother and Jax’s mom talking.
My father and Marco laughing.
Rose dancing with Felix.
Everyone I love, together.
Three years ago, I lost everything trying to keep everyone happy.
Now I have everything because I chose honesty.
“What are you thinking?” Jax asks.
“That I’m grateful. For all of it. Even the messy parts.”
“The messy parts made us who we are.”
“I love who we are.”
“Me too.”
He kisses me.
And I know.
This is my happy ending.
Not perfect.
Not easy.
But real.
And that’s all that matters.
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