Epilogue
EPILOGUE
V iolet
O ne Year Later
The salty breeze whips through my hair as I lean against the deck's railing, staring out at the endless stretch of blue ocean in front of me. It’s early morning, and the sun is just beginning to rise, painting the sky with streaks of gold and pink.
Behind me, the sliding door opens, and I hear the quiet padding of footsteps. A warm pair of arms slides around my waist, and I smile, leaning back into Dex’s chest. He presses a kiss to the side of my neck, his stubble scratching my skin in the most delicious way.
“You’re up early,” he murmurs, his voice still husky with sleep.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I reply, resting my hands over his. “Didn’t want to miss this.”
“You mean the view?” he teases, nuzzling closer.
“That’s nice too,” I laugh softly, turning in his arms to face him. “But I meant this.” I gesture around us—the ocean, the home we’ve built together, the life we’ve carved out of chaos and second chances. “All of this.”
Dex cups my face in his hands, his gaze warm and steady. “I told you we’d get here, babe. Didn’t I?”
“You did.” I smile, tears pricking my eyes as I think back to everything that brought us to this moment. The fear, the uncertainty, the courage it took to stand up for myself—and the love that carried me through it.
“And I’d do it all over again,” he says softly, kissing my forehead, “if it meant ending up right here with you.”
I slide my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “I love you, Dex Faletti. More than I ever thought possible.”
“I love you too, Violet.” He grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “And you’re stuck with me now. No takebacks.”
“Good,” I whisper, brushing my lips over his. “Because I’m never letting you go.”
As Dex kisses me, the waves crash against the shore below, a rhythm that feels like the heartbeat of our life together—steady, constant, and endless.
And I know I’ve found my forever.