Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER…
Jack
The scent of ancient redwoods enveloped me like a living embrace—earthy, primal, grounding.
The fragrance of bark and soil, of life that had witnessed centuries pass, filled my lungs with each breath and settled my fluttering stomach.
Above us, the towering canopy stretched toward an azure sky, massive branches swaying gently in the mountain breeze, and filtered the late afternoon sunlight into thousands of golden shafts that dappled the stone path beneath my polished shoes.
The forest cathedral hummed with quiet expectancy, more sacred than any human-made structure.
A wildflower arbor stood ahead at the end of the path, a vibrant explosion of blues, purples, and sunset oranges against the deep emerald backdrop of old trees. My steps faltered for just a moment as my gaze fixed on what waited beyond the gathered guests. Cooper.
He stood at the top of the aisle, a vision in his tailored gray suit that hugged his shoulders perfectly, a carefully arranged boutonniere of wildflowers pinned to his lapel, just like mine.
God, he’s beautiful.
A rebellious lock of his dark hair had fallen across his forehead, despite the meticulous preparation I’d witnessed in our bathroom.
The expression on his face was equal parts reverent and stunned.
Love and disbelief mingled in those green eyes I’d come to know better than my own and hit me harder than any first look ever could, sending a wave of emotion through my chest that threatened to bring me to my knees before I’d even begun my walk.
I inhaled slowly, deliberately, as I started down the stone-paved path.
The excited murmurs of our guests fell away into the reverential hush of the old-growth forest. The world seemed to narrow, focusing with crystal clarity on each precious detail: the soft crush of pine needles beneath each step, the delicate scent of wildflowers mixing with the redwoods’ earthiness, the butterfly that danced momentarily in a shaft of light before continuing on its journey.
I passed Mason and Caleb, their hands clasped together, both dabbing suspiciously at their eyes despite their earlier promises to not “get emotional.” Ethan and Noah stood nearby, and Noah bounced on his toes in excitement.
Declan, Miles, Grayson, Landon, Matt, and many more friends nodded in greeting as I passed.
Cooper’s parents stood in the front row.
His mother’s eyes glistened, and his father patted her hand awkwardly in a gesture that would have seemed impossible just two years ago.
Lily, a vision in her white lace dress, fidgeted at Ryan’s side, her flower girl crown slipping slightly askew as she leaned forward eagerly to see, her face alight with the uncomplicated happiness only children could truly express.
Each of them represented a thread in the intricate tapestry of our lives, woven together through years of friendship, four temporary weeks as boyfriends, and now, a lifetime together.
And then I arrived at the top of the path.
Just the wildflower arbor, a canopy of branches that had sheltered countless generations, Cooper—my best friend, my partner, my almost-husband—and Garrett, who had become an officiant for our wedding.
“Hi,” Cooper whispered.
“Hi yourself.” I wanted to reach for him, but Garrett had already started to speak.
“We gather today…” Garrett’s words became a distant rumble as I lost myself in Cooper’s eyes, in the slight tremble of his hands as they took mine, in the barely perceptible quickening of his pulse visible at his throat.
He smiled at me—that smile I’d first seen across a college coffee shop, the same smile that greeted me every morning, the smile that had found its way to my heart.
I smiled back, feeling a lifetime of longing dissolve into this perfect moment of certainty.
“…Jack and Cooper have chosen to share their own vows,” Garrett said. “Cooper?”
Cooper’s voice was steady despite the complex emotions that swam through his eyes.
“Jack, our story proves that sometimes the best things in life aren’t carefully planned but beautifully unexpected.
” His fingers tightened around mine with each word, as if to anchor the promise in physical connection.
“I vow to embrace the unexpected with you—to find joy in the unplanned moments, strength in the challenges, and love in every day we create together. What started with a friendship has grown into the greatest love I’ve ever known. ”
My throat tightened as the words washed over me, and each syllable resonated with the truth of our journey.
My turn. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Cooper squeezed my hands gently.
“Take your time,” he murmured, so quietly only I could hear.
I took a shaky breath, drew strength from the steady pressure of his hands in mine, and met his gaze with equal intensity.
“Cooper, we faced a hacker bent on destroying us,” I began, my voice thick with emotion that no amount of preparation could have suppressed.
“But the scariest moment of my life was confessing my love for you after keeping that secret for so many years. I promise to face every future challenge with that same courage—the courage to be vulnerable, to be honest, and to choose you every day for the rest of our lives.”
We exchanged simple gold bands, sliding them onto fingers that seemed to wait for this exact moment. The cool metal warmed instantly against my skin and settled into place. At home. For a lifetime.
“By the power vested in me—” Garrett began.
But Cooper was already pulling me into a kiss. His hands cradled my face with a tenderness that contrasted beautifully with the eager press of his lips against mine.
“Well,” Garrett said, “I guess that makes it official!”
The guests laughed and cheered around us, a cacophony of joy and celebration, but all I heard was forever settling into my bones.
Later, under the vaulted wooden beams of a rustic mountain lodge, the reception bloomed with laughter and music.
Wildflowers and ivy covered every table in arrangements that echoed the forest outside.
The fairy lights strung above us glowed and cast everyone in a warm, golden haze that softened edges and heightened the dreamlike quality of the evening.
The live band played upbeat covers that had everyone on their feet, and I lost count of how many times Cooper pulled me close on the dance floor, his lips finding mine.
When the night deepened, the celebration still in full swing, Cooper tugged on my hand. “Come on,” he said. “I need some air.”
We slipped outside into the forest once more. The path through the grove was softly lit by low landscape lights that created pools of gentle illumination among the shadows, and the soaring redwoods whispered above us.
We walked in companionable silence, fingers intertwined, the cool summer mountain air brushing against our skin like a benediction.
The distant sounds of music and laughter from the reception hall gradually faded, replaced by the nocturnal symphony of the forest: the soft hooting of an owl, the rustle of branches, the skittering of a small animal.
“So,” Cooper said after several minutes. “We’re married.”
“We’re married,” I agreed, then started laughing. “Holy shit, we’re actually married.”
Moonlight caught in his eyes, and he smiled—the intimate one reserved only for me.
What had started as temporary had become the rest of our lives.