Epilogue
Benson
One year later
The sun dips low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the grass. The grass growing on the land that now belongs to Piper and me.
I stand at the edge of the clearing, taking it all in—the tents, the twinkling lights strung between the trees, the flowers, the laughter of our friends and family. My brother Maddox and his wife Aspen are cuddling their baby, waiting for the ceremony to begin. My cousin Luke and his wife Charley are talking to Luke’s sister, Lindy, all of them laughing and looking as happy as I feel.
It’s almost surreal how much can change in a year. I’m an extremely lucky guy, that’s for sure. Claire turned into a cold-hearted businesswoman as soon as she left us on that trail last year, and snagged up the land, preventing that slick developer from crushing our dreams. She gave it to us for our wedding, just like she promised she would.
Piper and I compromised, like we discussed. I’m going to offer wilderness courses and she is going to add cabins. We’re no longer going to have two camping grounds, but instead, we’ll merge into one spot where people can choose whether to go for luxury or back-to-basics accommodations.
But this place is so much more than that. Today, it’s where we’re getting married.
I adjust my tie for the hundredth time, glancing at the setup. Fog Harbor’s lake is visible in the distance, glistening in the evening light, and the towering pines sway gently with the breeze. Everything feels perfect, and I’m not one for sentimentality, but it’s hard not to feel emotional today.
I can’t believe it’s been a year since we made that ridiculous, half-baked plan to fake a relationship. One year since I realized I love Piper. We’ve been through so much together since then—laughter, late-night talks about the future, discussing our plans for turning this plot of land into something even better than we imagined, lots and lots of kissing. And now, we’re about to build the rest of our lives together.
I hear a shuffle behind me, and when I turn, Claire’s standing there with a big smile, looking proud and misty-eyed at the same time.
“You ready, Benson?” she asks.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, grinning at her. “Can’t believe we’re doing this.”
She steps closer, straightening my tie even though it’s fine. “I always knew it would be you two. From the moment you started that silly fake dating thing, I could see it.” She winks at me. “Besides, no one bickers that much without some serious feelings underneath.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Yeah, well, you called it.”
Before she heads off, she pauses, looking at me seriously for a moment. “Take care of her, Benson. I know you will, but I need to say it. My daughter is my everything.”
“I will,” I say, meaning every word. “I’ll always treat her like a queen.”
As she walks away, I turn back to face the aisle. Piper’s going to be walking down that red carpet any second now, and even though I’ve seen her a million times, today feels different. Today, she’ll become my wife.
Then, the music starts. I stand a little taller, trying to keep my cool, but when Piper finally steps into view, I lose it. She’s stunning—her dress simple but elegant, her hair flowing down in soft waves like the first time I saw her, only now there’s a new kind of confidence in her eyes. She’s walking toward me, and it feels like my heart might actually burst.
She reaches the front, and for a second, we just stand there, staring at each other like the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I can see the emotions playing out in her eyes—joy, nervousness, love.
“You look amazing,” I whisper, my voice cracking a little.
Piper grins, that mischievous spark in her eyes still there after all this time. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Benson.”
We exchange our vows under the open sky, surrounded by the people we love and this place that’s become ours. And when it’s time to kiss the bride, I don’t hesitate. I pull her close, our lips meeting with the same electric feeling that’s been there since the beginning.
“I love you, Pip. Forever and ever.”
She looks up at me. “I love you too, Benson. I can’t wait to share my life with you.”
We walk away from the aisle, hand in hand, ready to celebrate our wedding day with everyone we love. As the sun sets over both our campgrounds, I feel complete and happy knowing that I get to spend the rest of my days with Piper by my side.
With my wife.
Like I said, I’m an extremely lucky guy.