EPILOGUE
***
Annie
I stare out the window of my office, watching the hustle and bustle on the street below. Julia’s office is now mine, and the business she painstakingly built is mine now, too. Well, almost.
I turn away from the window and glance at the papers on my desk, the offer Sam and I prepared to officially buy the business. My heart swells with pride and excitement. It’s been a whirlwind, taking over the reins from Julia, growing the company, and making plans for the future. But I’ve never been alone in this—Sam’s been by my side every step of the way.
Whoever thinks Christmas wishes don’t come true has never experienced the magic I’ve been blessed with—a best friend who’s my biggest fan, and the man I plan to marry when the time is right.
I turn back to the papers on my desk, smiling as I think about how far we’ve come. Julia’s office, this business—none of it would be mine if it weren’t for her insight and a little bit of scheming on her part. Inviting me to that couples’ retreat wasn’t just about a week getaway; it was test. She saw through my workaholic tendencies, and knew I was throwing myself into work to avoid the gaping hole in my life.
Julia understood, better than anyone, the importance of work-life balance. She built this company alongside Ryan, knowing that her success was as much about the support she had at home as it was about the hard work she put into the business. And she suspected, long before I did, that Sam was my missing piece.
With Sam as my cheerleader, I can have it all—a thriving career and a love that only a true soulmate can provide. And now, standing here on the brink of officially making this company mine, I can’t help but feel grateful for the little push Julia and Ryan gave Sam and I—the nudge that led us to find our way to where we belong.
Julia and Ryan are probably packing the last of their bags for their year-long adventure overseas, finally getting the chance to explore the world like they’ve always dreamed. Though I’m nervous about the debt and the responsibility running this business brings, I’m ready to take the next step.
Sam pokes his head into my office, a smile tugging at his lips. “Thought you could use a little pick-me-up,” he says, handing me a cup of coffee. He presses a kiss to my forehead, his touch warm and familiar, a constant in the ever-changing landscape of our lives.
“Thanks,” I say, taking a sip and savoring the rich flavor. “I was just thinking about how far we’ve come. It feels surreal sometimes.”
Sam chuckles and moves to sit on the edge of my desk, his eyes full of that easy confidence that’s been my rock. “It’s been one hell of a ride, hasn’t it? But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
My heart swells with love and gratitude. This man, my best friend, my partner in every sense of the word, has been with me through it all. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated victories, and now we’re on the cusp of something even bigger.
“I’ve been thinking,” Sam says, his tone suddenly serious. He sets his coffee down and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small, elegant box. My breath catches as he opens it, revealing a simple yet stunning ring. “We’ve done everything together—this business, this life we’re building—and I can’t imagine doing any of it without you. So, what do you say, Annie? Will you make us official? Marry me?”
Tears well up in my eyes as I look at the man I’ve loved for so long, the one who’s seen me at my best and my worst, and still chooses me every day. “Yes. Yes, a thousand times yes.”
He slips the ring onto my finger, and everything clicks into place. We’ve made commitments before, but this time is different—bigger, deeper. We’re not just partners in business or life; we’re building a future together, one that’s as strong and unbreakable as the love we share.
I pull him into a hug, feeling his heart beat in time with mine. As we hold each other, I know that this is where I’m meant to be. Not just in this office, or in this city, but with him.
I think back to that weekend at the silo. It feels like a lifetime ago, though in reality, it wasn’t so long. Uncertainty hung over us, the fear of saying too much or not enough, of losing what we had, and never finding what we truly needed.
My life was so fragile then. But that weekend was the true turning point for Sam and me, forcing us to confront what we avoided for years—the unspoken feelings, the fears, the dreams we were too afraid to admit we had. We broke free of the situation our silence created.
Sam grins and taps the papers on my desk. “Ready to sign our names and make this whole power couple thing official?”
I nod, my heart full of love and determination. “Let’s do it.”
***