Epilogue
I SNUGGLED BACK AGAINST LOGAN in front of the firepit on his deck, letting the warmth of him and the flames sink in. The cool fall evening air nipped at my cheeks while we listened to the lapping of the waves against the shore and enjoyed the sun painting the water in shades of orange and pink. I still couldn’t believe this place was my home.
As beautiful as summer was in Aspen Lake, fall was proving to be just as enchanting. The aspen trees had all turned to gold, their shimmering leaves like coins dancing in the breeze.
“I hope Eden’s okay tonight.” She and Sophie had just left for the birthday party of Eden’s ex-boyfriend’s daughter, Poppy. Sophie and Poppy had become BFFs. Crazy, right? Eden and Sophie were still staying with Logan, as Eden was trying to find the right fit for them. I, for one, was glad they were still there. I loved seeing them every day.
“She’ll be fine,” Logan assured me. “Shane Wells is old news. And it’s not their first interaction since she’s been back.”
“True.” But I knew Eden found it awkward being around him, especially since discovering he was divorced, still I didn’t press it further. Instead, I changed the subject because I had some fun news to share. “By the way, Claire and Adam are going to visit next week and bring me Nancy or Nathaniel. I’m still not convinced she’s a boy.”
Logan chuckled and kissed the side of my head. “I’ll love it either way. ”
I tilted my chin up to look at him, a slow smile forming on my face. “You’re cute. And I can’t wait for you to meet my friends.”
“I look forward to it as well, especially after speaking to Claire on the phone.”
“What? You talked to Claire?” Where was I for that, and how had he gotten her number?
“And Lola, Eden, Camila, and my mom.”
I scrunched my nose. “What about?”
“They helped me come up with our new bucket list.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me?” I was so confused. Especially because I hadn’t known he wanted to make a new bucket list.
“Well ...” His lips curved up into a smile. “I didn’t think it would be appropriate.”
“Appropriate?” My brows furrowed, trying to piece together what he was talking about.
He let the mystery linger for just a moment, not giving anything away, before shifting me on his lap and dipping a hand into his pocket. A rolled-up piece of paper appeared, and from it dangled a sparkling diamond ring tied to a pink ribbon.
The surrounding air ceased to exist as I stared at the stunning solitaire diamond on a delicate gold band. It was simple, but gorgeous. In a word—perfect.
“Logan,” I stammered, feeling the magnitude of the moment.
Logan, without missing a beat, asked, “Brooke Anne Crawford, will you complete another bucket list with me?”
Uh ... those weren’t the words I’d been expecting. My eyes must have measured my confusion.
Amusement danced across Logan’s face. “Maybe you want to read the fine print first?”
“Um ... yes.” If I’d learned anything from Lola and Maxwell, it was to always read the fine print. They were the ones who’d helped me negotiate my contract with SoundWave.
Yes, I’d accepted Maxwell’s help. We were taking baby steps.
“That’s smart.” Logan untied the ring. “Maybe, though, you could wear this while you read.” He slipped the ring on the appropriate finger. You know, the one on the left hand. And it was a perfect fit. “Claire, Lola, Eden, Camila, and my mom all helped me pick it out.”
“Did they now?” I sang, feeling better about where this was all going.
“I wanted to make sure I got it right.”
I held up my hand and admired the sparkler in the firelight. “It’s perfect.”
“Not yet. I think you should read the bucket list.” He unrolled it and held it out for me to examine.
“It’s not in chicken scratch.” I giggled.
“Eden was my scribe,” he admitted.
My trembling fingers traced the paper before I eagerly read the list out loud.
“One: Get married. Two: Honeymoon of the bride’s choice. Three: Have a baby or two, or three. Four: Fight like hell for each other every day.” By the end, I could barely speak, my emotions overwhelming me.
“What do you think about the list? Are you up for checking any of those off?”
I placed my hands on his stubbled cheeks, taking the moment in, taking him in. “I was thinking all of them.”
“I hoped that’s what you would say.” Logan let out a breath of relief, like he’d actually thought I would say something other than yes . Was he crazy?
“I mean, how could I refuse? You always share your last french fry with me, and your last name sounds perfect with Brooke.”
“I love the sound of Brooke Summers.”
“Me too.” Me too, I thought.
My mom was right once again. The best things came from a summer fling.