Epilogue
Alicia
Election Day
Benji’s Place erupted, drowning out the last few words Ben spoke into the microphone.
I flung my arms around Remi, but he hoisted me up, and I got to see the celebration from above.
A sea of my new friends and neighbors all cheering, jumping, and hugging one another because the canvassing and phone calls had worked.
It had been a rough few months, but it. Had. Worked.
The marsh was safe.
Tears stung my eyes as I returned Sadie’s huge smile, her mouth moving in what looked like the phrase, Baddest bitch, but I couldn’t hear her over the roar.
Next to her, Jamison—former? fuckboy lawyer—clapped and grinned down at her.
I was still getting used to the new history there, and the way it all came about was almost as crazy as how things had gone with me and Remi.
I was so happy she was here to see why I had fallen in love with this place. And to see me and Remi together. In love.
Wild.
He set my feet back on the ground placing a kiss on my forehead, and my cheekbone, then my lips.
Contentedness was such an underrated feeling. It filled every inch of my body, warming me. It felt like I must be glowing, I was so happy.
He spoke quietly in my ear, “Congratulations. I’ll never stop being impressed by you. Truly unstoppable.”
My throat was almost too tight to speak through. “Don’t make me cry. Not in front of all of these people.”
“All right,” he said in the tone of someone who thought I was being silly.
Slowly, the chant of “Speech!” rang out over all the other noises.
I blinked, and pressed my ring fingers under my eyes, willing them to dry before I moved away from the shelter of Remi’s chest. With one last deep breath full of his clean scent, I straightened my spine and turned toward the little stage.
Ben extended his hand down as I climbed the one stair, which I took even though I probably wouldn’t trip, but it was better safe than sorry.
The microphone ended up in my hands, and I turned to face the crowd.
I had never struggled to speak in public before, but in that moment my mind went blank.
I couldn’t seem to string together any words.
In the course of my career, I’d been lucky enough to give some version of this speech multiple times.
I wanted it to be different this time, because everything was different.
This little town with its rumor mills, and cutthroat euchre players, its quirks and heart, was the place I had planted my roots.
Against all odds, Grand Ridge had created the perfect scenario for me to find Remi again. For him and me to give into all the love between us.
If there was a way to tell these people how they had influenced me, how proud I was to be their new addition because they had given so much of themselves to this cause. I hoped I would find the way to say any of that.
I sighed, and like always my eyes found Remi. His hands tucked deep in the pockets of his jeans, his feet shoulder width apart perfectly balanced—as if he were ready to carry some of the pressure I was putting on myself.
“I hope you all realize,” I began, “what we’ve done here.
Future generations will know this land the way it is now, because of us.
Our fight over the past few months did not have a guaranteed outcome.
Because of you, we spread our message and the voters showed up to say, This nature is worth preserving. ”
Nora let out a woo, and I smiled when I found her standing next to her sister, Olivia.
She had returned without her fiancé, and the rumors were circulating about the status of that relationship.
Brooks was near too, his gaze locked onto her—the longing in his eyes was something I understood.
The way it consumed a person to want someone.
Need another person. It was scary and intense.
It twisted my already heightened emotions to see him so unguarded in his longing.
I didn’t know him or Olivia well, but I hoped for them. Because I had become someone who did that.
Hope for love.
“There’s really nothing to say but thank you for your time and effort. Your passion.”
Remi’s eyes were so dark in this lighting, they looked black. Endlessly deep. Containing everything. A tear escaped to roll down my cheek, as I spoke directly to him. “I couldn’t be more proud to call this place home.”
Cheers broke out again.
I didn’t bother making my way to the stairs. Instead, I took two steps to the end of the stage and landed directly into Remi’s arms knowing he’d have me.
Knowing that I had him.
The End