Epilogue
LILA
Six months later…
The Medford Bowling Alley was alive with noise and energy, the way it always seemed to be on league nights.
It was one of those places that hadn't changed much over the years. The retro carpet with neon bowling pins printed on it and the slightly sticky plastic chairs had a kind of charm that only small-town patrons could appreciate.
But tonight, there was a buzz in the air that felt different.
The firemen’s team—Blazing Pins, because of course they couldn’t resist a pun—had been league champions for three years running. This season, though, the Grady brothers had decided to form their own team, setting up a rivalry that had already sparked plenty of trash talk around town.
“Lila, over here!” Samantha called, waving me over to a table near the snack counter.
She was already halfway through a root beer float, her cheeks pink with excitement.
I made my way over, passing by Jaxon, Ryan, and Colt, who were standing near their lane, glaring at the scoreboard.
Well, Jaxon and Ryan were glaring. Colt was busy making exaggerated finger guns at Mason Grady, who was laughing so hard he nearly dropped the soda he was holding.
“Look who decided to show up,” Ethan Grady called out from their lane.
His voice carried easily over the din of the crowd, smooth and full of that dry humor he was known for. He leaned casually against the ball return, his arms crossed over his chest.
His gray T-shirt was slightly smudged with grease, and I had no doubt he’d come straight from the shop. He gave me a small nod, the kind that felt like it was both a greeting and a subtle acknowledgment of the chaos around him.
“Hey, Ethan,” I said, giving him a wave.
“Careful hanging out with the fire crew,” he teased, motioning toward Jaxon and the others. “They’ve got a reputation for being sore losers.”
“Big talk coming from a team that hasn’t even bowled a single frame yet,” Jaxon shot back, his voice dripping with mock indignation.
“I think they’re just stalling because Ethan’s afraid of my curveball,” Colt chimed in, grinning as he leaned an elbow on Jaxon’s shoulder.
“Afraid?” Ethan arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smirk. “You’ve got a better chance of getting a strike blindfolded than landing that so-called curveball.”
“Blindfolded, you say?” Colt tilted his head. “Don’t tempt me, Grady. I love a challenge.”
“Challenge yourself to hit the pins first,” Owen muttered from the bench, not even bothering to look up as he laced his bowling shoes.
His voice was low and calm, but his words cut right through the banter, earning a laugh from Mason.
“That’s Owen for you,” Mason said, clapping his older brother on the shoulder. “Always finding the most devastating way to say something with as few words as possible.”
“And yet you manage to talk enough for the both of us,” Owen replied, his tone as dry as the Sahara.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I sat down next to Samantha. “This is going to be fun.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” she said, leaning closer. “The Gradys have been talking smack all week, and the fire guys are determined to shut them up tonight. It’s like watching a soap opera, but with bowling shoes.”
She wasn’t wrong.
The next hour was a whirlwind of dramatic celebrations, exaggerated failures, and more shit-talking than I could keep track of.
Every time someone landed a strike, the room erupted into cheers or groans, depending on which team you were rooting for.
Mason, true to his reputation, took every opportunity to flirt… mostly with Colt, which was hilarious to watch.
“Colt, buddy, you’re looking tense,” Mason said, slinging an arm around him after Colt narrowly missed picking up a spare. “Maybe you need some pointers. I’ve got a mean hook shot I could teach you.”
“Pointers? From you?” Colt shook his head, a grin tugging at his lips. “Last time I took advice from you, Mason, I ended up covered in beer and explaining to a very angry bartender why there was a live fish in a beer bottle on the bar.”
“That was one time!” Mason protested, holding up his hands. “And, technically, that was Owen’s idea.”
Owen didn’t even look up from his coffee, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Don’t drag me into your nonsense,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Jaxon were locked in a battle of wills, each trying to out-bowl the other. Every strike Ethan landed was met with an exaggerated groan from Jaxon, and every time Jaxon missed, Ethan would tap his imaginary watch and ask, “Is this where you give up, or do I have to keep humiliating you?”
Biscuit had been sitting quietly by my side… until now.
“Biscuit, no!” I gasped, too late to stop him as he darted under the snack counter, his stubby legs carrying him toward the lanes with surprising speed.
In a flash, he was chasing a wayward bowling ball that had rolled off course, his little paws skidding on the polished floor.
The entire alley fell silent for a split second, everyone frozen as Biscuit zigzagged between players and balls. Then the laughter erupted, loud and uncontrollable. Even the usually stoic Owen was laughing as Jaxon bent down to scoop up Biscuit mid-run.
“Gotcha, you little troublemaker,” Jaxon said, cradling the squirming dog in his arms.
Biscuit barked once, wagging his stubby tail as if he hadn’t just caused absolute chaos.
“Lila,” Ethan called, grinning as he pointed at me. “Looks like your dog’s got more fight in him than your team!”
“Don’t start,” I shot back with a laugh as Jaxon handed Biscuit back to me. “At least Biscuit’s cute enough to get away with it.”
The moment brought everyone together in a way only small-town antics could. The Gradys and the firemen were all laughing, teasing each other as they replayed the scene.
It reminded me of why I loved this town—why I’d come back, despite everything that had happened.
And why, despite all the challenges, I’d found my happiness here.
As the commotion settled, I spotted a figure leaning against the wall near the vending machines, arms crossed and a small smile on his face.
Nate.
My heart damn near stopped beating.
He looked the same as ever. Broad shouldered and sturdy, with a weathered baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. But something about his expression tonight felt… softer. Less guarded.
I made my way over, clutching Biscuit against my chest. His body wiggled happily, oblivious to the chaos he’d just caused.
“Hey, stranger,” I greeted, trying to keep my tone light, though my heart was racing.
“Hey, Lila.” There was a hint of warmth in Nate’s steady voice. “Biscuit’s still causing trouble, huh?”
“He likes to keep things interesting,” I replied, scratching behind his ears. “You sticking around to watch the rest of the firemen embarrass themselves?”
Nate chuckled softly and shook his head. “Figured I’d come by, see what all the fuss was about. That, and I wanted to talk to you.”
My stomach did a little flip at the seriousness in his tone.
“Okay,” I said cautiously, shifting Biscuit in my arms. “What’s up?”
Nate gestured toward the small table tucked away in the corner. We sat down, the noise of the alley fading into the background.
For a moment, he stared at the scratched-up surface of the table, his fingers tracing a groove in the wood.
“I owe you an apology,” he started, finally meeting my eyes. “For how I’ve been… for not being there the way I should’ve been.”
His words took me off guard. “Nate, you don’t have to?—”
“No, I do.” He cut me off gently but firmly. “When you came back, I was so caught up in my own crap, so stuck in the past, that I didn’t stop to think about what you’d been through. About how much you’ve been carrying.”
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.
Nate sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I was mad, sure. Mad at you for keeping things from me, mad at myself for not seeing it sooner, mad at… everything, really. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and you know what I realized?”
“What?” I whispered.
“I’ve been too damn focused on trying to control everything, to keep everyone safe, and it hasn’t done any good. Not for you, not for me.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “I can’t change the past, but I can be better going forward. And that starts with supporting you. Because, Lila… I just want you to be happy. You deserve that. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve a fresh start. And if that fresh start means Jaxon, Ryan, Colt… hell, all three of them…”
I couldn’t help but laugh, though tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Nate, don’t start.”
“I’m serious,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “If those guys make you happy, then that’s all I care about. You’ve been through enough. You’ve earned this.”
I blinked as his words settled over me. “Thank you,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion.
Nate gave a small nod, his expression thoughtful. “Speaking of what you’ve been through, I got a call from the sheriff’s office this morning. They’ve got your ex on a whole laundry list of charges. Fraud, identity theft, harassment—the works. He’s not getting out anytime soon.”
The relief that washed over me was almost overwhelming. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. The sheriff said the DA’s building a pretty airtight case. You don’t have to worry about him anymore, Lila.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe. Truly breathe.
“Thank God,” I murmured, clutching Biscuit a little tighter.
Nate smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that familiar way. “See? Things are finally starting to look up.”
“They are,” I agreed, my hand unconsciously drifting to my stomach. I hesitated for a moment before meeting Nate’s gaze. “There’s… one more thing I need to tell you.”
His brow furrowed, but his expression stayed calm. “What is it?”
I caught my breath as it balled up in the base of my throat.
It was time, though. I had to do this.
“I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how he’d react. But then Nate’s face softened, and he let out a low whistle.
“Wow,” he said, leaning forward. “That’s… big news.”
“It is,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “But it’s good news. I’m happy, Nate. Really happy.”
He nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Well, then I’m happy too. Whatever you need, I’m here. Okay?”
I reached across the table, squeezing his hand. “Okay.”
It felt like everything was falling into place. My brother was finally coming around, my ex was out of the picture, and I had a bright future to look forward to.
As I looked around the bowling alley, at the laughter and camaraderie that filled the air, I realized something important.
I was home.
The end.
* * *