Epilogue - Juliet
One Year Later
The Starlight Springs lodge is smaller than the Winterbrook resort I stayed at last year, but it’s nestled against the mountains and feels perfect for this trip.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out and answer. “Hey, Blair.”
“Are you there? Is he there? Have you told him your news yet?”
I laugh—her words are just so Blair. “Yes, I’m here. No, I don’t think he’s here yet, so no, I haven’t told him yet.”
For the past year, Parker and I have done the long-distance thing. He didn’t teach over the summer and actually came and spent a few weeks with me in DC. It’s been hard, but it’s also been the best. And soon, we’ll be living in the same state.
“I wish I was there so I could see his reaction. Also, did you know that it’s Cooper Caffrey’s family that owns the lodge there? Maybe you’ll see him.”
“Says the woman who’s engaged,” I chide.
“What? I can still enjoy a good-looking man even though I’m getting married,” Blair laughs. I love that she’s getting her happy ending, even if it’s not with the hot football player that she’ll probably always have a crush on.
A car pulls into the little loop at the front of the lodge where people can park to check in. My tall, thick-thighed, slutty-glasses-wearing boyfriend steps out of his Uber, waving to the driver after he grabs his bag. I stand, watching the interaction.
“Gotta go, Blair,” I say into the phone.
“Ahh! He’s there! Go get your man!” Then she hangs up.
Parker takes his time walking toward me, taking me in.
I do a little curtsy that makes him laugh as he pulls me into his arms, pressing his lips against mine.
He’s warm and tastes like mint. I breathe in his sandalwood scent as my arms wrap around his neck.
I just saw him over Thanksgiving, but it’s been too long.
“I missed you,” I tell him.
“Missed you, too, skills.”
We hug for another minute, before I shiver. “Let’s get checked in. This lodge seems nice.”
We head into the lobby, where a few steps lead down into a sitting area. To our left is the check-in desk. An older gentleman is sitting behind the desk. “How can I help you folks today?” he asks with a cheerful grin.
“We’re here to check in,” Parker says. “Do you know if the owner is around? We met him last year and would love to see him again.”
The old man’s face turns sad. “He’s currently taking a leave of absence.”
“Oh,” Parker says. “Well we’ll just have to come back another time to see him.”
The old man smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that, once he’s back.”
I want to ask what happened, but it’s none of my business.
The old man nods again. “You folks here for Christmas?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“You’ll love it. Even if you don’t ski, we have plenty of activities here at the lodge and around town for you to enjoy. What’s your name?”
He types Parker’s name in the computer, pulling up our reservation. He hands us our keys and a welcome packet full of all the activities and food the lodge offers.
“You two enjoy your stay. If you need anything, I’m Guy. Feel free to call for me anytime. I’m always around.”
“Thank you, sir,” Parker says, grabbing our bags.
“Merry Christmas,” I say, waving to the old man.
Once we’ve settled into our room, it’s time for dinner. Parker made reservations at one of the fancier restaurants at the lodge so we could celebrate our one-year anniversary. It’s also where I plan to tell him my big news.
The restaurant is dimly lit, and because we’re here right at five as it opens, we’re the only patrons in the entire place. A waiter leads us to a small table next to one of the windows that looks out on the snow-covered mountains.
“Is this all right?” he asks, setting the menus in front of us.
“Perfect,” I say, staring out at the view. If Denver weren’t three hours from here, I’d try to move to this little town; it seems like we’ve walked straight into a postcard.
“I’ll be back in a moment to take your order,” the waiter says before leaving us alone to look at the menu.
I scan the offerings—steak, fish, and fancy chicken dishes. “What do you think you’ll get?”
“The filet sounds good, and the reviews I read online said that it’s to die for,” Parker says.
“Maybe I’ll get that too.”
I set down my menu, looking straight at Parker. “So, we need to talk.”
He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “If you’re about to break up with me, then we’re clearly not on the same page.” With his other hand, he sets a small, black velvet box on the table.
I gasp.
He opens the box to reveal a beautiful pink diamond sitting at the center of a rose-gold band. My perfect ring. “Marry me.”
I grin. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.” I lean across the small table, kissing him deeply. He lets out a low chuckle as we pull apart.
“Glad to see we’re on the same page,” he says, sliding the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly. “Now what do we need to talk about?”
“I hope you haven’t quit your job at the university yet.”
He shakes his head. “I need to finish my PhD. I’ll stay there at least until then, even if we have to wait to get married after that, or be okay with a long-distance marriage.”
I giggle, looking down at the shiny ring on my left hand. “Only…we don’t have to do any of that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know that Denver has a new NWSL team for next season. I was waiting to tell you until I had official confirmation, but I was just asked to be on the team. I’ll sign my new contract soon. I’ll still get called up to play for the U.S. team, but my new home base will be Colorado.”
Parker breaks into a wide grin.
“You’re coming home?”
“I’m coming home.”
This time, he’s the one who leans over and kisses me deeply.
When we break apart, I wonder where the waiter is, or if he saw us and is just giving us a minute.
Either way, it doesn’t really matter, because I’m coming home.
But even if I weren’t coming back to Colorado, I know that as long as I’m with Parker, I’ll be home.
PARKER
Jules leans back in her chair, moaning. “I’ll never need to eat again.”
The food was delicious, but not as good as the news she told me. We don’t have to be long-distance anymore. We can get married anytime. If I could go back in time and tell teenage me that Juliet is in love with me and that we’re getting married, I’m pretty sure I’d fall over dead.
But it’s real. It’s happening.
“I have one more surprise for you,” I say, holding out my hand. “Shall we?”
“You’re going to have to roll me out of here. I’m stuffed.” She takes my hand, though, and we head outside, where a horse-drawn sleigh is waiting for us.
“Wait, what is this?” She spins, facing me.
“I pulled a few strings.” The truth is, I called the lodge weeks ago, asking if they offered anything like this for guests.
I spoke with Guy, who was delighted by the idea, telling me that they’d never had sleighs, but he’d make it happen.
My original plan was to propose on the sleigh, a call-back to last year when we were just falling for each other, but back at the restaurant felt more natural, more right.
Juliet’s warm hands frame my face as she beams up at me. “Have I told you lately that I am absolutely in love with you?”
I smirk. “You may have mentioned it once or twice.”
She leans in, kissing me, and I lose all sense of reality when her lips meet mine. She tastes like the chocolate-covered strawberries we had for dessert, and I pull her closer to me.
“I love you,” she whispers as we break apart.
“Love you too,” I say, resting my head against hers. “And you know, I can kiss you on the sleigh.”
She smirks.
“I hope you do.”
THE END
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Ready to head to Starlight Springs and stay awhile? Book one releases in April 2026. You can pre-order here.