Chapter 18
Eighteen
Tate
“I don’t know why I let you talk me into this,” I grumbled.
“Because you’ve been going stir crazy cooped up at Pepper’s and moving always helps you think,” Austen insisted. “Besides, you know you have to get back to your real life and face Kellan. This hike is a good opportunity to figure out what you want to say.”
“What’s the appropriate apology for ‘I’m sorry I ruined everything?
’” Because I was pretty sure that was exactly what I’d managed to do.
When I blew up my life, I did it in grand style.
Relationship, job, and home all in one fell swoop.
Not that I’d been kicked out of my house, but I couldn’t make myself go back to it while Kellan was sure to be there.
He hadn’t messaged me since I sent a lone text to let him know I wasn’t dead in a ditch. I hadn’t been to work—unheard of. I had no idea what balls I’d even dropped this week, which was entirely unlike me.
“You didn’t ruin everything,” Austen’s voice broke through my ruminating. “You just panicked. Honestly, given the whole situation, I’m surprised you lasted this long. But Kellan adores you. He wouldn’t have crossed the line with you if he didn’t. And that means y’all can get through this.”
I wasn’t so sure.
Austen let me be for the next chunk of the hike, and she wasn’t wrong.
With every step deeper into the woods, I could feel the anxiety that had been my constant companion start to calm.
This was part of why I loved my job. Because I got to be outside in nature all the time.
Maybe not this kind of nature, but still.
When the sun slipped behind the treeline, I realized it was getting late. “We should turn back. We’re gonna lose the light.”
Austen took a sip from her water bottle. “I thought we could take in the sunset at the overlook. The trail down is clearly marked. We’ll be fine.”
I had no interest in revisiting one of the places that belonged to me and Kellan, but I could tell my friend really wanted to go. Given all the trouble I’d been to all of them this week, I held my tongue and followed.
Something was different about the trail. After so many years maintaining the local hiking paths through our business, I noticed even subtle changes. But these weren’t subtle.
My steps slowed as I took in the young mountain laurels planted with expert precision on either side of the path. They were still small, but positioned perfectly to grow into a natural arch over the years. Someone had put serious thought into this.
“Austen, what—”
“Keep going.” She nudged me forward.
The closer we got to the overlook, the more changes I spotted. New beds of native wildflowers lined the widening path—black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, wild columbine. All my favorites.
My heart hammered against my ribs as we rounded the last bend.
The formerly sparse overlook had been transformed.
More flower beds created a natural border around the edge, drawing the eye toward a stone bench I’d never seen before.
It faced west over the valley, perfectly positioned to watch the sun set over Huckleberry Creek far below.
The scent of fresh dirt and new growth filled my nose. This work was recent—very recent. And I knew exactly whose handiwork this was. No one else would know to pick these specific plants, to arrange them exactly this way.
“Oh, my God.” My voice came out barely above a whisper as I took in every detail. The precision of the stonework, the careful placement of each plant. This wasn’t just landscaping. This was art. This was...
Austen nudged me to the bench. “Take in the view.”
My legs went weak as I sank onto the bench, eyes fixed on the valley below. The setting sun painted everything in shades of gold and amber, making the new plantings glow. But it was what lay beyond that stole my breath.
There, on the gentle slope below the overlook, stretched an enormous heart outlined in what looked like black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers. Inside the heart, more flowers spelled out words I could barely process through the tears suddenly blurring my vision: Let me love you.
“What? How?” The scale of it was staggering. This wasn’t just a few garden beds—this was a massive undertaking that would have taken days, maybe weeks to complete. The planning alone...
My fingers traced the smooth stone of the bench. Even this was perfect—the exact type of local stone we’d used in countless projects together. Everything about this space screamed Kellan. Every plant choice, every careful placement showed how well he knew me, knew what I loved.
I thought of him working out here while I hid at Pepper’s, pouring his heart into the earth one flower at a time.
The crew must have helped—there was no way he could have done this alone in just a couple of days.
Which meant everyone knew. Everyone had helped keep me away while he created this grand gesture that would bloom year after year, becoming more beautiful with time.
Just like he wanted us to do.
“Oh god.” I pressed my hand to my mouth as the full weight of what I was seeing hit me. This wasn’t just an apology or a declaration. This was a promise, written in living things, that would grow and flourish long after this moment passed.
Tears blurred my vision as Kellan emerged from the trees. My heart stuttered at the sight of him—work boots dusty, jeans bearing fresh dirt stains, his t-shirt clinging to his shoulders. He looked exhausted but determined.
“I thought, maybe with the proposal you invented, that you’d appreciate this.”
He crossed to me, and I drank in every detail of his face, searching for signs of anger or disappointment. Instead, his eyes held nothing but warmth as he took my hands in his.
“I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry. I—”
He shook his head, cutting me off. “No. No more apologies. Not from you. I shouldn’t have pushed you about the interview.
Or let the fake engagement keep going. I knew how hard it was on you.
” His thumbs traced circles on my palms. “But I can’t apologize for the fact that it changed things between us.
I love you, Tate. I want to be with you.
To work with you. Come home with you. Make a life with you. ”
My breath caught. He’d never said those words before. Not directly. Not like this.
“If that’s too much, too fast, that’s fine. We can date as long as you want until you get used to the idea. But don’t shut me out. Let me love you.”
I stared at our joined hands, at the dirt under his nails from planting all these flowers. He’d created this entire garden—this entire message—while I’d been hiding. Running away from exactly what I wanted most.
“What about the article? The engagement?” I forced the words past the lump in my throat.
Kellan’s smile remained gentle. “I told Sandra the full truth. She thought we’re terribly sweet and romantic.” His lips quirked with amusement. “And I told my parents.”
My stomach dropped. “How upset are they?”
“They’re not upset at all. Just worried that you felt like you had to keep up appearances. They wanted to reiterate that they still love you, no matter what.”
Fresh tears sprang to my eyes. The Foxes had always been like second parents to me, but I’d been so sure I’d destroyed that relationship along with everything else.
“And the party?” My voice wavered.
“We figured we’d still have it. Everybody loves a good party. It can be a Glad Kellan and Tate got their heads out of their asses party. That’s worth celebrating, too.” For the first time since he’d appeared, uncertainty crept into his expression. “Assuming you actually still want that. Want me.”
My heart squeezed at the vulnerability in his voice. Here he’d created this incredible garden, this lasting testament to his feelings, and he was still worried I might reject him.
I reached up to cup his face between my palms. “I want you. I want us. I’ve been so scared of ruining what we had that I couldn’t see what we could be.
But these past weeks...” I gestured at the stunning display around us.
“Being with you felt more right than anything ever has. I love you, Kellan. I’m done running from that. ”
A disembodied male voice floated from the trees. “Does this mean we can finally get down off this damned mountain and go get a beer?”
“Shut up! They’re having a moment!” Austen hissed.
Looking at the man I loved and the living testament he’d created to his feelings for me, I thought we’d be having moments for the rest of our lives.