Epilogue
COOPER
March 15
One Year Later
I sip my coffee, letting the sounds of the waves and the warmth of the heat lamp wash over me. I sink into the sofa chaise, pulling my cozy blanket closer, savoring the moment. God, I really do love it here.
Ryan and I decided to escape the Chicago cold for a long weekend with my dad. And while it hasn’t been exactly warm, it feels like summer compared to home. I sit in my favorite spot on my dad’s patio, facing the ocean, a smile plastered to my face. Life is good.
My phone buzzes.
Ryan: What are you wearing?
I laugh, shaking my head.
Cooper: Nothing.
Ryan: Damn, I better hurry. You alone?
My grin widens, stretching across my face.
Cooper: Yep. Just waiting for the hot guy to run by so I can flash him my boobs.
Ryan: Damn. He’s a lucky guy. If I run by, will you flash me?
Cooper: We’ll see. Have you been a good boy?
Ryan: Depends. Define good…
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, grinning. It never gets old playing with Ryan.
Cooper: Are you running with a shirt on? Because that would definitely be bad behavior. Rude, really.
Ryan: Why don’t you turn around and see for yourself.
I spin around to see Ryan heading toward the patio door—from inside my dad’s house—pulling a shirt over his head.
“Hey, that's not very nice!” I exclaim as he walks over to me, grinning. “Take that back off.”
He smirks, clicking his tongue. “Maybe I need to make sure you’ve been a good girl before I show you the goods. Scoot up,” he says, motioning me forward so he can slide in behind me.
He settles onto the sofa, his joggers soft against my legs as my back presses into his chest. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer, and he kisses the top of my head. And it’s just like he said it would be all those months ago, back when everything was a mess, and we blurred the lines of right and wrong through text messages.
“I remember the first time I saw you here,” he murmurs, trailing kisses down my neck. “You were beautiful… but you looked so sad.”
“I was sad… until I saw you running down the coast.” I fold my arms over his, squeezing his hand. “God, you gave me butterflies. I remember it like it was yesterday, thinking how pathetic it was that a random guy—a stranger—could make me feel things I hadn’t felt in so long.”
I shift, trying to get comfortable, my hands brushing against his thighs. “What’s in your pocket?” I ask, startled by the hard bulge.
He laughs, the sound vibrating against my back. “It’s nothing. Just my phone.”
“That is not your phone.” I reach for his pocket, but he’s faster, pulling out his phone with a triumphant grin.
“See? Just my phone. I’m surprised you’re not making a dick joke.”
“Well, I can feel that too,” I tease, narrowing my eyes. “But there’s something else in your pocket.”
He chuckles, reaching over the back of the couch to grab a small, gift-wrapped box. Settling back behind me, he places it gently in front of me, his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, “Got you something.”
I turn my head to look at him, my brow lifting. “What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
I scoot forward, twist to face him, and fold my legs beneath me. His knee bends against the couch, the other stretching out long on the opposite side. His expression softens, a serious edge to his smile as he gestures toward the box. “Go on, babe. Open it.”
I scrunch my brows together, curiosity flickering as a smile tugs at my lips. “Okay.”
Slowly, I unwrap the gift to reveal a used Amazon box, taped shut. My fingers work at the tape, and when I finally open it, my heart stutters. I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth as tears spring to my eyes, my throat tightening with emotion.
“My grandmother’s bird,” I whisper. “How did you—?” My voice falters as I lift the delicate glass figure from the box, holding it as if it might shatter in my hands.
“I found it on eBay,” Ryan says softly. “I know it’s not the one she had, but your mom helped me track down the exact same one.”
My fingers trace the intricate glasswork, awe filling me.
“Ry, I…” I blink away a tear and meet his gaze, overwhelmed. No words feel big enough to express my gratitude for this—for him. My voice is barely a whisper. “Thank you.” I lean forward, and he meets me with a kiss.
“It’s from the 1930s, apparently,” he says, brushing a hand along my thigh. “Do you like it?”
I nod vigorously, laughing through the tears. “Yes. Yes, I love it.” My voice cracks, and I shake my head. “God, I don’t even know what to say…” I lean in and kiss him again because this man never ceases to amaze me.
“My grandma got hers when she was a little girl,” I say softly, bringing the bird to my chest. Memories flood back as I think about the last time I saw mine whole. It’s bittersweet, holding this bird now, tracing its delicate wings.
When I walked out that door a little over a year ago, I was shattered. But slowly, with time—and with Ryan’s love—I’ve pieced myself back together. Now, I feel whole. Strong. And looking at this bird, its wings spread wide, I realize I’ve finally learned how to fly.
“Thank you,” I say again, my voice thick with emotion as I rub his thigh. “You’re the best.”
“You’re welcome.” He presses a tender kiss to my lips before standing and pulling me to my feet. “But I’m not done yet. There’s something else I want to show you.”
“Okaaaay,” I say, narrowing my eyes, though I can’t keep the smile off my face.
He takes my hand, and I follow him onto the sand, the cool grains shifting beneath our feet.
“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing at him curiously.
He glances at me. “Just over here.”
I don’t know what he’s up to, but my heart races with anticipation. We walk about fifty feet along the sand before he stops, his hand tightening around mine.
“Do you know what this place is?” he asks.
“Umm… Newport Beach?”
He chuckles. “Well, yeah, it’s Newport Beach, but it’s more than that.”
I glance around, my brows furrowing as I try to figure it out. “Okay… I give up.”
He steps behind me, his arms circling my waist, pulling me close. “This,” he murmurs against my ear, “is where I was the first time I saw you.”
A smile tugs at my lips, and I tilt my head back to look at him. “It is?”
“Yep,” he says, kissing the curve of my neck. “Turn around and see for yourself.”
I turn, following his gaze toward my dad’s house. My stomach flutters as I glance back at Ryan, and my breath catches. He’s grinning, and before I can ask what he’s up to, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box.
“Oh my God!” Laughter bubbles out of me as my hand flies to my mouth. “I knew something was in your pocket!”
Ryan drops to one knee, placing the box gently on the sand before taking my hands in his. His eyes lock with mine, steady and full of emotion.
“Cooper,” he begins, his voice low and trembling with sincerity. “Two years ago, I’d never felt more uncertain about what my future held. My life was a mess—unexpected and full of hurt. I wasn’t looking forward to what was next. But then I saw you, sitting on that patio.” He glances toward the house and back at me. “You were this quiet force that I couldn’t ignore. I didn’t know why, but I felt this pull to you. I was actually excited to go running the next morning, just for the chance to see you again. And then the next morning, and the one after that.”
He laughs softly, his grip tightening on my hands. “And then I saw you at Tipsy. God, I remember this magnetic pull, like fate was shoving me toward you. I had no idea what it was, but I knew I had to follow it. So I asked you out.” He shakes his head, smiling. “And you said no. You told me you only wanted a fun night, nothing else. And I thought, if I could just spend one night with her, maybe she’d change her mind. But you didn’t. I woke up the next morning, and you were gone.”
Tears stream down my face, and I don’t bother wiping them away. My cheeks ache from smiling, but I’m sobbing all the same.
“Life got worse after that,” Ryan continues, his voice heavy with emotion. “For me… and for you.” He exhales, shaking his head as if to steady himself. “But when you walked into that office in Chicago, I knew—I knew—there was a reason why. And when I found out you were engaged…” His voice breaks, and he presses a hand to his forehead. “I thought I’d lost any chance. All hope.”
He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he fights back the tears welling in his eyes. “But then, in Austin, when I found out how unhappy you were… I told myself right then and there, I’ll fight for her. I’ll wait. I won’t give up.”
I laugh through my tears. “Of course you did.”
“But then something incredible happened.” His smile softens, his gaze steady as he searches my face, waiting.
I blink. “What?” I whisper, barely audible.
“You didn’t give up either,” he says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Not on yourself. Not on me. Not on us.”
“God,” I cry out, my voice cracking as I swipe at the tears streaming down my face.
He chuckles softly. “I love you, Cooper Bradley,” he says, pausing before adding with a grin, “Not to be confused with Bradley Cooper.”
I tip my head back, laugh-crying. “Shut up. You’re so… awesome ,” I choke out, my laughter mixing with sobs.
Ryan picks up the ring box, flipping it open with care. The sparkle of the diamond catches in the light as his eyes lock on mine, his smile growing. “Will you marry me?”
I nod, frantically, the lump in my throat too big to speak.
His grin grows. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” I cry out. “Yes.”
He takes the ring out of the box and slides it onto my trembling finger. It’s gorgeous—perfect—just like him.
He kisses my hand, and I tug him to his feet. Before he can fully stand, I smash my lips against his, nearly knocking him off balance. “I love you,” I whisper between kisses, my arms wrapping tightly around his neck.
He laughs softly, lifting me and spinning us in a circle. “I love you too, babe,” he murmurs. His lips find mine again, this time slower, deeper. His hands cradle my face, his thumbs brushing away tears I didn’t realize were still falling.
I pull back, breathless, needing to see him, to memorize every detail of this moment. Pure, unapologetic joy courses through me, lighting me up from the inside out. I cup his cheek, my thumb gliding over the damp trail of his tears. “Thank you for loving me when no one else did… when I couldn’t even love myself.”
His eyes glisten, and instead of answering, he kisses me again—fierce, devoted, endless. Then he lifts me, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me toward my dad’s house. The ocean waves crash behind us, and all I can think is that nothing about this has ever felt wrong.
With Ryan, it’s always felt right—like this was exactly where I was meant to be.
Perfect.