EPILOGUE
LEIGH
Iwoke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of the ocean.
Home.
Our home.
The cottage we’d bought together, that we’d moved into in October, that we’d spent the last four months filling with our lives. It had taken me all of half a day to decide that this was where I wanted home to be, and that was only because Dex made me think about it first.
I stretched and smiled, noticing Dex’s side of the bed was already empty. Pixel and Aperture had claimed his spot, curled up against each other, purring softly.
“Morning, babies,” I whispered, scratching behind Aperture’s ears.
I found my robe and wandered into the kitchen.
Dex was on the back deck in his usual morning spot with a coffee in his hand, looking out at the ocean. Even in February, even when it was cold, he liked to start his mornings out there.
I poured myself coffee and joined him.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said, pulling me into his side.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” I wrapped my hands around the warm mug. “What time are they getting here?”
“Noon. All of them.”
“All of them?”
“Yep. Full Farrington invasion. Plus your mom and Jasper.”
I grinned. “I love when they visit.”
“I know you do.”
This was our life now. Dex and me in this cottage two blocks from the beach. Him running Moore’s Automotive on Main Street. Me running my studio. The Farrington brothers visiting every few months. Us driving to Willowbrook for holidays.
It worked.
Better than worked. It was perfect.
“Business good this week?” I asked.
“Fully booked through next week. Word of mouth is spreading.” He kissed the top of my head. “Turns out this town really needed a good mechanic, and Frank really needed an excuse to be able to retire. The poor guy was exhausted, you know.”
I looked up at him. “Are you happy here? Really happy?”
“Are you seriously asking me that?” He turned to face me fully. “Leigh, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. This house, this town, this life, it’s everything I didn’t know I wanted.”
“No regrets?”
“Not a single one.” He paused. “Do you have regrets?”
“God, no. This is perfect. You’re perfect. We’re perfect.”
“Good.” He kissed me, slow and sweet and tasting like coffee. “Now come on. We have a house to prepare for a Farrington invasion.”
DEX
They arrived exactly at noon. A caravan of trucks pulled up in front of our house.
Trace and Delaney with the boys. Booker and Reece. Xander and Blake with Amelia. Gage and Billie. And bringing up the rear was Caroline and Jasper.
Chaos descended immediately.
Barrett toddled around the yard, now almost two and into everything. Cade was showing Amelia some new handheld gaming device, while the adults all talked over each other, catching up, laughing.
Leigh was in her element. Hugging everyone, showing Mom and Jasper the updates we’d made to the house, fielding questions about business and life and happiness.
“The house looks great,” Trace said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You guys have really made it home.”
“Leigh’s good at that,” I said.
“She is. But so are you.” He looked around the yard, at the family gathered there. “I’m proud of you, man. This took guts.”
“Best decision I ever made.”
“I can tell. You look... settled. Happy.”
“I am.”
Booker joined us with beers. “Your old house is perfect for us, by the way. Reece has completely redecorated.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s unrecognizable. Which is good. We needed to make it ours.”
“I’m glad. It should be someone’s home. A real home.”
“It is now.” He took a sip of his beer. “And Jake says the old garage is thriving.”
“Good. He earned it.”
We stood there, the three of us, watching the family mingle in our yard.
“You know,” Booker said, “when you first told us you were moving, I thought you were crazy. I knew you needed to do it, that she was worth it, but there was a part of me… I don’t know. I guess I just couldn’t imagine you in a different place.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I admitted.
“But now? Seeing you like this? It makes perfect sense.” He gestured to Leigh, who was laughing at something Blake said. “She’s good for you.”
“She’s everything.”
LEIGH
After lunch, we all walked to the beach.
The adults spread out blankets while the kids ran around, collecting shells and chasing waves. It was cold for February, but the sun was out and the kids didn’t care.
I sat with Delaney, Blake, Reece, Billie, and my Mom. The guys were throwing a football around with Cade and Barrett and Amelia were running around laughing like maniacs as they chased everyone.
“So,” Blake said, grinning at me. “How’s living together?”
“Perfect. Disgusting. We’re that couple now.”
“Good,” Delaney said. “You deserve to be that couple.”
“How’s Wren doing?” Mom asked.
“Better. She’s been talking about leaving the lighthouse. She’s not quite made it outside yet but she’s actually trying this time.”
“And Claire?”
I glanced down the beach where Claire was walking alone, her hands shoved in her pockets.
“She’s… I don’t know. There’s something going on, but she’s not talking.”
Mom shook her head. “Your Aunt Becca is worried about her. I hope she talks to one of you soon to figure out whatever it is that’s bothering her.”
“She will,” I said. “Eventually.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the kids play, the men throw the football, the ocean stretch endlessly before us.
“I’m happy for you, sweetheart,” Mom said quietly. “You found where you belong.”
“I did. And it turns out where I belong is with him, not just here.”
“That’s the secret,” Delaney said. “Home isn’t a place. It’s a person.”
DEX
That evening, after everyone had left for their hotel, Leigh and I walked on the beach alone.
Just us. The waves. The stars.
“Today was perfect,” she said, holding my hand.
“It was. Your brothers are great.”
“Our brothers,” she corrected.
“Our brothers,” I agreed.
We walked in silence for a while, and I felt the weight of the small box in my pocket.
Tonight. I was finally doing this tonight. After having it sitting in my toolbox for a month, I’d finally figured out the perfect time. Or rather, I’d realised that any time I had with Leigh was perfect and there was no point waiting around any longer.
“Leigh,” I said, stopping.
She turned to face me, curious. “What?”
“I need to say something.”
“Okay...”
I took a deep breath. This was it.
“Six months ago, I stood in this town for the first time. And I knew… this was it. This was where I was supposed to be. Not because of the ocean or the cute houses or the good coffee.”
She smiled, waiting.
“Because of you. You were here, and that made it home.”
“Dex…”
“Let me finish.” I pulled out the box. “We’ve been living together for four months. We’ve been in love for almost a year. And every single day, I wake up more certain that I want forever with you.”
Her eyes went wide as she saw the ring box.
“Leigh Pierce, you’re my home. My family. My everything.” I opened the box. “Will you marry me?”
She was crying now, nodding before she could even speak.
“Yes,” she finally managed. “Yes, absolutely yes.”
I slid the ring on her finger and watched as she stared at it in wonder.
It was simple, elegant, perfect for her.
When she looked up at me with tears in her eyes, she was impossible to resist. My hand brushed across her jaw and she sighed, leaning into my touch.
And then I kissed her as the waves crashed behind us.
“Forever,” I whispered.
“Forever,” she agreed.