Epilogue
EPILOGUE
VANESSA
One Year Later
“Welcome to the Beachfront Condos!”
As soon as the giant scissors cut through the red ribbon, the crowd erupts into cheers. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I clap along with them.
With the ribbon cut, the grand opening ceremony is officially over. Around me, my boss Olivia’s team moves to mingle with people in the crowd.
Which is Ryder’s signal that he can finally join me on stage.
He shoots up the steps with a big smile, eyes locked onto mine. When he reaches me, he’s quick to wrap his arms around my waist and press a kiss to my temple.
“Congratulations, babe,” he says excitedly.
“Yes, congratulations, Vanessa!”
I turn to see Ryder’s mom has also come to the ceremony. My surprise instantly melts into a feeling of warmth.
“Thanks, Ava,” I say with a smile, stepping forward to accept her hug. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Of course, I was coming!” she says. “This is so exciting, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Chris would be here, too, but he needed to cover the restaurant so Ryder could be here.”
Because of course Ryder’s family is as supportive as he is. I would expect nothing less.
She glances back the way she came. “I do have to get back to the restaurant for the lunch rush, though, so unfortunately, I can’t stay. But we’ll see you for Sunday dinner, yes?”
“Now that I wouldn’t miss,” I respond with a grin.
Ava nods. “Good. Because Melissa is bringing her new boyfriend over, and we need your help to see if he’s a sore loser.”
I’m still laughing as she walks off with a wave.
“So…” comes Ryder’s voice from behind me. His arms are once again glued around my waist, clearly not wanting to let go. “How’s it feel? Looking at your fully finished creation, knowing someone paid you a shit ton of money for it.”
I take a big breath in, then let out a heavy exhale filled with pride. “Surreal,” I breathe. “Exhausting. Exhilarating. Like I can’t wait for the next one.”
His chuckle tickles my ear. “Mom overheard Olivia talking about how she can’t wait to refer you to a contact of hers who’s opening a new hotel in the town over. You should probably expect a call.”
I couldn’t hide my smile if I tried. Olivia had mentioned the new condo to me, and she’d said as much about recommending me, but knowing she’s telling other people about it makes my confidence in my abilities skyrocket.
Looking up at the building we’re standing in front of, I take in the space I designed—singlehandedly. I had doubts, I had worries, and I spent more nights than I care to admit with frustrated tears in my eyes, but I did it. I did it. And I’m so fucking proud of myself.
“So, when’s move-in day?” Ryder asks, snapping me out of my introspection.
I shift my focus to the man who’s been nothing but supportive for the past year as I worked through this new and very terrifying phase of my life. The man who never let me be anything but true to myself, who loved me through every high and every low.
The man I fell in love with for precisely that reason and so many more.
I squeeze him a little tighter to me. “Two weeks. I told Olivia I’d let the grand opening craziness die down before I moved in and potentially put more on her shoulders.”
Ryder lets out a thoughtful hum, the sound tickling my neck. “And the new owners close on the house next weekend, right?” he asks, his lips brushing against my skin. “So we can still reminisce on that patio couch one last time?”
I laugh at the direction of his thoughts. “Dirty, dirty mind,” I tease. “But yes, we close on the house next weekend.”
The beach house sold quickly once I made the decision to list it. I almost didn’t want to, since it was paid off and I was making good money with my new job, but a part of me felt like I needed to move on. It was the place I took several big first steps, but I needed a new space to continue to grow.
So I’m moving into the condos. On my own. Ryder and I haven’t explicitly talked about moving in together, but I think that’s because he’s giving me time to grow into my own. Which just makes me love him even more.
All I know is, if he doesn’t suggest moving in together within the year, I know I will.
Dropping my head back against Ryder’s shoulder, I say, “Actually, I had a different idea, if you’re up for it.”
“Anything. I aim to please.”
I smile at his eagerness, at how he loves doing things for me. A year later, I still feel just as cherished as I did on that first night.
“I’m not officially ‘moving in’ for two weeks, but I do have a key. So I thought…what if we just take a few things in and christen the place early?”
“Sold,” he says before I’m even finished.
I chuckle. “I thought you might say that. I have to warn you, though, it comes with a condition.”
“I’m in. Whatever it is.”
Lifting and turning my face to the side, I nuzzle into Ryder’s neck, right below his ear. In a whisper, I tell him, “We’ve been working on heels choreography in class, and there’s this dance I want to try. All we’d need is a chair…” Dragging my tongue along his neck, I place lazy nips and kisses along the skin.
It means I can feel his throat work on a swallow. “You want to give me a lap dance?”
I nod against his neck. “Yes, please.”
I hear his rushed exhale. “You’re going to kill me, woman,” he says in a gravelly voice that has my thighs clenching.
Finally, I turn in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck. I can’t tamp down on my smile. It’s the Ryder effect.
“In that case, let’s just go back to the beach house and relive our first night on the patio. I’m sure that’s just as good as the sight of me in heels…and nothing else.”
Ryder drops his face into my neck again with a groan, his arms tightening around my waist. “Definitely going to kill me. I’m surprised I’ve made it this long.”
I let out a laugh. “Dramatic,” I scold gently.
“Lap dance,” he says, his voice muffled against my skin and barely understandable. “I choose the lap dance option.”
“Shocker,” I say, giggling as he pinches my side.
When he finally pulls back, there’s heat in his eyes, yes, but it’s banked enough that I can see the love and adoration simmering behind it. The sight of it fills my chest with warmth.
“I have a few things to take care of at the restaurant, but how about I meet you at the condo around eight? Does that work?”
Smiling, I nod. “That’s perfect.”
Leaning down, he kisses me, sweetly at first, then with a little more intent.
“I can’t wait to see what it looks like in person,” he whispers against my lips. “I’m just… I’m so fucking proud of you, babe.”
And then I’m the one kissing him with urgency. Because I’m so ridiculously grateful for and in love with this man, sometimes I don’t know what to do with all the emotion. It’s insane to think I ever hesitated to be with him.
I press higher on my toes and try to bring our bodies even closer together. “Thank you for supporting me through it,” I whisper back.
I can feel the smile that lifts his lips into a grin, even before he says, “Of course. What are waiters for?”
THE END