Epilogue One
Epilogue One
Nikki
It’s a quiet night at our restaurant as the evening wraps up in a warm, sleepy glow. The last of our guests have left, and I’m leaning against the counter, watching Victor lock the front door, a soft smile on his lips. Peace settles over me, just as it does every day I get to be with this man.
As I always do, I look around our place, truly a dream come true. It’s been a year since we opened these doors, and it still hasn’t fully settled in that all of this is real, that we’re running a successful business and more in love than ever before. This is the reason I’ve always tried telling myself on my worst days that I simply need to cry it out and know the next day will be better. No matter how far we sink into despair, if we hold on to the knowledge that it will get better, we can get through anything.
The lights dim and the tables are now empty and clean with a lingering scent of rosemary and garlic hanging in the air. This place is our comfort. We spend more time here than at home, so it needs to be. Our open kitchen where we’ve spent countless hours cooking, laughing, and even arguing over the perfect recipe is at rest for the night. It’s pristine counter and the gleaming copper hood still looks as beautiful as the day they were installed.
I swear I can still hear the faint echo of all of the laughter and conversation that fills this space on a daily basis. Victor turns and sees my dreamy look. He moves toward me.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“I’m in awe that we just celebrated our one-year anniversary,” I tell him. “It seems like it’s been but the blink of an eye. Wasn’t it yesterday that we had our grand opening?”
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. “I have to agree, but it’s been one hell of a beautiful year,” he says.
I settle into his arms, briefly closing my eyes, the steady rise and fall of his chest against mine. How could I have ever thought the two of us wouldn’t work? It boggles my brain now, because we are that sickeningly perfect couple others strive to imitate.
“I can’t believe there was a time I refused to go on a date with you,” I say with a chuckle.
“You enjoyed torturing me back then. Hell, I think you still like to. The difference is while I still love riling you up, I far more enjoy making you burn.”
“You do make me burn,” I tell him. There’s a crash in the bathroom, which makes us both turn.
“It’s all okay, just dropped the mop bucket,” Missy calls out. “Almost done.”
“We have the best people working for us,” I say with a laugh.
“We’ve been blessed in many, many ways,” he agrees.
I then laugh. “There have been some trying times, though.”
He laughs with me, his chest rumbling against mine, rubbing against my nipples, and making me ache for him. There have been a few times we’ve enjoyed some outdoor lovemaking on our patio in the middle of the night. Tonight won’t be one of those nights because we aren’t into voyeurism.
“Those challenges have made us stronger, like the stove breaking down twice, three health inspections in two weeks, and Dale somehow managing to flood the bathroom with his latest and greatest cleaning methods.”
I laugh with him. “Well, at least the health inspections were happening because the man liked our food so much he was finding excuses to keep coming back,” I say with a shake of my head.
“He could’ve told us that instead of panicking us,” he says.
“He’s now a regular so I don’t worry too much.”
“I love the people who drive for hours to enjoy a meal with us. We’re doing something right,” he says.
“We’re cooking with love and dedication. Our travels around the world have been a huge success. We’ve both learned so much.”
“And have made love in all of the best places,” he says before leaning down and nuzzling my neck. My blood instantly burns before I push him back.
“Don’t you dare start something you can’t finish,” I tell him. I love how my body still aches for this man. I’ve heard this part of a relationship dims after a while. It’s still going strong for us.
“The bathrooms are clean,” he says with a waggle of his brows. The funny thing is I’m considering it.
“There are still people here,” Jesse says as he walks past us with a laugh. My cheeks flush. Just when I think we’re alone, I’m proven wrong.
“You’re a bad influence,” I tell him with a laugh.
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I’ll never stop trying to get you naked,” he tells me.
A groan comes out of the back room. This place doesn’t allow for private conversations. Victor and I laugh and decide to quit torturing our hard-working staff.
“We’ve truly thrived with this place and with your vlog, Nik. I’m more grateful than ever that you chose me to be your partner for this and for life.”
“Me too, Victor, more than words can say,” I tell him as my heart swells with love and security.
“I want to build even more with you. I want to always learn and always grow. There will never be a time I want to sit back and watch the world go by. I want to hold it in my hands and see what else we can do together.”
I think about how far we’ve come, our late nights, early mornings, and even the moments of doubt and frustration. Through all of this, we’ve experienced more joy than should be possible, pride in ourselves and those around us, and endless moments of accomplishment. It all began during the cooking competition, and it’s flourished into all of this. We’re truly partners.
Victor takes my hand in his and leads me outside to the patio. The fire pit is still glowing, the embers crackling softly. The strings of lights overhead sway in the gentle night breeze blowing in off a calm ocean, casting dancing shadows on the ground. We settle down on one of the cushioned benches and I lean my head against his chest as he wraps an arm around me. We’re on our feet so much, it’s heaven to cuddle like this with the sights, sounds, and smells of the Pacific Ocean in front of us.
“Remember when I was that cocky guy you thought was determined to beat you in the competition?”
I laugh as I smack his leg. “I’ve thought of that often. I wonder what would’ve happened had we not been partnered together.”
“We’d still be right here, right now,” he tells me with confidence.
“Why do you think that?” I ask.
“Because from the beginning of that competition, my goal was to win, not just the cooking contest, it was to win your heart. I figured out as soon as I was back in town that I wanted you. I didn’t know that I was in love with you yet at that point, but I did know that I thought of you every single day and I was tired of fighting my feelings.”
My heart swells at these words. “I think it’s amazing that over a year later we’re still learning things about each other. I was so focused on winning, I couldn’t think of anything else. My friends could see it, though. They told me they could see how much I was into you, that they believed it was always that way from the beginning. I’m stubborn, though, and I refused to believe it. I’m glad I came to my senses.”
“I wouldn’t change any of what we went through, because it eventually brought us here. We’ve had a fun life, and we’ve become stronger because of it.”
“I agree,” I tell him as warmth spreads through me. “We’ve won the ultimate prize in each other.”
“Winning you is the ultimate prize. We could lose every material thing we own, and I’d still be okay as long as I have you. We’re smart, motivated, and strong. We can make it through anything,” he says.
“I’m so glad I came back home. I’m grateful I left because it gave me an appreciation for Seaville, a place I didn’t respect when I was young. But I’m so happy to be back, and so delighted to have you, a man who has the same values as I have.”
“It’s a beautiful thing how life works out.”
“It really is,” I agree.
We sit in a comfortable silence for a while, watching the fire crackle and spark as the ocean provides a perfect harmony in the background. Overhead the stars burn bright, always offering a deep sense of security.
Eventually we hear footsteps, and I turn to see Sia, Sasha, Courtney, and their husbands making their way over.
“What are you lovebirds doing sitting out here all alone?” Sia asks.
“Enjoying the quiet after the storm,” I tell her.
Sasha sits beside us, a mischievous look in her eyes. “We aren’t interrupting anything are we?”
I laugh. “You’d have zero remorse even if you were.”
“That’s very true,” she agrees.
“I brought hot dogs,” Courtney says as she holds out her cooler.
I look at her and laugh. “You brought hot dogs to a gourmet restaurant?”
“You have a fire all ready to go and I’m craving one,” she says.
“Me too,” Sasha says. “Give me a stick.”
Soon, hot dogs and sticks are passed out and we’re all laughing as we burn some pig skin over the fire. I look around at my friends and realize this is the best part of all. It’s not only the success of our restaurant, or having the love of my life at my side, but a whole package.
We’re surrounded by those we love who support us no matter what, and we have the best lives we could ever imagine. It really doesn’t get better than this. It isn’t luck, either, it’s dedication and commitment. We might get kicked down at times, but we always get back up. We’ve chosen friendships that build us up instead of tear us down. We choose to live in a place that feeds our souls. Anyone could have this if they choose.
I look over and catch Victor’s eyes and he smiles. I know he’s thinking the exact same thing. Right here and now we have absolutely everything we could ever want, maybe even more. The real prize for both of us from the beginning is ending up right here right now. I couldn’t possibly ask for anything more.