Epilogue
ELI
ONE YEAR LATER
I clutched the thick, messy file folder tight against my chest as I strode across the sun-drenched grounds of Sunset Siesta, my steps light and damn near bouncy.
The folder was a chaotic mess of papers—colorful doodles of fish on the cover and many faint coffee rings adding character to the otherwise boring documents inside—but it made me smile.
Around me, the resort thrummed with life, happy guests lounging by the pool, the distant buzz of saws from ongoing renovations, and the salty breeze carrying promises of hamburgers from Tidal Hops.
I caught sight of Dave, a regular on the dive boat this week, emerging from the pool. His enthusiasm for the ocean rivaled my own.
“Hey, Dave!” I called out, grinning. “See you on the boat tomorrow?”
He gave me a two-finger salute. “You know it, Eli.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Enjoy the rays, man.”
I took in the peaceful scene. It was clean and lushly tropical, the result of some added landscaping that Ben had found in a liquidation sale. Renovations were progressing around the resort but not in the pool area yet.
As Dave settled onto his lounger, pride surged within me.
This place was thriving, and I was no longer just the carefree dive instructor wandering aimlessly.
I was part of something bigger now—a family business that carried the legacy of the Coleridge name.
A year ago, I might have balked at the thought, but now? Now it felt right.
And that was only part of it.
With flurries building in my stomach, I continued toward the lobby building.
The sound of laughter and splashing water faded as I pushed open the double glass doors, replaced by the soft hum of air conditioning and the faint melody of some soft reggae playing over hidden speakers.
The interior was cool and inviting, with a light citrus scent in the air.
I strolled past the check-in desk where our receptionist, Dana, was busy fielding a call with her usual grace.
She flashed me a quick smile before returning to her conversation about room rates and dolphin tours.
Continuing down the hall lined with glossy photos of underwater scenes from around Dove Key, courtesy of me, I passed by Harper’s office, empty at the moment.
When I paused outside Jules’s office, a grin spread across my face at the sight before me.
She sat behind her desk with both hands buried in her long raven hair, face scrunched up in frustration as she stared at her sleek monitor.
With a huff, she started typing furiously, leaving her locks in complete disarray.
“Looks like someone forgot her bun today!” I called out, leaning against the doorframe. “Bird’s nest chic really suits you, hon.”
Her eyes flicked up, surprise morphing into a reluctant smile.
“Very funny, Eli.” She lifted both hands to her hair, taming the mess.
“I learned a long time ago that some days I need to keep my hair down or I’ll pull it all out.
At least I’ve got my new computer. Financial audits are one of the few things I truly loathe, but they’re necessary. Unlike your jokes.”
“Hey! My jokes are essential for the well-being of this place.” I sauntered in, the flurries turning into a full-grown storm inside my stomach.
“Well, I hate to add to your workload, but…” I held up the huge, disheveled folder.
I’d stuffed it with every stray financial piece of paper I could come up with.
“I forgot to give you this one. Hope it doesn’t set you back too much. ”
Jules’s eyes widened, a mix of exasperation and amusement dancing across her features as she reached for the folder. “You’re killing me, Eli. Really? Fish cartoons?”
“You never appreciate my artistic talent.”
Jules flipped through the papers, her brow lowering more with each page. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she flipped through the disarray, trying to restore order in her mind and her workspace. It was tough, but I managed to keep the smile off my face.
“Honey, this is a disaster. It looks like a hurricane hit it.” She paused, shooting me a pointed look. “You have duplicate invoices here, I’ll have you know.”
“Duplicate? You mean I’m double the fun?” I shot back, trying to suppress the urge to laugh. Watching her wrestle with my mess was immensely satisfying.
“Fun doesn’t exactly cover your complete lack of organization.” She sighed dramatically, but I could see her fighting a smile. Then she peered closer. “Wait… is that a ketchup stain?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “What can I say? I’m a multitasker. Paperwork and lunch, all in one go.”
She gave me a deadpan stare. “At least it’s not blood. How you manage to run the dive shop without drowning in chaos is beyond me.”
“Ah, it’s all part of my charm.” I winked, and she returned to sorting through the mess.
Suddenly, Jules froze. Her eyes widened, fixed on something nestled against the spine. The papers in one hand slipped from her fingers, forgotten as they landed on the desk.
Time stopped.
The only sound in the room was the thundering of my own heartbeat. I drank in every nuance of her reaction. The slight parting of her lips, the catch in her breath, the way her fingers shook as they hovered over the diamond ring.
“You know,” I said softly, my joking tone gone, “it’s funny how easy it is to miss what really matters when you’re buried in the numbers.”
Jules snapped her head up, her eyes enormous. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
I stepped around the desk, my heart now threatening to pound right out of my chest. “The things that used to drive me crazy about you? Your laser focus, that stubborn determination, how passionate you get about work? They’re the things I love most now.
Some of the things, anyway. If I list everything, we’ll be here all day. ”
Jules’s fingers closed around the ring, lifting it from the folder. She stared at it, spellbound.
My legs felt like jelly as I gently took the ring from her. Swallowing hard, I dropped to one knee. “Julianne, you’ve changed everything for me. You’ve helped me face the stuff I’ve been running from my whole life. Helped me see a future I never thought was possible.
“I used to think commitment was a dirty word. But with you? It feels like the most natural thing in the world. You might have moved into my place six months ago, but I guess that’s not enough for me.
I know I’m not exactly the poster boy for seriousness.
But, Jules, I’m dead serious about you. About us. ”
I strove to memorize every moment of this. The way her raven hair framed her cheeks, the slight tremble of her lower lip. Her eyes widened, and her mouth hinged open.
I pressed on, my voice growing stronger with each word. “You’ve had faith in me when I didn’t have it in myself. You’ve pushed me to be better. And along the way, you’ve become my anchor.”
My hands were slightly unsteady as I took the ring from her and held it up. “I want to build a future with you. Here and wherever else life takes us. Will you marry me?”
“Eli, I…” she began, her voice thick with emotion. As she cleared her throat, a smile broke across her face, brilliant and genuine. She vaulted to her feet. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”
My heart took flight. I rose and slid the ring onto her finger.
She let out a watery laugh, flexing her hand to admire the sparkle.
When I wrapped my arms around her, I marveled at how perfectly she fit against me.
Her body trembled slightly, and I realized she was laughing, a sound I’d grown to love more than the sound of waves on the shore.
“What’s so funny?” I murmured into her hair, breathing in the faint scent of her shampoo.
“Us,” she replied, her voice muffled against my chest. “Getting engaged in my office. Two years ago, I would’ve bet my entire savings account that this moment was beyond impossible.”
I laughed, tightening my hold on her. “Good thing you didn’t. I’d hate to start our engagement broke.”
With a surge of joy, I lifted her off her feet and spun her in a circle.
Her startled yelp turned into peals of laughter, echoing off the walls of her office.
After she returned to earth, her gaze drifted to the scattered papers on her desk—and now on the floor too—a familiar, calculating look crossing her face.
Her fingers traced the edge of an invoice, then she looked up at me with that trademark arch of her eyebrow.
“So… do I still need to worry about this file?”
I threw my head back and laughed, a sound that emanated from somewhere between my chest and my soul.
“That file is pure junk. Total prop. I’ve been stuffing it with every piece of paper I could find for the last two weeks, after I bought the ring and came up with the idea.
” I glanced at my fingers intertwining with hers as her ring glittered.
“I’ve already given you everything that actually matters. ”
“Yes, you certainly have.” Then she laughed and shook her head. “Only you would turn a marriage proposal into an elaborate paperwork joke.”
“Hey, I know my audience.” I tapped the side of my nose. “Accountant’s weakness—messy file management.”
Jules groaned, but her eyes were sparkling. The diamond caught the light, casting tiny rainbows across her fancy new computer screen, a splash of unexpected color amid the neat columns of numbers.
I laughed again as my gaze took in the utter chaos and mess on her blotter. “You know, I think I’m finally rubbing off on you. Your desk looks suspiciously like mine.”
Jules playfully swatted my arm. “Don’t get any ideas, Coleridge.”
I raised an eyebrow, fighting back a grin. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
The current state of her desk was just like us. Unexpected. Perfectly imperfect.
Thank you for reading BETTER THAN NEVER! I hope you loved Eli and Jules and getting to know the whole Coleridge gang. Enemies to lovers/opposites attract is such a fun dynamic, and these two were so fun to write about!
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