Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Sawyer – One Year Later
“You don’t actually have to pick strawberries this time,” Willow says, sounding amused. “I know you hate them.”
“Hate’s a strong word.” I shrug. “Plus, if I pick some, then there’ll be extra for you.” I raise a brow at her.
“Good point.” She nods. “Then you should definitely pick as many as you can.” She smiles wide.
“Deal.” I laugh, both of us following behind King and Ellie into Bender’s Farm’s strawberry fields.
We haven’t been back here since last year. But Willow’s been insisting on coming back for the past couple weeks, so here we are.
It’s weird to think about the first time I was here.
It was my first time spending a day with King, Ellie, and Willow all together. I was stupid enough to genuinely think it didn’t mean anything back then, when really it was the start of everything. This was the first place that King admitted that he liked having around.
It’s where we almost kissed. It’s when I knew that my feelings for him were real.
It was also the day that I realized I was falling in love with him. At first, I was so sure me and him would be a mistake. If only I knew then that this is where I’d end up, I never would’ve believed it.
I’ve been living with King and the girls for the past eight months, and it’s been the best eight months of my life. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I feel more loved than I ever have, and I feel like I have more love to give than ever.
I haven’t heard from my brother since he got arrested, but an officer checked in with us about six months ago to let us know that he’d been sentenced to fifteen years. Jasper got an even larger sentence, with an added on murder charge.
That felt like closure.
There will always be a part of me that grieves for my brother, that hates the fact that he ended up where he did.
The last thing he said to me was that I’d regret it, but he was wrong. Knowing all the happiness that I have in my life now, the future I’m bound to have, I don’t regret it for a second.
I never will.
I follow King and the girls up to the counter where we get our buckets and scissors, and then the four of us start walking through the rows of strawberries. Willow stays next to me, talking my ear off as we pick, while Ellie stays behind with King.
My bucket is about halfway full when I notice that Willow’s stopped talking, a sneaky smile on her face.
“What are you up to?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she says too quickly. “I’m thirsty. Ellie, can you come with me to get frozen lemonade?” She turns around to her sister.
“Sure.” Ellie shrugs easily.
The two of them walk off toward the front of the farm, and I watch them until they’re out of view before turning to King.
“They’re acting weird, right?” I ask him.
“Yeah, they are.” He nods. “It’s my fault.”
“Why is it your fault?” I ask, confused.
“They know what I have planned.” He shrugs.
“What are you talking about?” I raise a brow at him.
“The last time that we were here was the first time we spent the day as a family,” he says. “I knew then that you fit with us in a way nobody else ever had. I knew I wanted you to be a part of our family. And now you are.” He smiles down at me.
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small, black velvet box, and I can’t help the wide smile that instantly spreads across my face.
“I love you, Sawyer Davis. More than I ever thought possible.” He drops down to one knee. “You’re strong, beautiful, and kind. You’re also stubborn and a pain in my ass half the time.” He chuckles. “But I wouldn’t change a single thing. You’ve shown me how much more there is to life. You make me feel alive, and I want to feel that way with you for the rest of our lives.”
He opens the box, and a pear-shaped ring sits in the middle of it. There’s a large diamond in the center and a thin gold band that houses four smaller diamonds, two on each side. It’s stunning.
I look back up, my eyes meeting his, and he already knows my answer before he even asks.
“Marry me, Sawyer Davis?” he asks.
“It’s about damn time.” I drop to my knees, grabbing his face in my hands and kissing him.
“Is that a yes?” he asks when I pull away.
“Hell fucking yes,” I say loudly.
“Language,” Willow yells, and I look up to see her and Ellie watching us with wide smiles on their faces.
I laugh as he slides the ring onto my finger, and of course, it’s the perfect fit. Willow runs over to us after that, jumping between us to hug us both.
“Get over here,” I yell at Ellie, and she rolls her eyes, reluctantly walking over.
I grab her, pulling her in and hugging her tight also.
“Family hug.” Willow laughs.
As I look around at the three people that I love more than anything—my own family—it feels like a dream.
But it’s not. It’s my real life.
And fuck, am I lucky to be living it.