Epilogue
COLLIE
“Can you believe we’re actually here right now?”
“Honestly? No. It feels surreal,” Easton tells me, eyes scoping out the campground.
We’re back in Yellowstone National Park. Back in Wyoming. Back in the place that started it all for us.
But now, we’re back with both of our families. The Voss family. The Meadows family. And the Archer family. Oh, and Sydney, too.
Surprisingly, Sydney and I have become pretty good friends, despite knowing she fucked my fiancé. That’s a picture I have to block out of my head entirely.
Fiancé. Easton is my fiancé. Never in a million years did I think we would be getting married.
It took less than a month for Easton to get everything sorted back home in Salt Hollow, and before we knew it, he was moving across the country to live with me. I still can’t get over how lucky I am to have this life.
We’ve been house hunting this past month and just put in an offer on a place right off the ocean, walking distance to some of our favorite spots in Timber Heights.
One of them being the little breakfast place my mother and I meet at once a week.
I still invite my dad as a buffer because I’m not at all convinced her motives are pure yet.
It’s nothing drastic, but a step in the right direction, I suppose. I’m hopeful for what’s to come between us. Although, mending a thirty-year relationship will take much more work than breakfast once a week. But she’s trying, and for that, I’m thankful.
As for my job, The Beach Burn opens in a couple of weeks. After starting his new job at South Carolina Power, Easton made a routine of meeting me at the fitness studio when he gets off and we spend the majority of our evenings prepping everything for the grand opening.
The only thing left to do now is wait for the inspection report from the fire marshal and hope like hell we can possibly open sooner.
It’s everything I could ever want, and I can’t wait to bring a new taste of fitness to Timber Heights.
It took pulling some strings and calling out the big guns to get our families here, especially to all be staying on the same Yellowstone campsite we did before. When I say calling out the big guns, I mean Dirty Dan and Sheila.
Boy, is it good to see them again.
We did have to confess that we aren’t actually married, something that Dirty Dan fought hard on hating us for.
Sheila talked some sense into him, per usual.
We hugged it out, and all is forgiven. Thankfully, there were no marriage retreats happening in June, and it worked out in our favor as the perfect time of year to get married.
Hence, why all our favorite people in the world are in the same place.
“It’s stunning out here,” Capri says, pulling me into a hug as we gather around the outdoor fire between the camper vans.
I’m honestly surprised she and Jones were able to make it.
“Isn’t it incredible? Imagine spending two weeks out here with Jones in complete stillness,” I tell her, memories of Easton and me rushing to the forefront of my mind.
“Oh, trust me. I can imagine it well,” Jones mumbles from behind us, carrying my new baby niece in his arms. Capri places a kiss on his cheek, and I waste no time reaching for my baby girl. “Come see your Auntie Collie,” I coo, smothering her with kisses.
Three months ago, I became an aunt to Magnolia Archer.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could love another human like I love this little beauty. She looks just like her Daddy, and I never let Capri forget it. Except, she’s got dimples like her Auntie.
Magnolia cries in my arms, and Capri immediately panics. “Oh,” she checks her phone. “It’s time to feed her. I should take her back to the RV.”
Dirty Dan and Sheila even gave up their RV for the weekend so Capri and Jones could have enough space with the baby.
I hope they stay in our lives forever.
“Fuck the schedule,” I tell her boldly, and she sends me a sharp look. “Oh, like she’ll actually be talking anytime soon. You got a bottle? I’ll feed her right here, babe.”
“Sweetheart, she’s fine,” Jones tells Capri, wrapping her in his arms. “I’ll go make up a bottle. Let’s stay out here and listen to Palmer play.”
Easton’s sister, Palmer, sits by the fire with all of our family, strumming her guitar and singing some old country songs. Easton and I discovered pretty quickly how much our families actually had in common. Seems the South doesn’t just take root in the South; it steers all the way to Alaska, too.
But Palmer? That girl can sing. She’s been serenading my mom and dad for hours now. I’ve never seen Mom so relaxed. It’s when I circle my sights around the fire, my fiancé on my brain, that I find him with his arm around his mama.
I can’t figure out how someone could see the way a son treats his mama and be jealous or envious. When I look at the care Easton shows Mrs. Voss, all I see is the type of husband and father he will be someday.
“Hey, Ranger,” I call out, carefully handing over Magnolia to Capri for a moment. “I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare feed her without me,” I tell Capri.
“Just go get your man.” She smiles before taking a seat on the swing Dirty Dan hung on the closest tree.
Easton kisses his mom on the cheek and stands to join me next to Clementine. Yes, we’re staying in the same camper van as before.
We’ve got a thing for memories.
I could cry just looking at this beauty. It holds so many special moments, both good and heartbreaking. But that trip with Easton was the first time in my life I knew I was worth investing in myself.
Not only because I had the means to do it, but because someone believed in me.
Easton. The love of my life, and the man who will become my husband tomorrow.
“What’s up, baby? You good?” he asks me, face laced with concern.
I smile and kiss his lips. “I’m great. But I have something I want to show you.”
The sun has already set, the darkness of the night filling the starry sky. This place feels just the same as it did before—peaceful. Unlike last time, it’s summertime here today, and although typically hot in Wyoming, there’s a nice breeze in the air after sunset.
I lead Easton to the other side of the camper, wanting to give us a moment of privacy for this. “Stand right here, okay?”
He nods, a smirk on his handsome face. “Are you bringing me over here to be fucked, Collie?”
“Jesus,” I sigh. “I’ve created a monster. An insatiable, horny monster.”
His brows rise like he’s waiting for me to make a move. I shove his shoulder playfully. “No. For once, I did not bring you over here to be fucked, Easton. I want to show you something. Do you remember how I got that check from my old boss and couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with it?”
“Yeah. I just assumed you spent it since you never mentioned it again. Maybe bought more Gucci purses or something.”
“You asshole,” I laugh. “I literally just paid that off, and you have yet to let me live it down.”
He shrugs, laughing to himself and reaching for my hand to hold me close. “I’m sorry. Keep going.”
“Well,” I reply, unfolding a piece of creamy cardstock paper. “Wait right there, just a second.”
I hustle to the back of the van, open the hatch, and take out the telescope I’ve been hiding since we got here.
Placing it in front of him, I try my best to remember the specific instructions and search the sky for the correct star.
“Come over here.” I pull his hand toward me, his other arm wrapping around my back.
“I want you to look right here. Be careful not to knock it or it’ll shift.
You’ll see a star that looks like a lightning bolt. ”
He smiles but doesn’t say anything, fully trusting in my words.
I really hope he loves this. I know astronomy isn’t his thing, but I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to celebrate our marriage and being back here.
“I see it,” Easton tells me, his contagious smile behind the telescope shining through.
“Wow. It really does look like a lightning bolt.” He sends me a flirty wink, and I know he’s thinking about my tattoo.
“What do you think?” My hands are shaking and I’m bouncing in my boots. My favorite cowhide boots, to be specific.
“I think it’s remarkable. Crazy that a star can resemble something so special to us, and you were able to find it.” He stands tall, waiting for me to tell him the point behind it all.
“Good, because I bought it.”
Easton steps closer. “You bought the star?”
I nod. “Yes. I named it Benjamin after your—”
“My brother,” he sighs. “Fuck, Collie. You bought a star in our favorite place? The place we first became us? The place where I felt peace for the first time in my adult life?”
“I did,” I exhale. “I hope that’s okay.”
He takes another step closer. “The place I asked you to read my brother’s death letter to me? The first place I finally felt free? Free to be myself and open my heart to the possibility of loving again.”
Another nod, and his hands are on my cheeks. “Of course it’s okay, baby. It’s more than okay. It…” His forehead meets mine softly. “It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever done for me. A perfect way to honor my brother’s life.”
Easton tilts his head to the sky, and I know he’s thinking of Ben. Thinking of what life would be like if he were still here. I’d give anything in this world to bring Ben back for him. But if this is the best I can do to make Easton feel close to his brother again, I’m happy to do it.
“I also purchased twenty more stars.”
A hearty chuckle leaves his lips as he looks down at me. “Is that so?”
“Sure is.” I smile wide. “That way, every time we come back, we can name another one. Add onto our little galaxy of stars. Let Ben be their guide,” I whisper.
“I fucking love you. Do you know that?’
“I really hope so because I love you right back. And I can’t wait to be your wife,” I tell him, never feeling more adored than I do right now.
“Ask me what we’re playing for, Collie? Go ahead and ask me.” With my face cradled in his hands, Easton looks at me like I’m the one who hung the stars and the moon.
That might be so for him. But to me, he’s my orbit.
“What are we playing for, Ranger?”
“We’re playing for keeps, lost girl. I’m playing to keep you. No more running.”
I like the sound of that.
THE END