Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
“Bye, Uncle Connor! Bye, Aunt Avery! See you this weekend!”
I take Avery’s hand in mine and we both turn to wave at Sophia where she stands on the front porch of her home. We just spent the entire afternoon with her and her new goats.
Yeah, that’s right. Goats.
Niko is such a fucking softie for his girls, he not only bought his daughter a goat, but he bought Sadie one too.
He claimed it was an engagement present, but I know he would’ve gotten them the goats regardless, ring or not.
Usually I’d give him shit for giving in so easily, but when I turn and look at my wife, I realize I’m the exact same way when it comes to her.
Avery and I try to visit Sophia at least once a week. Sometimes we take her on adventures, other times we just hang out here at her house. Not only does this give Niko and Sadie some time to themselves, but it also gives us a chance to spoil our favorite little girl.
We had a long talk about what the future looks like for us in terms of family.
Avery was afraid to admit that she wasn’t sure if she wanted kids of her own anymore.
I knew it was her dream in high school to maybe coach her daughter one day, but if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that dreams can change.
Things might’ve ended up a little different than we originally dreamt up all those years ago under the stars, but there’s one thing that will always hold true.
Avery is my dream.
And she’s the only thing I need.
Our steps slow as we approach my truck, but before Avery can escape to her side, I pull her into me, spinning her so we’re facing each other.
She inhales a breath on a surprised laugh. “What are you doing?”
I lean down and answer her with a kiss. Her body molds into mine on instinct, her arms looping around my neck as she opens her mouth for me. Our tongues tangle for a few seconds before I pull away abruptly.
Panting, Avery looks up at me with a gleam in her eye.
“Take me home.”
I gently push her hair behind her ear. It has grown out a bit over the summer, nearly brushing her shoulders now, and I keep hold of a strand, rubbing it between my fingers.
“I have a better idea.”
Avery’s eyebrow shoots up in wonderment.
“Are you up for a little adventure, Aves?”
Her eyes widen and I can tell by the slow tip of her lips, she’s remembering our first date when I asked her that same question and gave her that very nickname.
“With you? Always.”
We finally break apart, but I keep my feet planted, watching the sway of her hips as she makes her way to her door. She swings it open, stepping up onto the running board, but before she settles inside, she stands and looks at me over the roof of my truck.
“Well, are you coming?”
Avery’s smile is radiant, her silhouette painted by the most beautiful sunset happening behind her. Seeing her like this, carefree and happy after overcoming so much, it gives me another idea.
I jog to my door, not wanting to waste another second. As soon as I’m in my truck, I start the engine. But before I back out of Niko’s driveway, I turn to Avery and see her already looking at me.
“Ready, Mrs. Smith?’
She reaches across the center console and links her fingers through mine.
“I was born ready, Mr. Chamberlin.”
My eyes track the trees as they pass by in a blur. Connor turned onto the highway a few minutes ago but refuses to tell me where we’re going. I don’t think I really care what the destination is. I’d drive to California right now if it meant making more memories with him.
Turning to look his way, I study his profile. His hazel eyes are fixed on the road in front of him, so I take a moment to enjoy the view. My gaze moves from his hard jawline up to his lips. The moment they land on them, the corner of his mouth twitches up.
He knows I’m watching him.
I think he catches me staring at him at least five times a day. I just can’t believe he’s mine.
It’s been three months since we celebrated our marriage with our friends and family, and I hope this feeling never goes away.
That all-consuming fire deep within my belly that craves to be near him at all times.
It feels like we’re in high school all over again, never wanting to be away from each other, texting each other when we do have to be apart.
Connor is still everything he was back then, but he’s also so much more.
He’s an adoring uncle. A record-breaking defenseman in the NHL. A role model.
My husband.
Every day feels like an adventure with him. Will it ever change? I’m sure it will. But for now, I’m soaking in every second of this spontaneous man sitting next to me.
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’m going to have to pull this car over and we’ll never get to where we’re going.”
He glances at me quickly, heat flaring in those gorgeous eyes.
“Don’t tease me with a good time, Super Star.” I wink, which causes him to laugh and shake his head at me, his eyes back on the road now.
Connor flips his blinker on which piques my curiosity. I’m unfamiliar with the exit we’re taking, and only become more confused when we pull off and there’s not a business in sight. We’re in the middle of nowhere.
“Where the heck are you taking me?”
His lips turn up into a grin again and he leans his head down to look out the windshield.
“Look at the sky, Aves.”
Turning my attention to the passenger window, I look up and gasp.
There are millions of stars painting the night sky.
Rolling down my window, I cross my arms and lean against the door, resting my chin on my hands as I continue to take in the beautiful scene.
We drive for about ten more minutes before Connor pulls down a dirt road that’s lined with trees, temporarily blocking my view of most of the stars above. I crane my neck out the window, trying to get a better look at where we’re headed.
And that’s when I see it.
Just ahead sits a tranquil, undisturbed clearing sitting beside a pristine lake.
Connor parks his truck, and before the engine is even off, I’m hopping out to get a closer look.
The luminous moonlight dances across the still water, making this remote lake feel like a hidden gem. It’s absolutely enchanting.
Connor loops an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. I lean my head against his shoulder, and neither of us says a word at first. We simply take in the view in the comfort of each other’s touch.
“Come on.”
He steps away, but holds his hand out to me. I take it immediately, wondering what else he might have up his sleeve tonight. There go those damn butterflies that have taken up permanent residence in my belly ever since Connor’s been back in my life.
We make our way back toward the truck, but stop at the back. He reaches for the handle and drops his tailgate. I’m expecting him to grab something but he pulls me toward it and gestures to the bed of his truck.
“Up you go.”
I eye him suspiciously but don’t think twice. I lift my leg up, Connor supporting me the whole way, then climb into the back of his truck. Unsure of what to do, I stand there and throw my arms out to the side.
“Now, what?”
“I’ll be back.”
Connor jogs to the side of his truck, throwing open the back door. I stand with my hands on my hips, watching and waiting. He pulls out a giant duffle bag that’s filled to the brim with something, and then reaches in one last time, revealing a… note pad?
What the hell is happening?
My eyes track his movements until he’s standing at the tailgate again. He tosses the bag in and hoists himself up in one swift motion.
I’m about to ask what is going on here, but he unzips the bag and unpacks a giant fuzzy blanket. Before I can take it from him, he tosses it as hard as he can at my face, catching me off guard.
“Stop gawking, Mrs. Smith.”
I slide the blanket down to see Connor is holding a pillow now. He stands and walks toward me, placing the pillow against the back of his bed, then gestures for me to sit.
“Get comfortable, Aves. The show’s about to start.”
Show? What show?
I’m confused as hell but my heart is racing in my chest, causing my smart watch to vibrate, notifying me of my increased heart rate.
Connor reaches into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out his phone. He flashes me the screen, showing me he also got the alert.
“Well, you’re acting all mysterious. Can you blame me for getting excited?”
He crawls toward me now. I’ve just finished spreading the blanket over me, so I lift it up as an invitation. Connor slides in and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“I know how you like surprises, but I didn’t think it was that easy to get you all hot and bothered.”
I pull back and swat his chest. “Did you just call me easy?”
Connor throws his head back and laughs. “I mean, I didn’t intentionally. But now that I’ve replayed it in my mind, it did kind of sound like that. Sorry, baby.”
He pulls me back into him and kisses the top of my head. I melt into his chest and move my attention back up to the night sky in front of us.
My eyes move from one constellation to another until I finally spot it. A slow smile creeps on my face at the same time Connor lifts my arm to his lips. He places featherlight kisses on each freckle as my eyes stay locked on The Big Dipper.
How is this my life?
“Is this the show you were talking about? It’s absolutely breathtaking out here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars before.”
I feel Connor shift behind me, no doubt tilting his head to enjoy the scenery.
“Not quite.”
Confused, I push myself up and tuck my legs under me, turning my attention to him.
“What do you mean, not quite?”
Connor pulls out his phone again, checking something on an app I’m unfamiliar with. He scrolls for a minute and taps on something, then without a word, shoves the phone in his back pocket again.
“Should be any minute now.”
I scrunch my brows, trying like hell to figure out what the heck he’s talking about.
“Is there a meteor shower or something tonight?”
“Nope.”
“A strawberry moon?”
“Nope.”
He doesn’t even glance my way, but I’ve yet to take my eyes off of him. I’m about to demand he tell me what’s going on when I see his eyes widen and his mouth stretch into a full-toothed smile.
“You’re missing it, Aves.” Finally, he moves his gaze from the sky to me. “Look up, baby.”
Slowly, I tilt my head up and I see what made Connor smile so big.
A green arc shimmers in the sky above me. A ribbon of light that dances through the sky.
“The Northern Lights!”
My cheeks hurt from how hard I’m smiling now. I take in the scene, tracking the curtains of light that I haven’t seen in years.
I stare at them for a few minutes, lost in the wonderment of it all.
When I look down at Connor, he has a pencil in his hand, and he’s sketching something on the notepad he grabbed from the backseat.
“What are you drawing?” I lean in, trying to get a better look. The pencil halts and he looks up from the paper.
“You.”
My heart does a somersault in my chest.
Connor hasn’t sketched anything since I’ve been back in his life. At least, not to my knowledge. And he hasn’t sketched me since his senior year of high school. That’s also the last time I saw the Aurora Borealis.
His hand reaches out to cup my face. My eyes find him and he strokes my cheek.
“I haven’t picked up a pencil to sketch in over a decade. No moment ever felt worthy enough to capture and remember. But when I looked at you earlier, I was inspired for the first time in years. You always look so beautiful, but tonight there is something different about you.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat.
“What’s different?”
He leans down and presses his forehead to mine. “You look so… sure of yourself. As if spending time with Sophia, holding my hand and heading to our home, is exactly where you’re meant to be. You look like you finally feel comfortable in your own skin. And I knew I had to capture the moment.”
Connor pulls back now, and I’m trying like hell to hold in the emotion he always seems to pull out of me.
“I wanted to take you on a date here. You remember?”
I nod because I know if I open my mouth to answer him, a sob would probably escape.
“This is the place I’d always come to throughout the years when I was feeling lost or alone. I’d look up at the sky and I’d feel you, Aves.”
My self-control snaps. I launch myself into his lap and take his face in my hands, pressing my mouth to his. He opens up for me automatically and my tongue finds his. I kiss him with everything I have, hoping like hell he can feel how much I love him. How much I’ve always fucking loved him.
“I love you, you know that?”
“I know.”
We both laugh and reluctantly, I climb out of his lap, giving him the space he needs to continue drawing. Because he’s right. For the first time in years, I finally feel like myself again.
My body may have betrayed me over and over, but I’m finally figuring her out again.
My life is different now, but it’s still full.
There are still challenges and obstacles I’ll continue to face with my chronic illness, but I know for a fact I’ll make it through.
I’m not scared anymore, and I’m not sure I would’ve gotten to this place if it wasn’t for the man sitting next to me.
I turn my attention back up to the night sky and a feeling of peace washes over me at the sight. I close my eyes and whisper to Connor.
“Keep drawing. I want to remember this moment forever, too.”