Epilogue
Ari
Dangerous Word: Bored
By Ashtyn Ellis
Being bored can be a bad thing in your life. It’s low-key the worst. Bored just means you’ve realized something isn’t as exciting as you originally thought it was.
Maybe it looked fun because everybody else was paying attention to it, and you knew you could have it. Maybe it became less interesting once somebody else wanted it more. Or maybe you just got tired of playing the same game. That’s boring.
Either way, I’ve learned there’s no point wasting time on something that doesn’t excite you anymore. Life is too short to be bored.
Besides, there’s always something better waiting around the corner. Something newer, shinier, and a lot less predictable.
So, maybe getting bored with something or someone isn’t a dangerous word at all. Maybe it’s saved me from wasting my time on something that’s not even worth any effort.
Maybe boredom is actually a good thing.
I slam Ashtyn’s dangerous word essay down on Wade’s desk. “Read it and weep!”
He leans over the paper with a frown, but as his eyes skim the words, the frown morphs into relief.
His eyes glance up. “Why would I weep over this? It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever read. Ashtyn is bored with me. She’s moving on.”
“Yes, that appears to be how she’s framing her loss to me, but the whole weep part was more about how we have actual proof that I won our bet. You are the loser.” I dramatically point to myself. “And I am the winner.”
Wade sits back into his leather chair, visibly amused by me.
“What?”
“I would’ve thought that my telling you I love you a few days ago at your sister’s wedding ended this whole bet thing. Like a truce. But I see you’re still hanging onto it.”
“At the time, I thought your love declaration had ended things too, but then she turned in this pathetic attempt at an essay, and the competitive side of me couldn’t help but gloat.”
His smile pushes wider. “Have I ever told you how attracted I am to competitive Ari?”
I shift my weight, fidgeting with my sleeve. “No.”
“It’s hot.” Wade stands, slowly walking around his desk to me.
“Like, one of my favorite versions of you.” He wraps his arms around my waist. “So I don’t mind losing to you or having you gloat every day for the rest of our lives.
We can start a whole new bet right here and now if it means you’ll keep this cute cockiness up. ”
He kisses my lips, but I push him away. “It’s no fun to be in a competition with someone if they’re just going to let me win.”
“Oh, I never said I was going to let you win.”
He kisses me again, and this time, I lean into it, linking my arms around his neck.
“Get a room!” Mrs. Albany snaps as she walks past Wade’s office.
We break apart, laughing.
“Wait until Mr. Jex hears about this,” I say.
“Eh, he can’t say anything. He married his secretary when he was the principal.”
My jaw drops. “And he’s been giving you a hard time about professionalism?”
“Right?”
“No, seriously. I can’t get over it. This makes me so mad.”
“Forget about him. My dad’s the one I’ve always wanted to please the most. Not Jex.”
“Your dad will eventually see what a good principal you are. Just give it time.”
“I know, but honestly”—he glances over his shoulder at Ashtyn’s paper—“the fact that Ashtyn has moved on from me is all I need. Even though she’s been staying away and I saw her making out with that kid at the dance, I still had this thought that she was just lurking in the shadows, plotting some big thing to ruin my life.
But I think we’re finally done with her, and we can just focus on us. ”
I smile, leaning into him. “I like the sound of that.”
Wade
BARB LANGFORD stands in front of me, her arm outstretched, waiting for me to take the beanbag from her hand. “Dusty and Ari versus you and me.”
I look from Barb to the cornhole boards set up in the backyard.
Then back to Barb.
“You want me on your team?”
She looks genuinely confused. “Well, yes. If you and Ari play together, it won’t even be close.”
Across the yard, Ari catches my eye. Her brows lift, like take the opportunity, Stevenson.
I grin back.
Apparently, I've been drafted.
The first round goes exactly as expected.
Barb lands one bag squarely on the board.
Mine misses entirely.
She folds her arms. “I thought you were athletic?”
“I thought I was too.”
“I guess I should’ve chosen Ari as my partner.”
Twenty feet away, Ari laughs so hard she crosses her legs.
I pick up another bag. “Don’t give up on me yet, Barb.”
Easy toss.
Right onto the board, and we take the lead.
Barb holds up her hand, and I meet it with a high five. “Okay, now our team is on a roll.”
Something about those words catches me off guard.
Our team.
Such a small thing.
But a month ago, I’m not sure Barb would’ve willingly stood on the same side of the yard as me.
Now I’m part of her team.
Wade
I HAVEN’T trick-or-treated since I was seventeen.
The last time I went, I was with Ari too.
The sky sits in that perfect moment between sunset and dusk.
A few trees still cling to their last leaves, but most have already fallen, crunching beneath our feet with every step.
Neighbors are out. Kids in costumes zigzag from yard to yard.
Pumpkins glow from every set of steps. Someone has a fog machine going that keeps drifting across the street.
This town doesn't do anything halfway. And I love it.
Ari and I slowly walk, with Mia between us, each of her hands holding one of ours.
Mia looks up at me with the exact same expression Ryan gets whenever he’s excited. “There’s another house!”
“Do you think they have candy?” Ari smiles down at her.
Mia shrugs. The action’s small, but it’s enough to make her princess crown tip slightly to the left.
“Can we go there next?” Before either of us can answer, she lets go of our hands and races toward the porch.
“Slow down!” Lily calls after her from farther back with Ryan.
Mia makes it halfway across the lawn before suddenly stopping. She turns around. Runs back.
I frown. “Your candy bag is already in your hand.”
“I know.” She grabs my hand. Then she grabs Ari’s. With all the seriousness a four-year-old can muster, she places my hand inside Ari's. “There.” She nods proudly. “Don’t let go so you don’t lose each other.”
We watch her skip back toward the porch before smiling at each other.
I squeeze Ari’s fingers. “I don’t plan on letting go.”
She laughs, resting her head against my shoulder. “Me either.”
Our fingers naturally lace together.
No hesitation.
No wondering what this means.
No pretending.
Just...us.
I glance down as the porch light catches the smile on Ari’s face—the content one I've decided is my favorite.
Without really thinking about it, my head tilts, resting lightly on top of hers.
“You know, I was pretty sure this costume was going to be the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
“What’s wrong with Jim and Pam?”
“I just didn’t think anyone would know who we were, but all night people have been shouting Jim quotes at me, so I think we’re good.”
She glances up at me, forcing my head to straighten. “Do you know why I picked them for our costume?”
“Because they’re awesome?”
“No, because they worked together and fell in love.” She smiles that smile again.
I grin. “You know Jim was in love with Pam long before she had feelings for him.”
“Are you saying you loved me long before I loved you back?”
“Absolutely.”
She shakes her head, laughing. “We’ll agree to disagree on that one.”
I smile because she has no idea.
I’ve been falling for her since before either of us knew what to call it.
Ari
I NEVER would’ve pictured myself as the type of twenty-seven-year-old who would attend Bingo night—let alone Bingo night hosted by the Ednas.
Wade casually mentioned it over lunch. “You’ve never been?”
I shook my head.
He looked genuinely horrified. “Miss Langford, you have not lived until you’ve gone to monthly Bingo night in Autumn Ridge.”
So here I am.
Sitting in the church activity center beneath fluorescent lights, with a paper bingo card in front of me and a handful of candy corn serving as markers because apparently that’s how they do things here.
Round tables fill the room. Someone brought pumpkin bars. The entire event feels very small-town.
Which, strangely enough, I don't mind anymore.
The caller spins the cage.
“C…” Linda Tolman squints dramatically at the little wooden ball. “...eleven.”
Everyone around the room starts dabbing their cards.
I glance at mine. “I don't have it.”
Wade glances at my card. “You’ve got C-twelve.”
“That doesn’t help me here.”
Across the room, Edna G. notices.
She elbows Edna B.
Edna B. immediately abandons her bingo card and marches toward us.
“I think congratulations are finally in order.”
Wade looks up innocently. “For what?”
“For me,” she says proudly.
“Oh?” My brows lift. “Did you get bingo?”
She waves me off and then points between us. “You know whose idea this was.”
Wade blinks. “Ours?”
She points to herself with far too much confidence. “Mine.”
Suddenly, Edna G. is beside us, gasping dramatically. “Excuse me? I’ve been setting these two up since the moment Ari arrived back in town.”
Edna B. scoffs. “You most certainly did not.”
“I absolutely did.”
“No, you said they were a poor fit. I was the one who said they were meant to be.”
Wade leans toward me. In a whisper, he says, “Are they really fighting over who gets credit for our relationship?”
I whisper back, “It looks like it.”
They both ignore us and keep arguing.
“I distinctly remember telling Barb those two belonged together.”
“I remember you saying Wade would probably ruin her life.”
Edna G. plants both hands on our table. “The important thing is this.” She looks at Wade. “You didn’t screw this up.”
Wade nods solemnly. “Thank you?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
His hand finds mine beneath the table.
Hidden from everyone else.
His thumb brushes slowly across the back of my hand.
Just once.
It isn’t for anyone else’s benefit.
It’s simply there.
“BINGO!” someone calls a few tables over. The entire room groans.
He squeezes my hand beneath the table again.
And somehow, a Thursday night in a church activity center playing bingo with Wade while the Ednas bicker about everything is exactly where I want to be.
Wade
SUNDAY DINNERS at my parents’ house have always been my favorite.
But today is even better because, for the first time in my life, I brought a girl.
Not just any girl—pretty much the love of my life.
It sounds cheesy to say that, but this is the new Wade. I do corny now. Cheesy too. And honestly, I kind of love it.
Ari sits beside me at the table while my Mom insists she take seconds before she’s halfway through her first helping.
“Thanks, Gina.” She smiles at my overly excited mother. “This is delicious.”
After about half an hour of Ryan and Sadie roasting me, the conversation drifts toward school.
Mom asks Ari how her students are doing.
“They're good.” Ari shrugs. “I really enjoy teaching older grades.”
My mom nods. “That can make a big difference.”
“And I love working for Wade.” She grins at me.
“Not because I’m dating him, but because he’s a phenomenal principal.
Probably the best I’ve ever worked for. I feel supported as a teacher, and I love how he interacts with the students.
There’s just a good energy at Autumn Ridge High School that is a credit back to the culture Wade has set up. ”
My fork pauses, and I suddenly become fascinated with my dinner roll.
It’s not that I’m embarrassed by what Ari said. She’s said similar things to me when we’ve been alone. I’m nervous about what my dad might say back.
Mom sighs happily. “You know, I’ve noticed that too at the football games. Like you said, it’s a good culture.”
“Yeah,” Ari agrees, “he genuinely makes the school better.”
Then Dad clears his throat. “I’ve noticed something too.”
My stomach twists.
Oh, boy. Here we go.
Everyone looks at him.
Including me.
“When you first took that job, I wasn’t sure how it was going to go.
I thought maybe you liked the title more than the responsibility.
But,”—he scratches thoughtfully at his chin—“I’ve been hearing your name around town the last few weeks.
Everyone has nothing but great things to say about what you’re doing at the high school.
” Dad nods once. “There’s been a few bumps, but you’re doing a good job over there. ”
That's it.
No speech.
No dramatic apology.
Just one thought.
But coming from him, it’s everything.
Ari’s hand quietly finds mine.
She doesn't look at me.
Doesn’t draw attention to it.
She just gives my fingers one gentle squeeze.
Like she knows exactly how much that one statement meant.
Ari
NOVEMBER feels quieter somehow. Colder too.
Wade and I wander down Main Street after lunch at Maple Bar and Grill, not really headed anywhere.
We end up on the bridge without either of us suggesting it.
The river rushes beneath us, carrying the last orange and gold leaves downstream. A few cling stubbornly to the trees along the banks, but winter is clearly on its way.
I rest my elbows on the railing.
“Next year, I think I want to teach an Honors English class.”
His head turns toward me, and he smiles.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I give him a playful little shove. “No, what?”
He reaches over, taking my hand. “There was a time when I didn’t know if you’d be staying in Autumn Ridge next year.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” I lean up and press a soft kiss against his lips. “Not Florida.” I press another kiss to his mouth. “Not teaching at some other school.” And one last, longer kiss. “And not with some other guy.”
“That’s the best news I’ve ever heard.” His thumb brushes across my hand. “So I’ll get you that Honors English class.”
I smile, taking in the bridge, the mountains, and the town I almost left behind.
“Good,” I grin. “Because I think I'll be staying here for the rest of my life.”
The End
Thank you for reading!