Epilogue
Knox
It’s June. The sky is that perfect, endless blue you get maybe five times a year in Cedar Falls. Warm air, no humidity, not a cloud in sight. The kind of day that shows up like it was meant for something bigger.
Like a wedding. Like our wedding.
I’m standing at the altar, hands clasped in front of me, trying like hell to look calm.
Cam is next to me in a crisp navy suit, grinning like a fool because he knows exactly how much effort it's taking for me not to pace. Ty and Levi are behind him, each doing their best to stand still. Levi keeps wiping at his eyes when he thinks no one’s looking.
Ty hasn’t stopped bouncing his leg since we lined up.
And me? I’m just trying not to pass out before she gets here.
My mom, the woman who’s done more for me than I’ll ever deserve—is already dabbing at her eyes with the tissue I gave her five minutes ago.
She’s sitting next to Brynn’s parents in the front row, both beaming like the proudest people on earth.
Behind them, a sea of familiar faces. Our town.
Our people. Even my whole damn football team is here, lined up in mismatched ties.
It hits me then. How far we’ve come. From quiet nights next door to whispered promises under the covers. From broken hearts and second chances to this.
To her.
Music starts. Heads turn. And suddenly, there she is. Not Brynn.
Priscilla and Evie.
Evie is dressed like a tiny princess, tiara and all, while holding a white leash, leading Priscilla down the aisle.
My sweet, tolerant dog is wearing a white tutu that poofs around her belly like she’s auditioning for Swan Lake.
Evie holds a basket of flowers, Priscilla has a pouch hanging from her rhinestone collar containing our rings.
The crowd laughs softly as I kneel and unclip the pouch, pressing a kiss to her head. “You girls crushed it.”
“We did it,” Evie whispers, smiling wide as she leads Priscilla to the side, standing by Kate and Kinsey.
And then…the music shifts.
The breath leaves my lungs as Brynn appears at the back of the room, her hand tucked into the crook of her father’s arm.
Sunlight spills around her like it was choreographed just for this moment.
Her gown is soft and elegant, hugging her curves before falling into a train of delicate lace.
Her hair’s pinned in loose waves, a few strands escaping like they knew I’d want something to tangle my fingers in later.
Her eyes find mine instantly. Steady. Bright. Unshakable.
She’s not nervous. She’s smiling brighter than the sun and walking toward me.
And I don’t blink. Not once. I need every second of this etched into memory.
Her dad moves with a quiet pride, shoulders square, jaw tight like he’s holding back a thousand emotions. When they reach me, he places her hand in mine and looks me straight in the eye. No posturing. Just quiet strength.
“Take care of my girl.”
“I will,” I say, my voice low and sure. “Always.”
He nods, then steps back, leaving her with me—where she’s always belonged.
The officiant speaks, but I barely hear him. My whole body is humming, heart pounding like it might crack wide open from the sheer force of loving this woman.
Then it’s time. I take a breath, place the ring on her finger and begin.
“Brynn, I loved you before I even knew what love really meant. I loved you when we were kids, when life was simple, and all I wanted was to hold your hand and kiss you under the bleachers. I love you now with everything I’ve got.
With the bruises and the hard-earned lessons and the miles we had to walk to get to this moment.
I promise to protect you, to laugh with you, to be your safe place on the worst days and your biggest fan on the best ones.
You are my heart, baby girl. And you always will be. ”
Her hands shake slightly as she slides my band onto my finger. Her voice is soft but clear.
“Knox, I came back to Cedar Falls thinking I was broken. But somehow you knew how to love me exactly as I was. Not just in the easy moments, but in the ones I couldn’t even look at myself.
You make me feel safe, seen, desired, adored.
You make me laugh. You make me strong. I promise to never take this love for granted.
I promise to challenge you, champion you, and always, always come home to you. I love you. I have always loved you.”
Cam’s sniffling. Ty’s full-on crying. Levi’s smiling.
The officiant smiles. “By the power vested in me, Knox, you may kiss your bride.”
I don’t wait. I pull her close, tilt her chin, and kiss her like I’ve waited a lifetime—because I have. Her hands curl around my collar, her body pressed into mine. She tastes like promises and every goddamn hope I’ve ever had.
The kiss deepens. Quickly. Her fingers tug at my tie. My hands find her waist. Someone clears their throat behind us.
And then a loud bark breaks the moment.
Priscilla jumps in, barking wildly like we’ve offended her delicate sensibilities with our public display of affection.
Everyone laughs. Brynn grins against my mouth. I kiss her again, because now she’s my wife, and I can.
Forever starts today. And I’ve never been more ready.
Brynn
The reception is golden-hour magic—warm light dancing through twinkle strands, laughter spilling like champagne bubbles. My heels are long gone. My silk dress is hitched up just enough to let me dance without tripping. And Knox has barely let go of my hand all evening.
The food was delicious. The speeches were hilarious. And now, the dance floor looks like a romantic comedy finale.
Except this one? It's mine.
I scan the room as I sip my wine, heart full to bursting.
Mom is slow dancing with Dad. Kinsey’s off in a corner schooling Levi in whatever drinking game she invented on the spot.
Ty is half-seriously chatting up one of my cousins—who looks both terrified and intrigued.
And Evie is curled up on two reception chairs pushed together, tiara askew, a frosting smear across her cheek.
I look over at Knox, who’s just returned with a bottle of water and a smile that makes my stomach swoop.
“You good?” he asks, pressing the bottle into my hand like he didn’t just completely wreck me with that last kiss during our dance.
“I’m beyond good,” I say honestly. “This is...everything.”
He leans in and brushes his lips against my temple. “We did alright.”
Before I can pull him in for another kiss that would definitely lead to a room-clearing situation, Mrs. Dalton appears beside us, clutching her husband’s arm with one hand and her clutch in the other.
“Sweetheart,” she says, directing it toward Knox, “we’re going to head out. It’s been beautiful. So proud of you. I left your wedding gift by the cake table, and I will be texting tomorrow to find out if you cried.”
“She’s not kidding,” Mr. Dalton adds. “I watched her typing the message.”
Knox chuckles. “Want me to grab your shawl?”
“That’d be lovely.”
He leans over and kisses her cheek, then turns and heads toward the coat closet off the side hallway, just past the dessert table.
I sip my water, watching him go, sighing dreamily.
And then— “What the hell.”
The shout echoes across the reception space. A few heads turn. Then a few more.
I set my wine down and hurry over just in time to see Knox standing frozen in front of the coat closet, hand braced on the door, eyebrows way up.
Inside?
Cam. And Kate.
Her dress is wrinkled. His shirt is untucked. They’re wide-eyed and guilty, like they got caught sneaking cookies before dinner—but instead of cookies, they were sneaking a makeout session.
I blink. “Oh my God.”
Kate, ever composed, even with messy hair, smooths her lipstick with one finger. “Hey, newlyweds.”
Cam looks like he wants the earth to swallow him whole. “We were just...uh…”
“Grabbing coats? In June?” I offer helpfully, eyes wide with barely contained glee.
“Yep,” Kate says, completely unfazed. “Just checking to make sure they’re all here.”
Knox stares at them, deadpan. “This was the coat closet. You two just defiled it and made it your hookup closet.”
“Technicality,” Kate mutters.
“You’ve been hooking up?” I whisper-yell, suddenly trying to calculate how long. “Wait—how long?”
Cam rubs the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. “A few months.”
Knox groans and scrubs a hand down his face. “I’m gonna need a moment.”
“You owe me a moment,” Cam fires back. “You’ve been making goo-goo eyes at Brynn since the second she moved back to town. And I had to hear all of your lovesick troubles for weeks.”
“You got caught in a coat closet,” I deadpan.
“Could’ve been worse.” Kate shrugs.
Mrs. Dalton appears behind me, looking confused. “Did you find my shawl?”
I snap into bride-mode. “Found some things, Mrs. Dalton. We’ll have your shawl out in just a second.”
Knox grabs his mother’s shawl without breaking eye contact with Cam. “Get out.”
Cam salutes him. “Yes, Coach.”
Knox groans again. “Don’t call me that right now.”
They disappear into the crowd, and I turn to Knox, hand over my mouth to muffle the laugh threatening to burst out.
“You okay?” I ask.
He looks at me with mock betrayal. “My best friend is hooking up with your best friend. In my coat closet. On my wedding day.”
I raise a brow. “This isn’t your vineyard. And that technically isn’t your closet.”
He lifts a hand and presses two fingers to his temple. “Not helping.”
But then he relaxes, smiles, slow and easy, the kind that spreads through my chest and settles somewhere behind my ribs.
“I love you,” he murmurs.
“I love you, too,” I say, looping my arms around his neck. “And you know what else?”
He leans down. “What?”
“I cannot wait to make so much fun of them in the group chat tomorrow.”
His laugh is low and dangerous. “You are a menace.”
“I’m your menace.”
He kisses me again. Soft. Sure. Full of everything we built to get here.
And as the crowd fades back into dance and laughter, and the lights dim for one last slow song, I let myself sink into the absolute truth of it all.
I went searching for something I thought was missing when I left this town, only to discover it had been here all along—just waiting for me to come home.
The End