Epilogue
EMERY
ONE YEAR LATER…
“How does that look, Bambi?” Knox yells down from the ladder. I peer up under the shadow of my hand, blocking the sun. After almost a year of being open, we finally got the new sign up on the Hollow Hinge.
“Perfect,” I grin, keeping the ladder steady for him to crawl down. The new sign looks perfect in shiny gold letters that pop against the hunter green background.
As soon as Knox’s feet hit the ground, he grabs my waist and pulls me in for a kiss. I sink into him like it’s the first time all over again.
When I pull my head back, I ask, “What was that for?”
“I’m just so proud of you,” he gleams, making my heart do a little dance inside my ribs.
“You know I hate when you’re corny,” I say, arching a brow.
Knox chuckles to himself and squeezes me closer. “And that’s exactly why I love doing it,” he smirks, “but in all seriousness, I am proud of you, and I can’t believe how far the shop has come in the last year.”
He’s right. After finally opening my doors last October, I was overwhelmed by all the town’s support.
Everyone was thrilled to have a piece of my grandma permanently memorialized on Main Street, and I was proud to help carry that forward.
My refurbishing business has taken off, too.
And even though Knox said I could keep using his workspace, he helped me remodel the back room of the shop so I can do everything in-house now.
“I know. It’s crazy, I’ve been here for an entire year already,” I say, a rush of pride rising inside me. “Just like I can’t believe I’ve put up with you for this long.”
Knox tosses his head back and lets out a loud laugh, earning a side glance from one of the pedestrians crossing the street. “I just risked my life to help you put up your new sign, and now you’re being mean. I think that calls for a punishment,” he says, wiggling his brows.
If I’m being honest, the last year has been great.
Things with Knox just seem easy. You’d think being with someone who also owns a business would be hard, but we simply bounce back and forth between the two.
I pop in for lunch at the garage during the week, and Knox hangs out with me on the weekends when he’s not open.
Somewhere along the way, we carved out our own routine that feels natural.
I nudge his chest. “Get back to work. I’m not paying you to flirt with the boss.”
“You’re not paying me at all, Bambi,” he scoffs, crossing his arms. “Maybe I should go on strike.”
“Fine,” I grunt. “If you keep helping me, later we can do that thing you like,” I say under my breath.
“Do you have whipped cream?” he asks with a devilish grin.
“You two are gross,” Eve says, interrupting our little relationship bubble. “Next time, check your surroundings before you start talking about your sex life.”
I shake my head and turn to my nosey sister. “I thought you were inside, dork.”
“Nope,” she says, putting her hands on her hips. “I’m heading down to the coffee shop to grab some fuel since you’re working me like a dog. You two lovebirds want anything?”
We both shake our heads and watch Eve as she makes her way down the street. “How much longer is she staying?” Knox asks, reaching out for me again. I sink into his chest.
“I’m not sure,” I answer. “I keep trying to ask her, and she keeps dodging me. But I know she can’t stand sleeping on my couch forever.
Even Klepto won’t sleep on it.” I’ve told her multiple times she can sleep in my bed when I stay over at Knox’s place, but she refuses to sleep anywhere Knox and I have had sex.
I haven’t told her yet, but the couch isn’t safe from that equation.
A few weeks ago, Eve called me up and told me that she was taking a hiatus from her job in the ER.
I didn’t press too much, but I knew she was burnt out and needed some time off.
I thought her little hiatus would only last two weeks, and it’s been nearly a month.
Something tells me she’s not going back.
“This might sound crazy,” Knox begins, pulling back his face so he can look at me, “but what if you moved in with me and let your sister sublet?”
My heart skips a beat. I feel a slight tinge of panic and nausea, but somehow the excitement drowns everything else out.
“Move in with you?” I repeat, trying to process such a huge step.
He shrugs his shoulders, looking kind of nervous, which is a side of my boyfriend I rarely see. “I mean, you’re at my place most nights, and all the space in my bathroom is overflowing with hair products. Also, half of your clothes are already there, too.”
“That is because my washer broke, and when I went to wash my clothes, you insisted I leave some things there,” I defend.
“I didn’t say it like it was a bad thing, Bambi,” he says, curling his finger under my chin. “I love having your things there and waking up with you every morning. It’s mostly practical, but I want you to move in. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, actually.”
“Oh, really?” I ask, leaning in to brush my nose against his. This man. “Shouldn’t we talk about this more before we decide anything?”
“We can,” he says, sliding his hands into the back pockets of my jeans, “but I’m ready for this. Hell, you could’ve moved in the day you told me you loved me. I’m ready to have something worth coming home to.”
A steady rhythm hums across my skin. A year ago, the idea of moving in with Knox would’ve terrified me, but now it feels like the one decision I don’t have to overthink.
Before I can respond, a familiar voice calls from across the street, “Hey, lovebirds! I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“Hi, Marie,” Knox says, with his eyes still locked on mine. He offers up a big sigh and slowly steps away.
“I’m here and ready to paint!” she announces with her hand clutching some paint brushes and other supplies. It turns out Marie is quite the artist, and after she did a mural for her coffee shop, I asked her to do something for my place, too.
“I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow?” I ask, trying to conceal the panic in my voice.
“Olivia wanted some extra shifts before she goes back to school, so I’m letting her run the coffee shop today,” Marie says as she gets closer to us. Then her eyes settle on a large white truck parked in front of the shop, and she comes to a dead stop. “That asshole is here, isn’t he?”
“Yeah,” I say, looking at Knox for some assistance, but he just shrugs with the same look of defeat on his face.
I guess the only downside of our relationship was the fact that our two best friends can’t seem to get along.
I thought they turned a corner at Knox’s party last year, but every time they’re in the same room, it’s like a ticking time bomb.
“If it helps, I think he’s leaving soon. He’s just putting the finishing touches on the new counter he built for the store,” Knox offers with a warm smile.
“If she throws a paintbrush at him, I’m not getting in the middle of it,” I mutter under my breath. Although it’s clear by the sound of Marie’s scoff that she heard everything.
“Worked for us,” Knox says, pinching my butt. I let out a tiny squeak before playfully nudging his shoulder.
“I don’t even want to know,” Marie says, letting out a slow, annoyed breath. “I’ll be fine. I’m here to paint, not fight. As long as he stays out of my way, we’ll be fine.”
“Good,” I say, not feeling super confident in her promise. Those two were like fire and gasoline. Something about being in the same room always ignited something between them. She gives us a manufactured smile and disappears inside.
“Do you know why those two hate each other so much? Every time I try to ask Beau, he shuts me down,” Knox says, leaning up against the front of the store.
“Oh, I know,” I say with a mischievous half smile, “and it’s good too. But I was told not to tell you because you’ll meddle.”
“I would never!” Knox says, clutching his imaginary pearls.
“We both know you totally would, so you’ll have to wait and see. And on that note, I should go supervise,” I groan, spinning toward the door. But before I can get too far, Knox interlocks our hands and pulls me into his chest.
“Wait,” he says, blowing hot air against my cheek. “What’s your answer, Bambi?”
I look deep into his eyes and smile wide.
After years of feeling unwanted and out of place, I finally found a place where I can build a future.
And I want to build that future with him.
So, when it comes to taking that next step, I don’t hesitate.
I’m done hesitating when it comes to Knox Cooke. I know I’ll never regret him again.
“Yes.”