Epilogue
A year passed since the crew had come to the cabin the first time.
Now they were back, but this time it wasn’t their vacation.
They were here for hers and Griz’s wedding.
Asher’s baby, Crystal, seemed entranced by the trees.
Since the weather was good, they were sitting outside while they chatted.
Happiness filled her in a way she couldn’t have imagined a year ago.
The guys were fishing and promised to return with dinner. Elowen didn’t care if they caught anything because they had plenty of food in the freezer if they didn’t get any fish.
“Elowen, are you ready for tomorrow?” Nichole asked.
“Totally. I’m past ready to claim him as mine.”
They all laughed, and Crystal swung her head around to stare at them for a moment before she went back to tree-watching. Asher covered her mouth and laughed more.
Amelia shook her head. “She’s a good baby, Asher.”
Asher nodded. “She is. She just stares at me if I talk too loud or laugh loudly. It’s like she’s judging me.”
“I’m sure she isn’t judging,” Danika said.
Asher rolled her eyes. “Oh, she judges. Trust me, she knows how to judge people.”
“Well, I love her,” Nichole said. “She can judge me all day long.”
“That’s your hormone’s talking,” Rowan said.
Elowen chuckled. “Nichole, you have five months, right?”
Nichole smiled and nodded. “Yes. And I’m hardly even showing.”
“You’ll show soon enough, and it will stick with you forever,” Asher said.
Amelia snorted. “Absolutely with you forever.”
Nichole shrugged. “I’m happy this time it worked. I swore I wasn’t going to get obsessive when we started trying, but months of nothing happening ate at me.”
“It’s tough,” Danika said. “I’m glad you had support during it all.”
Nichole nodded. “I would have driven myself insane if it hadn’t been for you all. Thank you.”
Elowen’s dog, Knuckles, sat up, sniffing the air. She reached out, petting her head. “Hey, girl, is it Griz?”
Knuckles yipped, then took off running to the tree line.
She spied Griz a second later. She considered herself lucky to have Knuckles.
The German Shepard was perfect for her. She alerted Elowen when anyone was near but was great with her guests at the cabin.
It was like Knuckles understood when she told the dog they had guests showing up and didn’t freak out when cars arrived at the cabin.
The one time someone stopped at the cabin who didn’t have a reservation, the dog went crazy barking. Times like that, she wondered exactly how much Knuckles understood.
“Hey, we caught fish,” Griz called out as they approached the cabin.
Elowen stood and moved to him. “That’s great.”
“I wanted to drop these here, then I’ll head back to our place to shower.”
Elowen kissed his cheek, happier than she ever imagined she would be. “Sounds good.”
“Ladies,” Griz said as he headed into the house.
Elowen went back to the chair she’d been in before and watched all the guys kiss their women. It was obvious all of the couples were in love. Jay seemed especially smitten with Nichole. They were having a baby together, and she could see he was thrilled with the news.
Did she want a baby? Elowen still wasn’t sure she did.
Kids took a lot of time, and she and Griz were just starting their lives together.
She wasn’t what an obstetrician would consider to be young.
Nichole had been heartbroken when she’d miscarried twice early in her pregnancies, and that would be a total kick to the gut.
She wasn’t sure she was strong enough to endure it.
Maybe being the auntie would be enough. She was happy with Griz, and he was certainly enough for her. Griz came out of the house, and she decided to walk back to the cabin with him. Of course, Knuckles came with her, and the three of them headed out.
“I had a good morning,” Griz said.
“Same. I like our friends.”
He slung his arm over her shoulder, and she didn’t mind the fishy smell at all. “You ready for tomorrow?” Griz asked.
Laughter spilled from her lips. “My man, I am. But I have to tell you that I’m already committed to you, and making it official won’t change anything on my part.”
He nodded. “It will only change how many benefits you get from the government.”
“It’s weird. I never really thought I’d find anyone, but I think that’s because I’d already found you and just needed to reconnect.”
He stopped walking and turned to face her.
“I thought about you a lot. I’m only sorry I didn’t find a way to contact you.
You’re the one, and I knew it when we were younger.
I think we needed this time to grow, but if we hadn’t taken this time apart, I know we both would have fought like hell to stay together. ”
Knuckles leaned against both of their legs, and Griz’s goofy grin made her laugh. “We’re a good family.”
Griz nodded. “We are. I love you, Elowen, and I’m excited we get this time now because being with you is the best adventure I’ve ever had.”
His lips pressed against hers, and she opened for him.
Their tongues twisted together in a passionate kiss.
Elowen knew without a doubt she was the luckiest person in the world.
She had a great place to live, a dedicated dog, and the man of her dreams. Everything had worked out for good, and it would only get better from here on out.
The End
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