Epilogue
Two months later…
Milo’s legs were still threatening to mutiny.
He sat on the wide stone hearth of the ski lodge just outside Seattle, boots unlaced, socks damp, steam curling from his jacket as the fire crackled nearby.
Outside, the last of the afternoon light slid over the mountains, turning the snow soft and blue.
It had been a full day of things he never would’ve done on his own—chair lifts, beginner slopes, more falling than skiing—and somehow, it was perfect.
Cold, but perfect.
He spotted Nora walking toward him carrying two giant mugs of hot cocoa. She’s been so excited about them sipping it in front of the fire that she didn’t even want to wait for them to get back to their suite.
“Here we go!” she said excitedly, placing the mugs on the hearth next to him. “Two hot cocoas, extra marshmallows!”
He felt a bit silly about the extra marshmallows, but she assured him it was the only way to enjoy hot chocolate.
She dropped down beside him, cheeks flushed from the cold, eyes bright in that way that always made his chest ache. “You survived,” she said, nudging his knee playfully with hers. “I’m so proud of you.”
He snorted. “Strong word choice.”
She laughed, leaning into his shoulder, and Milo knew—right then—that he’d do a thousand more days like this if it meant seeing that smile. Even if his dignity never fully recovered.
They sipped their drinks as Nora talked about the expert trail she had skied today and how she couldn’t wait to do it all again tomorrow.
He loved listening to her talk—how passionate she was, how animated she got, and how she just embraced every new experience, no matter what it was.
He just loved her .
“Hey,” he said, a little too casually, reaching into his jacket pocket. Nora turned, curious, just as he shifted off the hearth and onto one knee.
Her breath caught.
“I’m not good at most of the things you love,” he said softly. “But I want to keep trying. With you. Everywhere. Always.”
Everything around them seemed to fade away. There was no one else—no noise, no conversation—just them and the crackling of the fire as he opened the box.
“Yes,” she whispered before he could even finish. Then, louder, laughing and crying all at once, “Yes.”
Milo stood just in time to catch her as she threw her arms around him, the ring glinting between them, the ski lodge, the mountains, and the fire standing witness.
It felt like the perfect moment.
The nerdy guy was lucky enough to have the coolest girl in the world fall in love with him.