Epilogue
ELIZA
Two months later
August
“We’re going to need a bigger apartment for all these plants,” I said to Leo as I watered the jasmine, philodendron, and monstera plants by the window.
“We?” Leo asked as he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and setting his chin on my shoulder. “Is that your way of asking me to move in with you, Trouble?”
My cheeks flushed, and I bit down on my bottom lip. Yeah, I guessed it kind of was. I set the watering can on the ledge and turned around in his arms to face him, catching the hopeful look in his eyes.
“I mean, you kind of already have,” I teased, tipping my head toward the open area of the apartment.
His books were on the coffee table. His toothbrush and toothpaste were in my bathroom.
His groceries were in my fridge—thank god—and he’d even moved his record player over, which was currently playing low in the background. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If anything, I wanted more of him in the space, because I wanted it to reflect us both.
“But, yes, I guess it is my way of asking you to move in. Whenever you’re ready to.”
A few months ago, I would’ve never imagined I’d be in a relationship with someone and asking them to move in with me.
But this wasn’t just someone—this was Leo.
The only person in the world who I’d willingly give up being in my bed alone for.
Turned out, it was much better falling asleep in his arms.
Once I let myself fall for him, I fell hard, and he was right there with me every step of the way.
Now that we were together, I didn’t want to waste any of our time together.
We were doing things at our speed. Maybe sometimes it was fast and other things would take more time, but we were doing what felt right for us, including finally telling Celine we were seeing each other.
It’d been something we were putting off after what happened with Colin, but something told me she’d be thrilled to find out, which eased my nerves.
We were heading up to Maple Bluffs this weekend to have dinner with her—and for Leo to get his newest tattoo: a bundle of wildflowers like the ones we saw in the clearing after our hike when I took him to one of my favorite spots in town. I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.
Leo let out a quiet chuckle, gripping my chin with his thumb and forefinger and tipping it up slightly. “I’m ready for everything with you. I want it all.”
My body buzzed with excitement as I thought about what that meant. Moving in together, getting married, having a life partner to do anything and everything with, accomplishing our dreams together. Before Leo, I’d never let myself think about a future like that. Now, it was all I could imagine.
“I want it all, too,” I whispered to him. “I’m ready to make all our dreams a reality.”
He dipped his head, lips brushing against mine as his mouth curved into a smile. “What are we waiting for then? Let’s make it happen.”
“You’re going to blind me with that thing,” I teased Jules as she rested her left hand on the bar top, the light reflecting off the pear-shaped diamond on a gold band.
Jules looked down at the ring with a wide smile. “I can’t stop staring at it,” she sighed happily, tears glistening in her green eyes. “I still can’t believe we’re getting married.”
I rounded the bar and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so happy for you,” I told my friend, more than thrilled for her and Wes.
Wes had proposed to Jules about two weeks ago, nearly to the day of when she officially moved to Golden Falls a year ago.
The two of them had talked about getting married and spending their lives together, but Jules hadn’t expected him to pop the question this year, especially with how busy the summer had been at Lake Ridge.
Well, Wes had a few tricks up his sleeve. I totally called it, by the way.
While the proposal had been private, Wes coordinated with his mom, Lily, and me on a celebration afterward at his parents’ house.
He’d told Lily and me a couple days before the proposal, and while I’d done a great job keeping the secret, there were countless moments Lily nearly spoiled the surprise with how excited she was.
Luckily, Jules didn’t suspect a thing, including how Wes had coordinated for her family to make it into town to celebrate, too.
“And I’m happy for you, too.”
Lily and Jules had been ecstatic—but not at all surprised—when I told them Leo and I were moving in together. We’d also figure something out with his current lease, because it turned out being best friends with the building manager had its perks.
I pulled away from the hug and gave Jules’s arms a gentle squeeze. “I didn’t grab the Aperol from the fridge at the start of my shift. Let me go grab it and then I can make your drink while you tell me all about what you’re thinking for the wedding.” Knowing Jules, she already had plenty of ideas.
She grinned at me and pulled out her phone. “I can show you the inspiration pictures.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said with a smile before heading into the kitchen and to the walk-in fridge. I pulled open the door and spotted Leo grabbing a few vegetables for today’s prep.
He looked over, his eyes lighting up as he spotted me. He set the vegetables down and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. “You look beautiful today,” he murmured.
I met his mouth with mine, my hand on the back of his neck to pull him closer. “I look the same as I did this morning.”
“Exactly,” he murmured against my mouth with a smile. His lips moved to my neck, his hot kisses mixed with the coolness in the fridge sending a shiver up my spine.
“Leo,” I moaned, and his hands moved down to my ass, groping it in his large palms. My fingers wrapped around the fabric of his chef’s coat, pulling him toward me as my back hit the shelves. “You’re distracting me,” I panted, hooking a leg around his hip.
“I can distract you even more if you want.” He grinned against my skin, nipping gently.
As tempting as that was, we were nearing the start of the first rush, and if I wasn’t back, it wouldn’t be a secret what we’d been up to. “Very, very tempting,” I said, holding back another moan. “But I think that’ll have to wait.”
A huff of protest escaped Leo, but he pulled back, pressing a final kiss to my lips. “Fine, but after work tonight, you’re all mine.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I pressed my body against his, my hand moving to palm his erection. “You might want to stay in here a little longer. Cool off a bit,” I teased with a wink. I reached to grab the Aperol and turned to make my way out.
“Always causing so much trouble.”
I didn’t have to turn around to know he had a big grin on his face.
Once I was out of the fridge, I smoothed my hair down and made my way back to the bar.
Jules looked up, and with one look at me, a knowing smile crossed her lips.
“I got a little held up in the back. Work stuff.”
“Uh-huh.” Jules smile widened. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
I rolled my eyes with a laugh, starting on her drink while we chatted on what she was thinking for the wedding colors and timing.
Not long after, Wes and Cooper came up to the bar after finishing their game of pool. Wes was staying for tonight’s evening shift while Cooper was getting ready to head home.
“Are you adopting Red?” Jules asked hopefully as she turned toward Cooper, referring to the German Shepherd my brother had been visiting at the animal shelter.
While he hadn’t fully committed yet, he was basically there. He’d spent evenings at the animal shelter over the last couple of weeks to get extra time with Red and make sure it was a good decision for the both of them.
“Yeah, I am,” Cooper said with a grin. “I’m going to head over there for an hour to take him on a walk and figure out a good weekend to bring him home.”
Jules let out a squeal, and I grinned. “I always thought you’d be more of a golden retriever guy, but I love that you’re getting a German Shepherd, especially one who’s a little older,” she said with a warm smile.
Cooper laughed. “Well, my best friend is grumpy as hell, and we get along great. Figured I should stick to what I know.”
“I’m not that grumpy,” Wes said. He paused for a moment before adding, “Anymore,” while he looked down at Jules.
She wrapped an arm around his waist while he stood next to her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Oh, one sec,” Wes said, reaching into his pocket. “Jade’s calling.” He brought the phone to his ear and said, “Hey, sis.” His brows rose, and he stepped away to continue the conversation.
I looked at Wes, then at Jules, and finally at Cooper, who had a clenched jaw and hand wrapped tightly around his beer can, which I presumed was empty by the way he crushed it under his grip.
Within a few minutes, Wes came back, pocketing his phone in his jeans with an expression none of us could read. “That was, uh, well, I should probably tell Lily, too. I don’t want her to find out from someone else with how quickly word spreads here, but that was Jade. She’s…she’s coming back.”
“When?”
All our eyes darted to Cooper then to Wes as he answered.
“Soon. Maybe in the next couple of weeks. I don’t know for how long, but she said her current contract is up.”
We were all stunned into silence that no one noticed when Lily and Gabe walked up.
“What’s going on with all of you?” Lily asked with a laugh. “It’s like you’ve all seen a ghost.”
Wes turned toward his youngest sister, his expression softening. “Jade’s coming back.”
Lily’s face fell and lips parted. I didn’t miss the way Gabe’s hand immediately grabbed hers, rubbing smooth circles over the back with his thumb.
“What?” Lily blinked rapidly, and my heart hurt for her, knowing how her relationship with her sister had gotten rocky over the last few years with Jade not visiting often or being as present in Lily’s life.
Lily pulled out a stool and set her bag on the counter, looking right at me. “I think I could use a drink.”
“Make that two,” Cooper said.
My eyes darted to my brother, hoping he’d be okay.
“Coming right up,” I said, setting Jules’s Aperol spritz in front of her and grabbing a seltzer for Lily and another beer for Cooper.
Gran’s psychic had told her there’d be a rainstorm, an engagement, and a homecoming.
The last piece we’d been waiting on was the homecoming.
Guess we got our answer.