Epilogue
DUTTON
“I can’t believe we are doing this,” Books says next to me. The look on her face is filled with giddiness.
“I can.”
She swats at my shoulder and rolls her eyes quickly before looking back at the phone in her hand. The new website for the bakery has officially launched, and as of two weeks ago, Books and I own the space and bakery outright. No more renting or just working there. We own it. She owns it.
I’m just the man behind the scenes making all of her ideas come to life. I’ve already got construction workers lined up to remodel the storefront, too. I’m about to make all of Brooke’s dreams come to life.
And let me tell you, when this woman gets going, there is no stopping her. With more time to focus on new recipes and ideas for the bakery, I’ve never seen her shine so bright.
There was a time in her life when she wanted to do this on her own because she thought asking for help meant she failed somehow, but thank fuck she changed her mind and picked me.
And thank God even more that this woman, someone with a heart of gold, took pity on me and agreed to help a guy out.
“Yeah, you’re sure now, but you weren't that sure the day you asked me to fake be your friend,” she reminds me, and I can’t help it. I laugh.
It’s crazy to think that was only five months ago. A lot can change in a short amount of time. We are the perfect example of that.
“You’re right. I was more scared back then. It was hard to be on all the time when I was talking to you. Your comebacks were always so fast and impressive, I never knew what was going to come out of your mouth.”
“Wait, you asked her to fake being your friend?” Preston asks as he ties his bowling shoes.
Books nods.
Preston starts to laugh.
“Why is that funny?” Grace asks, crossing her arms and glaring at him.
“How is it not funny?”
Grace’s face is like stone. “Remind me why you’re here again?”
“Because it’s bowling night and I want redemption,” Gavin chimes in.
After the first nine weeks of bowling, he had the lowest score between him, Linc, and Luca.
Since Halloween passed before the first nine weeks were up, it’s up in the air as to what they’ll have Gavin do as the clear loser.
I’m sure the boys will collect at the most inconvenient time of my brother's life.
I’m looking forward to it.
“Why are there so many of you?” Sheriff Sloan says, approaching our lane. Brooke hugs him, and I shake his hand.
“You’re not playing today?” I ask, taking in his uniform.
He shakes his head. “I just wanted to say hi to everyone.”
A collective group of hi’s hit him, and he chuckles before waving goodbye.
I watch him pause and nod to my mother as she walks in. Her smile is polite, but I know the two of them have a long way to go. Do they dislike each other? No, but it's still weird for them.
I get it.
The moment my mother spots all of us, her smile becomes brighter than ever before.
She filed for divorce the day after Grace took over the lodge.
She came clean to all of us that she was waiting until she knew for sure he was going to pass the lodge on to one of us. Like the rest of us, she was completely unaware of the scam my father was trying to pull, but luckily, Preston had our back.
When my mom started bowling with us, we put her on Linc’s team, and they have been winning ever since.
My attention drifts back to Brooke and I can’t help but smile.
We moved Brooke in a week after things blew up with Henry. I see her every single day, and yet, when I set my eyes on her, I can't help but think how lucky I am.
People say don’t rush falling in love, take your time to enjoy it, but I say, fuck that. I want our future to start now, and I don’t want to wait to make her my wife.
I’m proposing tonight.
“Hey,” Brooke says as she walks toward me. I reach out and take her hand, pulling her until she takes a seat on my lap. “What’s going on?” she asks.
“Nothing,” I tell her and turn her face so I can press my lips to hers. I intend for it to be soft and gentle, but it quickly turns passionate, my tongue halfway down her throat.
She pulls back.
“Nothing, huh? That kiss didn’t feel like nothing.”
She leans in to kiss me again, but Linc’s voice stops us.
“Okay, lovebirds, you’re up.”
I stand, grab my ball, and look over my shoulder at Brooke.
“This one is for you, baby.”
“Then get a strike,” she teases.
I chuckle.
“If I don’t, just pretend I did.”
“Oh, come on, Dutton, haven’t you learned by now? I don’t fake anything.”
She leans back, a smirk on her face as she winks at me.
“Oh, I know it,” I say and then let the ball go.
It’s a strike.
Brooke cheers loudly from behind me and when I turn, she’s there to kiss me.
As I said, I’m a lucky, lucky man.
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