Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
SAGE
The trees are turning glorious colors day to day, and the crisp feel of autumn is in the air. Life has changed in a short time, but I don't want it to be any different.
Jade walks over to me, our friends Dara and Reena following behind her, and I give them all a smile.
It's been a long time since I was in one place long enough to feel like I had actual friends, and it's been healing.
Not only did I find the love of my life, but we're building a found family of our own, with people who truly care about us.
I thought I'd miss the constant travel, but it turns out, having a home and someone who's happy to see me every day was the piece I didn't realize I was searching for.
I'm not lonely anymore. And frankly, it's really hard to feel lonely when the gorgeous man sleeping next to you believes that waking you up with an amazing orgasm is his favorite kind of breakfast.
"The piece you wrote about the town's seasonal festivals has gotten a lot of people calling. Marla let us know when we stopped in at her store that they've already gotten tons of reservations at the B&B."
I smile, feeling good about the work I'm doing here. And not just for the resort, but the community as a whole. There are a lot of good people that make this place special. The spa, gourmet restaurant and good-looking hiking guides are just the icing on the cake.
"I'm glad. Marla and everyone else have been putting so much work into these festivals that I really wanted to showcase them. When I was asked to write a piece about small town joys, it was the perfect opportunity to highlight what they've accomplished."
"Any chance you can write one highlighting the wedding options here? The reservations are picking up, but not as quickly as they could. I'm sure between your words and Dara's photographs, this place will be booked out in no time."
I laugh, enjoying the easy camaraderie we share and we move inside, Reena telling us all about how she tried to spend a day working with Porter doing all his lumberjack things and she had to tap out by two in the afternoon.
"I know he's strong, but when you're really in the middle of it all, that work is just exhausting."
The doors to the restaurant open as we approach and I'm laughing so much I don't realize anything is different until my friends step to the side, leaving me alone in the center of the full dining room. Alone, of course, except for Barrett, down on one knee, a black velvet box held out in his hand.
My throat goes tight seeing him there and I can already feel the tears threatening to spill out of my eyes.
"Sage, you have made me the happiest man in the world.
Finding you in the forest was meant to be and I'd do it all over again every dang day if I had to, from carrying you through the woods to giving you my shirt.
I wouldn't hesitate if it meant I got to wake up beside you and see your beautiful smile. "
The women gathered around us all make sounds of adorable awe, but I don't take my eyes off the man I love.
"I love you with all my heart. So my sweet Sage, will you marry me?"
The room goes silent and it's almost like everyone's holding their breath. Like there's a small part of them that's afraid I'll say no.
As if that was ever a possibility.
"Of course I will. I'd marry you tomorrow if we could."
He laughs, sliding a glittering ring on my finger that I only now realize has amethysts arrayed around a large central diamond that catches the light as my hand moves.
"You remembered?" I melt against him as he pulls me in for a kiss in front of all our friends. "You remembered my favorite color is purple."
"I remember everything about you, sweetheart. And it would've been hard not to notice when we were unpacking how many purple sweaters you had. And sweatshirts. T-shirts. Socks."
We're both laughing now, and it feels good to be this free. This loved. This special.
And when the guests swarm us, shouting their congratulations, it feels really good to be part of something bigger than just the two of us.
Chef pushes through the throng, reminding everyone he's made a cake for us and that we need a chance to taste his hard work, clearing a path for us to the main table where the stunning confection is waiting for us to cut it.
"This is amazing!" I gasp, seeing the complex design he created that features our cabin and the clearing around it, with our favorite boulder sitting near the edge and there are even golden lights somehow hovering in the stand of trees, just like the fireflies we watched on our first night together.
"Wait until you see what I have in mind for your wedding cake," he says gruffly. "Now that will really be amazing."
Silas and Helen take over from us after we make the first slice together, and I can't miss the longing way Silas watches the pretty guest concierge as she chats with everyone who takes one of the plates she's holding out.
"What do you think about that?" I ask, tipping my head toward the two of them, and Barrett just laughs. "It's obvious, isn't it?"
"Sage, love, this is our moment. There's plenty of time to write their story after we celebrate the fact that you agreed to marry me."
I nod, pressing a kiss to his lips. He's right. There's time.
But as I give a final look over my shoulder, I have a really good feeling.
And a really good idea for how I can pass this kind of love along to others.
My friends join us, their hugs and cheers warming me as they crow about the surprise they managed to keep a secret for so long.
The four of us have our work to do and soon enough, this whole town and the mountain itself is going to be the destination people come to when they want to fall in love.
THE END