25. Final Request
Chapter 25
Final Request
Archer
I was completely relaxed. It was an odd sensation when for so long I’d been laser-focused on my career and proving myself. But things were starting to shift, and I couldn’t keep moonlighting as a lawyer when I had a resort to run.
I continued typing on my laptop, finalizing the details of my departure from Stevenson, Blackwell, it’s a rule): tear down those walls. Not for me, but for yourselves. For what Sterling Pines could be. For the friendship we had that is worth saving.
I love you guys.
-Gavin
P.S. If you’re wondering why this letter came now instead of right away, well, I figured you needed time to remember why you loved each other.
P.S.S. I know the cabin is small, so if you want to find a bigger place, you can, but you still have to live together. The proximity effect is a real thing and if I have to force it, so be it. Sorry, not sorry.
My throat was tight as I looked up from the letter to find both Evan and Liam staring at me with bright eyes.
“Fucking Gavin.” Evan’s voice cracked as he wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. “He’s still the smartest one of us.”
“Always was.” Liam’s attempt at a laugh came out more like a strangled cough. He picked up the phallic paperweight from my desk, turning it over in his hands and examining it like it had all the answers.
I reread the part about my “constipated look,” and despite the emotions threatening to overwhelm me, I had to smile. Gavin had always seen right through me.
I set the letter down carefully, smoothing out a corner that had crumpled. “He’s right about everything. The walls, the pride, all of it.”
Liam cleared his throat. “We lost so much time… I think that’s been the hardest thing for me to realize.”
“We have some good memories, though… remember when he convinced us to steal the dean’s garden gnome?” Evan’s voice was thick with nostalgia. “Said it was ‘liberating it from a life of mundane lawn ornament servitude.’”
Liam snorted. “And then he dressed it up in different outfits and left it in random places around campus for a month.”
“Until security finally caught him trying to pose it on top of the library fountain.” The memory hit me like a physical force. “He talked his way out of trouble by convincing them it was an art project about the commodification of happiness in modern society.”
“That’s because Gavin could sell ice to penguins.” Evan shook his head, a fond smile playing at his lips. “We were drunk off our asses, complaining about having to get jobs after graduation and work for other people, and he just laid out this whole vision and got us to agree to start a business together.”
“And we believed every word because when Gavin believed in something, it was impossible not to believe in it too.” I looked back at the letter he’d written and hope that this would all work out bloomed in my chest.
Liam set down my paperweight. “He believed in us . Even after everything went to shit, even after we all stopped talking, even when he was...” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Dying.” I forced the word out. “He was dying, and instead of telling us, he was plotting ways to force us to fix our friendship.”
Evan’s laugh was watery. “Why have a simple conversation when you can orchestrate an elaborate scheme from beyond?”
The silence that followed was different from our usual tense quiet. It was reflective and heavy, like the moment before a verdict is read—when everything could change with a single word.
“I don’t want to let him down. Not again.” I’d been letting him down for the past three months and had a lot to make up for.
“We won’t.” Liam’s voice held a certainty I hadn’t heard from him since we’d reconnected. “We can’t.”
“So what do we do?” Evan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “How do we... where do we even start?”
I thought about Tessa, about how she’d somehow managed to crack open the doors we’d all slammed shut. About how the resort was starting to feel less like a burden and more like an opportunity. About Gavin’s faith in us.
“We start by being honest.” I met their eyes. “About everything. The resort, our plans, Tessa...”
“Tessa.” Liam’s expression softened at her name. “She’s part of this now, too.”
I stood up, walking to the window that overlooked the snow-covered grounds. The resort Gavin had loved so much spread out before me, full of potential and possibility.
“Then let’s do this right.” I turned back to face them. “For Gavin. For Tessa. For us.”
The nods I received in return held more meaning than any legal contract I’d ever drafted. Gavin had believed in us enough to entrust us with his legacy. The least we could do was prove him right.
We had a second chance at friendship, at success, at happiness. And this time, we weren’t going to waste it.
Tessa wiped down the last of the stainless-steel counters after the Valentine’s Day dinner rush that had left us all slightly delirious. Usually, I thought Valentine’s Day was a complete and utter waste of time, but this year things were different. The resort was at max capacity, the restaurant fully booked, and we now had a reason to celebrate the holiday.
Tessa had returned after a few days away with a small cargo trailer behind her car and moved in above Sweet Cheeks Bakery. It was a small space, but she seemed happy with her decision for now. We were already planning on looking for a bigger space, and when she was ready, she could move in with us.
“Last dish done!” Evan held up a sparkling clean pan like it was Olympic gold.
Liam collected the last of the clean utensils. “Only took you an hour longer than the actual dishwasher would have.”
“Quality over speed, my friend.” Evan grinned, nearly dropping the pan as he attempted to spin it like a basketball. I fought the urge to snatch it from him before he could damage either the pan or himself.
Tessa shook her head, failing to hide her smile as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you for helping to clean up. We had it handled, but it was a nice surprise to let the staff go early.”
“We’re full of surprises.” I pulled a black silk scarf from my pocket.
Her eyebrows shot up. “What are you up to?” She backed away playfully, bumping into Liam, who had strategically positioned himself behind her. His timing was perfect. We had barely discussed the plan, but he read the room flawlessly.
“Trust us?” Liam’s lips brushed against the shell of her ear.
She hesitated only a moment. “Against my better judgment, yes.” Her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
I stepped forward, carefully wrapping the silk blindfold around her eyes. “Too tight?”
“No, it’s perfect.” Her breath hitched as my fingers grazed her neck. “But if you’re planning to murder me, just know there are security cameras everywhere.”
Evan laughed, taking one of her hands while I took the other. “Murder would be terrible for our Yelp reviews.”
We guided her carefully through the resort, taking the service elevator to avoid guests. Liam went ahead to do one final check of our surprise. I found myself grateful for the staff who had helped set everything up while we were busy in the kitchen.
I slowed as we approached the French doors leading to the private glass-enclosed terrace guests could rent out. The sky was clear and a pristine blanket of snow reflected the moonlight. It was perfect—better than I had dared hope for.
“Okay, seriously, where are we going?” Her grip tightened. “Because I’m getting serious horror movie vibes right now.”
“Almost there.” I positioned her in the perfect spot as Liam gave us a thumbs-up from where he stood by the elaborate picnic setup, looking pleased with himself.
Evan squeezed her other hand. “Ready?”
At her nod, I untied the blindfold, letting it fall away slowly. Her sound of surprise was worth every minute of planning.
The terrace had been transformed with strings of warm white lights creating a canopy overhead, each strand perfectly spaced to create a starlit effect. It was a little cooler than inside, but the electric fireplaces made it cozy. Plush pillows and throws were arranged around a low table laden with her favorite desserts from Sweet Cheeks, champagne chilling in an ice bucket, and small plates of chocolates and chocolate-covered strawberries. Beyond the terrace, the lake stretched out like liquid silver under the full moon, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Even I had to admit it looked magical.
“This is...” She took it all in, her voice wavering. “You guys did this for me?” The wonder in her voice made something in my chest knot.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” The words came out in near-perfect unison, making her laugh even as she wiped at her eyes.
“You’re going to make me cry.” Her smile could have outshone all the lights above us.
Evan pulled her toward the picnic setup with his usual enthusiasm. I caught Liam’s eye as we followed, sharing a quiet moment of understanding.
We had spent days planning this together, wanting to show Tessa that she meant more to us than just the woman running the kitchen or sharing our bed. The way she looked at everything with such appreciation made me realize we had achieved exactly what we had hoped for—and perhaps something more.