EPILOGUE
MADISON
ONE YEAR SINCE THE FALL
It’s wild how much of your life can change in a year.
I’ve grown, I’ve healed, and I’ve faced parts of myself I didn’t think I could.
And through it all, Hunter has been by my side.
Always. We’re a team now, and I can’t imagine doing life with anyone else.
Hell, I never even thought I could. He loves me loudly.
He supports me in ways I didn’t know I needed, and dear God, he gives me the kind of orgasms most girls only dream about.
The first week of summer is here, and with it comes our annual barbecue down at Falls Creek.
The guys suggested we skip it this year, celebrate the start of the season at home—something lowkey, just us—but I shook my head.
I appreciate what they’re trying to do. None of us wants to relive last year, but after countless therapy sessions, slow nights with Hunter at our spot, long shifts at the bar, and days spent with my girls, I know I need to do this. I need to face my fear head-on.
Some nights, the nightmares hit too hard, pressing down on me like a weight I can’t lift.
The fall. Hunter’s hand, reaching for me.
The crack, still echoing in my mind. I refuse to let Falls Creek hold the darkest memory of my life.
I refuse to fear it, to avoid it any longer.
I want to face it, and I want to do it with the people who have carried me through this last year.
I want to do it for them, too, so that when they look at this place, they don’t see me falling.
They see the proof that we can overcome anything. Together.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tessa asks, glancing at me as I pack a bag full of wine and snacks.
“Hunter and I have already talked about it a million times,” I say, zipping the bag closed. “We knew today was coming, and I’m ready. I haven’t wanted to go back to Falls Creek since I woke up in the hospital, but this feels right. I think it’ll be good for all of us. To move on, you know?”
“She’s put her foot down,” Halle says, coming up behind me with another bag of snacks. She smirks. “I think we all just have to go with it now.”
I grin at her. “See? She gets it.”
“Momma Claire and Hank coming down?” Sarah asks as she grabs Remi’s hat from the kitchen table, the one the boys forgot to grab when they took him with them.
“No.” I shake my head. “Mom’s on night shift at the hospital, so she’ll be asleep, and Hank said he’d rather not be around a bunch of adults acting like children. I’ll see them tonight for dinner.”
“I still can’t believe your mom and Hank are living together… and eloped,” Tessa says.
I laugh, my heart leaping. “I can. I knew those two would be perfect together, and I think Katy did too. That’s why she loved my mom so much and why she always had Hank around when Mom was her nurse on shift.”
Halle chuckles. “Makes sense. It’s crazy how the universe works.”
My phone pings, and I grab it, heart skipping when I see his name on the screen.
Hunter: Baby girl. Please tell me you girls are walking down.
Hunter: I miss you.
Hunter: And I need saving from Connor.
Hunter: Why aren’t you replying?
Hunter: BABBBYYYY SAVE ME!!!!!
A laugh bursts out of me, loud and uncontrollable, and I have to clamp a hand over my mouth. I hold my phone up, showing the girls Hunter’s texts.
“I’m not related to him,” Halle mutters, rolling her eyes as she heads for the door.
That only makes us laugh harder, and I clutch my stomach, trying to catch my breath. We follow her outside, sunlight hitting our faces, the warm air wrapping around us. My thumbs fly over the screen as we walk down the street.
Me: We’re coming now. Don’t be such a baby.
Me: Also… how can you possibly miss me?? You were just inside me an hour ago.
His reply comes instantly.
Hunter: Damn straight I was and I can’t wait to be back inside you. Fucking love your pussy.
Heat floods my face so fast, it makes my head spin. I choke on a breath, nearly tripping over my own feet as I lock my phone and shove it into my bag.
My pulse drums in my ears as we step onto the dirt path, sticks crunching under my shoes. Halle links her arm through mine, steadying me, and I take in a deep breath.
“You okay?” she asks.
I nod, not trusting myself with words, and we keep walking.
The rush of the creek and the roar of the waterfall fill the air, mingling with the squeals of kids darting through the shallows and the splashes of locals running in.
The sunlight dances across the water, and the air carries that crisp, earthy scent.
I expect my body to tense, to recoil in panic, but it doesn’t.
Instead, it comes alive. A smile stretches across my face. This place… this is home.
“Madi!”
My name cuts through the noise. I scan the park, heart lifting when I spot Charlie sprinting toward me.
“Charlie girl,” I call, arms wide.
She throws herself into my hug, tiny arms wrapping around me.
“Are you having fun?” I ask, holding her at arm’s length to look at her face.
“So much fun! I’m going to eat ice cream now,” she says, grinning.
“Charlie, come on,” her dad calls from across the park, waving. I wave back, squeezing her one last time.
“See you later,” I say, letting her go.
We wander over to the table the guys have snagged for us and drop our bags. Sarah scoops Remi up from where he’s playing with Ace, plopping his hat on his head with a grin.
“You ready for this?” Hunter whispers into my ear, his arms wrapping around my shoulders, pulling me close into his chest.
Feeling the steady beat of his heart against my back, I inhale, exhale, and nod. “Let’s do this.”
Peeling off my shirt and shorts, I stand in my blue bikini. Hunter groans, biting his lip, and pulls his own shirt over his head.
“No time like the present, baby. Let’s go face our fears,” he says.
One by one, everyone steps forward, hugging me, wishing me luck. Their support wraps around me like a shield. I glance at Hunter, squeeze his hand, and let him lead me up the path to the lookout.
We pause for a second when we reach the spot where I fell. A sturdy railing has been built into the trail, and the tension in my shoulders loosens knowing that no one has to go through what I did. Hunter’s fingers brush over mine, and I nod, not wanting to linger.
The view from the lookout steals the breath right out of my chest. I forgot how stunning it is up here.
Water stretches wide and endless below us, the waterfall thundering as it crashes into the creek.
Our crew stands knee-deep in the shallows, eyes lifted, waiting.
The sun kisses my skin, and I smile at Hunter, adrenaline washing through me.
“Ready to leap with me?” I ask.
“Been ready, baby.” He threads his fingers through mine. “I’ll catch you. Promise.”
We step up to the rocky ledge, my toes curling, gripping the surface.
“On three,” he calls over the roar of the water.
“ONE. TWO. THREE.”
We jump.
My stomach lurches, and my heart slams against my ribs as the wind whips past us. Hunter’s hand never leaves mine. For a split second, the world disappears. It’s just him, me, and the rush of air between us. I scream, and he screams right along with me.
The water surges up fast, cold and shocking, stealing the breath from my lungs as we hit. I break the surface, gasping, eyes wide, and the first thing I see is Hunter. He’s grinning, water streaming down his face, and I can’t stop myself. I giggle, breathless and wild.
“We did it!” I shout.
He tugs me close, my legs wrapping around his waist as his hands slide into my hair, holding me there like he always does.
“Marry me!” he yells.
“Wh-what?” My eyes widen as we tread water.
“Madison Taylor,” he says, as his chest heaves. “Will you marry me?”
My heart leaps, reaching for his.
“Oh my god. Yes!” I shout, crashing my lips to his. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
He spins us in the water, turning us toward everyone waiting in the shallows.
“She said yes!” he yells.
Shouts, cheers, laughter, and whistles crash over us, but they fade into the background. All I see is him. All I feel is this: the rush of water, his arms around me, the heat of his gaze.
Loving him is the best leap I’ve ever taken.