Epilogue

R uby

The sun is shining so brightly over Copper Mountain that it feels like the whole town is basking in some sort of golden glow. I don't know if it's just the excitement of the day or the fact that Pope's standing so close to me, but there's a warmth in the air that goes beyond the summer heat.

"Ready?" Pope asks, his voice low and rough, but there's a softness there too. It always sneaks in when he's talking to me, like no matter how gruff he tries to be, he can't help but let that tender side show.

I nod, gripping the oversized scissors a little tighter. "Ready as I'll ever be."

The whole town's out here for the ribbon-cutting, and I mean the whole town. You can't walk five feet without someone stopping to chat or congratulate us. Pope's brothers—Archer, Arrow, Barron, Judge, Creed, King, Knox, and Cruz—are all spread out, looking ridiculously handsome and rugged, just like Pope, as if the Steele family could be a lineup for a lumberjack calendar. Even Betty from the Copper Country Café is standing front and center, arms crossed, a knowing grin on her face like she's the proud matchmaker of the century.

"You look a little too pleased with yourself, Betty," I call out, giving her a teasing smirk as I approach the ribbon. She waves a hand, but her smile only grows.

"I knew it, honey! I knew you two were perfect together," she says with a wink. "First Barron, then Knox, now Pope; I'll get the rest of these boys married off if it's the last thing I do!"

Her words send a ripple of laughter through the crowd, but Pope doesn't budge beside me. He's steady as ever, his hand a solid presence on the small of my back. It's a reminder that he's here—always here. And that's a feeling I never thought I'd have.

The scissors snap through the ribbon with a clean snip , and cheers erupt from the townspeople. It feels surreal, like all the hard work, the long nights, the moments I thought this library—and maybe even Pope and I—might not make it, have all been worth it.

But just as I'm about to turn and welcome everyone inside, Pope raises his hand, cutting through the noise. My heart stutters. What's he doing?

"I've got something to say before anyone goes in," Pope announces, his deep voice carrying easily over the crowd. The noise dies down instantly, and all eyes are on him. Including mine. There's something in his tone, something that makes my stomach flip in anticipation.

He steps forward, his hand slipping from my back as he turns to face the crowd. "Y'all know me," he starts, his voice gruff but warm. "I'm not much for speeches, but today's not just about this library." He pauses, and the crowd shifts, curious.

I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. He's going off-script here, and I have no idea where he's headed. But then his eyes find mine, and that familiar heat rushes up my neck. He's up to something.

"When I started working on this library," Pope continues, his eyes never leaving mine, "I thought it was just another project. Just wood and nails. But then Ruby came along. And she made me realize that life's a lot like building—piece by piece, moment by moment. Sometimes, you've got a plan, and other times, something—or someone—comes along and flips everything upside down."

The crowd chuckles softly, but I'm standing there frozen, my heart hammering in my chest. Is he…?

"And when that happens," Pope says, his voice lowering, softening in that way that's just for me, "you don't fight it. You don't build walls. You let them in, because they're the thing you didn't know you were missing."

And then he drops to one knee.

My breath catches, and I hear gasps ripple through the crowd. Pope pulls out a small box from his pocket, flipping it open to reveal the most beautiful, ridiculous, shining ring I've ever seen.

"Ruby," he says, his deep voice steady, though I can see the emotion in his eyes, "I never thought I'd be the kind of man to stand here and say this, but here I am. You've changed me. You've made me want a future I didn't even know I needed. You've broken down all the walls I spent years building, and now, I'm hellbent on being your knight in shining armor. Forever."

He holds the ring up, the sunlight catching on the diamond, making it sparkle even more. "Will you marry me?"

My hand flies to my mouth, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I feel like the whole world's stopped spinning. The crowd is holding its breath, waiting for me to speak, but all I can do is nod—frantically.

"Yes," I finally whisper, and then louder, "Yes, Pope. Yes!"

Before I know it, he's slipping the ring onto my finger, and I'm throwing myself into his arms. He catches me easily, his strong arms wrapping around me as he lifts me off the ground and spins me around. The crowd erupts into cheers, louder than before, but all I can focus on is him—the feel of him, the scent of him, the solidness of him beneath my hands.

He sets me down gently, his forehead resting against mine as we both catch our breath. The world around us fades into the background, and it's just us, standing in front of the library we built together, ready to build the rest of our lives.

"I love you," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Pope murmurs, his lips brushing mine. "Always."

Our lips meet in a kiss that's slow and deep, filled with everything we've been through, everything we've built, and everything we're going to be. The crowd cheers even louder, but I barely hear them. It's just us. It's always been just us.

"Get a room!" someone calls out, followed by a wave of laughter, but Pope just smirks against my lips, deepening the kiss for a moment longer before pulling back.

"Don't tempt me," he mutters, his voice rough with desire. I laugh, wiping the tears from my cheeks, feeling lighter than I've ever felt before.

From the front of the crowd, I spot Betty dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, looking every bit like the proud matchmaker she claims to be.

"Young love," she says wistfully, her voice carrying over the crowd as she shakes her head. "I called it! I knew it."

Pope chuckles beside me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders as he pulls me close. "Betty's gonna take all the credit for this, isn't she?" he murmurs.

I laugh, leaning into him. "She can take all the credit she wants. I've got everything I need right here."

As the crowd begins to filter into the library, Pope and I hang back for a moment, watching them go. The library's doors swing open, welcoming everyone in, and I feel this sense of completion wash over me. Not just about the library, but about everything.

We've built something strong, something that will stand the test of time. And I know, deep down, that Pope and I are the same. We're built to last.

I glance up at him, catching his eye, and he gives me that half-smile that always makes my heart race.

"Ready to build the rest of our lives together?" I ask, my voice teasing but full of promise.

Pope grins, pulling me in for another kiss. "Hell yeah," he murmurs against my lips. "Let's get started."