Epilogue

Epilogue

ASPEN

Icouldn’t help but smile as I looked around the quaint restaurant, all lit up with golden twinkle lights and red and pink hearts decorating the walls for Valentine’s Day.

“You know, for someone who swears he’s not romantic, tonight has been epic,” I said.

Crossland smiled at me from across the small table we sat at before he shook his head. “I think I’m done claiming I’m not romantic,” he said, holding up his champagne flute to me. “It comes naturally with you.”

I clinked my glass against his before we both took a sip, the waiter clearing our plates before we ordered dessert.

It’d been two months since we moved to Bangor, and we’d fallen into this effortlessly wonderful domestic rhythm that I couldn’t help but thrive in.

We were still drawing up plans for my dream coffee-bar-bookshop, and simply enjoying every single second we could together. It’d taken me a hot minute to adjust to not being so close to my sister, but we talked every day, and it helped to know that she was safe and doing what she wanted to do at NYU.

It also helped that it was only a six hour drive when I got to missing her just a little too much. Which had already happened. We’d driven out last week—not wanting to use the jet more than necessary—or a quick visit to see her and catch up with Jesse and the girls.

Crossland had needed the break too, especially since there’d been a learning curve with his new NHL team. It was nothing like Calgary, and he had a whole new roster of people that he was responsible for, but I was so happy to be able to be there for him during the stressful times. He was still getting used to having someone in his corner, just like I was still learning how to be able to depend on him and allow him to help me.

“How did I get so lucky?” I asked Crossland like he was included in the thoughts storming my mind.

“I’m the lucky one, kitten,” he said. “Or at least, I hope to be.”

I furrowed my brow, but then he nodded behind me. “I think the server just dropped your dessert.”

I glanced over my shoulder, hoping that the server was okay, but turned back around when I didn’t see anyone.

Crossland was on one knee before me, an opened red velvet box in his hands, an elegant diamond ring sitting in a bed of white silk.

“Aspen,” he said. “I know how we started off wasn’t the usual way, but that doesn’t change how unquestionably you stole my heart. You’re my best friend, my light when things go dark. You make me want to be better every single day, and you have this incredible way of always knowing how to make me laugh. My days would be so dull without you in them, and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Emotion stalled any coherent reply I might make, and I could only get an unintelligible squeal out as I threw my arms around his neck, nodding profusely.

“Is that a yes?” he asked, standing and pulling me along with him.

I pulled back, smiling at him. “That’s a yes,” I said before kissing him.

I was vaguely aware that the entire restaurant was likely watching the scene, but I couldn’t find an ounce of energy to care. The love of my life had just asked to spend the rest of our lives together, and it meant more to me than I’d ever be able to describe.

Crossland gently set me on my feet before he slid the ring on my finger.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said.

I shook my head. “And all I got you was something to wear.”

“I’m sure I’ll look amazing in it,” he said.

I grinned up at him. “I didn’t say it was for you to wear,” I said. “It’s actually for you to take off.”

His eyes scanned my face. “Are you wearing my present now, kitten?” he asked.

I nodded, a little thrill rushing through me.

“Check, please,” he said to the passing server.

“What about dessert?” I asked teasingly.

He laid a stack of bills on the table that had to be at least three times the check’s amount before grabbing my hand and tugging me out of the restaurant.

“Forget dessert,” he said as we hurried into his car. “I want to see what my fiancée has in store for me.”

“Fiancée,” I said, the word clanging through me, only adding to the bubbly giddiness the night had created.

A night Crossland had curated himself, planning it down to the last detail.

“I love you,” I said as he navigated the streets toward home.

Our home.

“I love you,” he said, reaching over with his free hand to take mine.

We finally made it inside our house, and I felt more at peace than I had in my entire life. And it was in that moment I knew, as the rest of our forever stretched out before us, that it wouldn’t matter if we were in New York or Calgary or Maine or anywhere in between.

Crossland was my home, and it’d never felt sweeter.

THE END

Thank you so much for reading! It means the world to me that you picked up this story!

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