Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Fourteen Months Later

Sawyer

"I'm starving," Brooks said as he took a seat at my picnic table. "Tell me that Ash is making those burgers stuffed with pepper jack cheese again. Those were life-changing."

Wind ruffled Skylar's hair. "I thought the curry chicken wings were life-changing."

"Those too," Brooks said, patting his stomach. "Between Ash and Vera, I have to exercise twice as much to keep this body up to Skylar standards."

Skylar smacked his stomach. "Don't be silly. I didn't fall for your body."

"No?"

"It was just a nice perk," he said with a grin.

"Well, I'm just waiting for winter, so we can get those blackberry-glazed ribs again," Fisher said.

He and Hudson had arrived just ahead of Brooks and Skylar, and Poppy showed up right after them.

Ash's mom was already here too, but she was inside prepping some potato salad while Ash supervised.

My mom couldn't make it. Someone had to run the kitchen at the resort, even as we headed into the off season.

But Shua and their mom—and her newest boyfriend, who seemed like a decent guy this time—came over too.

Shua carried Raphael, the turtle. They'd managed to turn the dang thing into a pet after all. It hung around our campers munching lettuce, and Shua had even persuaded their mom to house Raph during the winter months.

"What is Ash making?" Poppy asked.

"Maybe I'm grilling tonight," I said. "Did any of you think of that?"

My friends all exchanged dismayed looks.

"Oh, shoot, I think I forgot I have other plans," Brooks said.

"Oh, right! That thing!" Fisher exclaimed, half standing. "I totally forgot."

I flipped them all the bird. "Fuck you all. I should grill tonight just to serve you right."

Ash came out of the trailer just then, and there was a group exhalation of relief.

"Ash, please don't let him feed us," Shua joked.

The wiseass was really growing into their sarcastic years.

I jabbed a finger their way. "Do you want me to cancel your next surf lesson?"

Shua raised their hands. "Just kidding! I love your food. It's the best."

"Lies," I grumbled.

"Aw, it's okay, babe." Ash wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple. "We all have our strengths. Yours just happens to be out in the water."

He waggled his eyebrows playfully, alluding to the day we'd spent out on the boat. We'd gone skinny dipping in a secluded spot, kissed for hours, and finally fucked on the deck.

It was sort of a last hurrah, because the season was beginning to shift to fall. Soon, it would be too cold for outdoor shenanigans.

We'd have to get a room at the resort the next time we wanted to get all wet together. But that was okay. We worked for wages during the off-season, tucking away every cent for the day we could afford to buy a larger house.

Shua, oblivious to Ash's true meaning about my talents in the water, started talking excitedly about the more challenging wakeboarding I'd just let them try for the first time. In addition to running Swallow Adventures with Hudson—and launching water-sport tours—I'd taken on a few students for regular lessons. Shua was the first to sign up, though they got the family rate—aka free—so it hadn't really amounted to much beyond them enthusiastically telling everyone they knew how awesome I was.

But hey, good reviews were priceless.

Ash had dealt with Rick's petty bullshit reviews for two weeks before Skylar and Vera managed to get Google to take them down and ban the offending accounts.

He'd eventually gotten too preoccupied with his criminal case and divorce proceedings to worry about a vendetta against Ash.

Julian had taken Ash's advice at the marina event, and he'd gotten a lawyer and taken a plea deal for his role in the hit-and-run.

Rick had squirmed out of any serious charges for obstructing justice, but the accident victim sued him, and with testimony from me, won a big-ass judgment.

The DreamBoats hadn't been able to withstand the scandal and the lawsuit. It closed down, the boats were sold off, and Rick was now as penniless as Ash's mom had been when they met.

He'd crawled off under some rock to lick his wounds, and as extra icing on the cake, that stupid Skyline casino plan had stalled again when it lost its latest investor.

We'd gotten on with our lives. Ash and his mom had never been closer, and she'd recently started dating a guy she met at the resort.

He didn't live here, but he was close enough to come up most weekends.

Ash stepped up to the grill, placing marinated chicken breasts onto it. He'd stuffed them with cream cheese because as he liked to say, butter and cheese were the key to all delicious things.

I was pretty sure we'd all agree that Ash was a key ingredient as well.

My friends continued to trash-talk my previous grilling, talking up the suffering they'd gone through to be my friends.

I took the roasting with grace. After all, they could brag on Ash's cooking till the cows came home.

It washed over me like praise. What did I have to be sad about? My boyfriend was gorgeous, sexy, talented—and mine.

I tipped up my beer with a smirk. They should all be so lucky.

Ash grilled the chicken sliders to perfection, of course. The spicy slaw topping was a hit with everyone.

We sat around the picnic table, eating greedily, only exchanging a few words as we dug in.

"Hey, where's Cash?" Fisher suddenly asked.

Poppy snorted. "Did it take you this long to notice he wasn't here?"

"Nooo…"

Brooks laughed. "His ego would be so hurt."

Fisher rolled his eyes. "I was just distracted."

"With fondling Hudson," Ash said with a laugh.

I grimaced because the boss and my friend? Still kind of weird. I was used to them being a couple, but Fisher had been extra touchy-feely tonight.

"I can't help it," Fish said. "Ever since he became my husband, I just can't get enough of this man."

They'd had a winter wedding at the resort with all of us in attendance. Fisher's mom had cried openly. Fisher's dad had tried to hide his tears, turning away and sniffing so loudly no one could have missed them. He'd once hated Hudson, but he'd accepted him into the family for his son's sake.

Fisher grasped Hudson's face and laid a big old sloppy kiss on him in front of all of us.

"Ew," Shua said while Hudson blushed.

"I agree," I said.

Shua rolled their eyes. "You and Ash are just as gross."

Skylar laughed. "Busted."

Shua shot them a look. "You're all kinda gross."

"Shua!" their mom said. "Men can love men?—"

"That's not what I mean," Shua said. "You and Jake are gross too."

Everyone exchanged a guilty look with their partners. All except Poppy. She nudged Shua.

"I know exactly what you mean. Love . Ick."

They grinned at each other in solidarity.

As aromantic and asexual, Poppy wasn't interested in the kind of relationships most of my friends had now. She wanted a companion, a best friend who could be a partner in life, but nothing more.

"Cash is over at the B&B with Declan, but he'll be here for dessert," Ash said. "He made me promise to save him some of the cheesecake I made earlier."

Brooks groaned. "Marry me, Ash."

"Hey," Skylar complained. "I'm sitting right here."

"Marry us , Ash," Brooks said quickly.

I wrapped an arm around my man, holding him close.

"No way. He's mine."

"Possessive much?" Ash asked.

I shrugged. "Yep. Took me long enough to get you. I'm not giving you up now or ever."

He grinned and kissed me, eyes bright. "Good answer."

"Get a room!" Mel called, emerging from the trees with her boyfriend, Lakin.

"Hey!" I jumped up to grab an extra couple of plates. "I didn't know you two were coming."

She stopped. "Uh-oh. Did Ash not tell you?"

"Nah, but that's okay." I put down the plates and hugged Mel. "You're always welcome."

"Good, because you know me. I'll barge in whether I'm welcome or not."

I laughed. "Yeah, I remember."

Once, Mel had barged right in as I'd come out of the shower butt naked. That had been an awkward day.

"Wow, I see why Ash wants to spend all his time in bed with you," she'd said without an ounce of embarrassment.

Ash had come in behind her and clapped a hand over her eyes while I scrambled for a towel.

But hey, what's a little nudity between three exes, right?

Yeah, it was still weird. Fortunately, Mel started knocking after that—and generally, she didn't come over without an invitation.

But weirdly, that day had also solidified our friendship. Mel wasn't just my ex—or someone I had to put up with for Ash's sake.

She was a good enough friend to see me naked, make a joke about it, and move on like it never happened.

I never would have imagined how well Ash's life and my life would fit. How well all our loved ones, especially Mel , would blend into one big family.

But it had been seamless. I guess most things in this world work out if they're meant to be.

Ash sat close and pressed his knee against mine as we made room for two more at the picnic table. There were too many of us, really, and we were cramped.

Just like we'd be cramped in our tiny camper later tonight—at least until we managed to buy a bigger place in a couple of years.

But this place was home. Ash, my friends, Shua. They were all my family.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Will Cash finally get Declan's attention? What's happening with the B&B? Find out in Resting Beach Face !

Curious about Sawyer's older brother? Read his story in The Snuggle is Real up in Christmas Falls—and you'll get an extra cameo from Sawyer and Ash when they visit!