Epilogue

Three years later

It had taken Nate a long time to realise that not all secrets were bad. Or kept quiet because of shame and guilt. Some were actually the best things ever.

Eloise stirred next to him, her long hair hiding her face as she burrowed into his chest. A soft sigh coasted across his skin and pure contentedness—something he’d once thought wasn’t ever going to happen for him—surrounded him. The alarm clock next to the bed highlighted the early hour.

Today was a big day.

Bigger than Eloise’s Master of Art Therapy graduation and the party that he and KPs had thrown celebrating her.

Bigger than his debut football romance, The Comeback Route, hitting The New York Times Best Seller list.

Bigger than attending a premiere for the second season of the smash hit show based on his Smoky Mountain Killers series.

Today was the day his biggest dream was coming true and the best bit? His forever best friend was right by his side. Snoring lightly, which was totally fucking adorable.

Nate shifted carefully so as to not disturb Eloise and reached for his phone on the bedside table. He’d planned everything right down to the tiniest details. He couldn’t fully plot a book because he always got bored, but this? A proposal for the perfect woman? He’d almost done an Owen and used spreadsheets. With nowhere to be for hours yet, he relaxed back into the bed and settled in to do one of his favourite things.

“Are you watching me sleep again?” It was like Eloise was pressing her words right into his body. Every syllable matched the thrum of his heart. Because that’s how essential Eloise had become—had always been, really—to his happiness.

“Tiger, I could watch you?—”

She rose on to her elbows, and he congratulated himself for not looking away from her face when the sheet fell to her waist. It was a good thing, too, because he would’ve missed Eloise roll her eyes, her lips twisting into the smile he wanted to see every minute of every day.

“Stare into space for hours and not get bored. I’ve heard this story before. You’re pretty smooth when you want to be, Mr James.”

He could do it now. Ask her to be his wife, to become Mrs James. Although, he didn’t care if she took his name. Eloise had his heart and that was all that mattered. Whatever adventures the world had in store for them, they’d face them together. Just like they had for the last three years. Whether it was road tripping around the US in an RV for three months once Eloise had finished her exchange or spending days cuddled up on the couch ignoring the world while they watched old sitcoms and sketched or supporting each other while they tried new things. Turns out taking chances wasn’t so scary when your best friend was always there with a hand to hold and to offer a safe space to land.

But he wasn’t going to be that guy. Their engagement story wouldn’t begin with ‘so we were in bed’. Not when Eloise deserved so much more. And Teddy would dine out on it forever, even if he was captain of Team Love Is The Best Thing Ever these days.

“I mean”—Nate flipped Eloise onto her back and climbed on top of her—“I’d rather watch you do something else …”

“Like some drawing?” she asked as she shifted underneath him, her legs widening, encouraging him to nestle in even closer.

Nate pretended to consider her response. “Not quite.”

“Oh? Perhaps make some bread for later?” The innocent expression on Eloise’s face made Nate grin. He leant forward and kissed her, groaning against her lips when she nipped at his mouth, her hands slipping under his boxers, gripping his ass.

“Promise me something?” he asked when they broke apart.

“Always,” she replied immediately. Hopefully that was a good indicator of what her answer would be later.

“Be as loud as you can.” Nate winked and slid down her body, hooking her legs over his shoulders.

* * *

Who saidyou couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks? Nate and Echo had been working on this for the last six months. “Give this to Tiger,” he said, and the golden retriever took the envelope he was holding out.

“For me? What’s this? You’re such a clever, clever girl.” Eloise rubbed Echo’s head when she pushed her nose into her lap.

“I thought we could do something different today,” he said, sitting next to Eloise, loving how she immediately nestled into his side, her free hand resting on his thigh. Between her full schedule at KPs—surprising no one, her art therapy sessions had become so popular they’d had to hire a new social worker so Eloise could focus solely on them—and his busy writing career, they hadn’t had much downtime lately.

“That sounds perfect. Should I open this now?” Eloise held up the little envelope that was only marginally covered in dog slobber. He probably could’ve thought that part of the plan through a bit better, but Echo was an important member of their family. Including her in this big moment had been a no-brainer.

“Please.”

He held his breath as Eloise tore it open and flattened out the note inside.

Once upon a time, two friends fell in love. Let’s start our day by visiting the place where we first really got to know each other.

“Did you make me a scavenger hunt?”

Nate brushed the loose tendrils off Eloise’s face and kissed her forehead. He’d never get over the fact that he got to be with her and touch her like this. “I did.”

“You spoil me,” Eloise said.

“Nah,” Nate replied. “It’s nothing less than you deserve.”

* * *

The art roomlooked the same as normal except in the corner where big sheets of plastic hung over the door to the new extension. Eloise smiled as she stepped through the door Nate held open. The faintest whiff of fresh paint hung in the big space, and an easel was set up in the middle, a sheet of cream-coloured paper already in place and a box of her preferred charcoals waiting.

“Seems only fair you get to be the first person to create something in here.” Nate linked their hands together and led her past the couch they’d donated from their house and the other boxes of supplies she hadn’t had a chance to unpack yet. Thinking about everything that needed to happen before the grand opening next week made her head hurt a little bit but today wasn’t about that. It was about the man in front of her doing his best to make her smile. Just like he did every day.

“But what are you going to do while I draw?” she asked.

Nate dropped her hands and looped his arm around her shoulder, twisting her slightly. “I’m going to build the bookshelves because I know you’re itching to get this place set up properly.”

“That hardly seems fair,” Eloise murmured, doing her best not to get lost in his eyes. But like always when she was caught in the full weight of Nate’s attention, she wanted nothing more than to set up camp and stay there forever.

“Today’s all about you, Tiger.”

An idea appeared in her mind. Something that Joanie had been saying for years. Eloise licked her lips, and Nate’s gaze darkened.

“I know that look,” he said. “Come on then. Out with it.”

“I’m going to feel bad if I’m relaxing and you’re doing all the hard work. So bad I probably won’t be able to come up with a single thing to draw.”

Nate scoffed, and she loved how he wasn’t buying what she was selling. How he knew she was teasing him.

“And that got me thinking. You know what we’ve never done here?”

Not that. They’d done that in her office a couple of times. Always with the door locked and the blinds drawn and when the main homestead was empty because everyone was outside at one of KP’s events. Let’s just say she and Nate had missed the New Year’s fireworks on more than one occasion.

“Does that door lock?” She kept her tone even as she fluttered her eyelashes at Nate. So much of their early relationship had been full of angst and uncertainty. Being well and truly in their safe, committed, fun era was so much better.

“It does.”

“And all the blinds were installed last week.” They were even down right now. Really, it couldn’t be more perfect.

Nate put his hands on his hips. “What are you thinking?”

“I’d quite like to try my hand at drawing a nude. I’ve never done that before.”

Nate’s laugh boomed around the room. “Let me guess. I’m the one getting naked?”

She tapped her fingers against her lips. “You did say it was all about me today …” Eloise’s voice trailed off when Nate pulled his shirt over his head. He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out another little envelope, tossing it to her. “This is for after,” he said.

“On the couch, please,” she replied and picked up a piece of charcoal.

* * *

“Huh.”Eloise paused in the doorway of the dance studio. She hadn’t been here since the disastrous lessons for Charlie and Sera’s wedding. “Why are we here?”

She lifted the second note he’d given her and read it again.

Let’s go back in time and get in formation.

Nate’s hand brushed her hip as he walked into the room and over to where the big speaker was. She waited while he connected his phone, some of her confusion about why he’d brought her here disappearing when Nate’s favourite album started to play. It was the Spanish guitar one that he’d first introduced her to at the meet-the-families dinner her parents’ had hosted.

“I always hated being here,” he said, turning back towards her.

“It’s not my favourite place either.” And there were lots of different reasons why. Firstly, watching Nate dance with Bianca hadn’t been fun, and then there’d been that whole drama with Ryan too.

“But I figured if we were going to do a trip down memory lane, it couldn’t just be all the good stuff because that’s not real life, is it?” Nate held his hands out to her, and she let him pull her into his arms. “And it’s a really good opportunity to fix something too. Maybe make a new memory here.”

“Please don’t make me attempt that choreographed dance,” she whispered.

“Pretty sure everyone remembers how terrible I was at that,” he murmured softly and repositioned their bodies so they were in a standard dancing position. “But I did always want to dance with you when we were here. No one else.”

“I wanted to dance with you too.”

It could barely be described as a dance. Not really. It was more of a shuffle. But she was in Nate’s arms, and his heart was beating nice and steady under her cheek.

“You get all my dances from now on.” Nate’s words washed over her and Eloise blinked back the sudden moisture in her eyes.

Now would be a good time to tell him what she’d been thinking for a while. That even though the last few years had been amazing and she wouldn’t change them for the world, she was ready for change. They’d spent a lot of time talking about kids. How it would be possible. What they both wanted and were comfortable with. And they’d come up with a pretty perfect solution. Well, as perfect a solution can be when it involves talking to your partner about his brothers’ sperm. Rafferty, Owen and Teddy had all volunteered to donate sperm, and they’d decided to try IVF but never know whose sample had been used. Their baby would still be a part of Nate—something that was very important to them both—because he was a part of his brothers. And while the thought of all the needles terrified her, Eloise would do anything if it meant they could be parents. Besides, Nate would be right beside her, helping her face her fears.

The song they were dancing to finished, and she looked up at Nate. Saw all the love shining in his eyes and suddenly, she just knew. She’d suspected it this morning when Echo had given her the first note, but now, as contentment and peace spread throughout her body, it was clear Nate wanted to talk to her about something big, too.

“Ready for the last stop on today’s magical mystery tour?” he asked softly.

Eloise pushed up onto her toes and drew him into a long, slow kiss. “Ready,” she said, and Nate handed her another envelope.

Take me to the place that’s just ours.

* * *

Of course,it was the Nate Space. Nate insisted on calling it their space, but for Eloise? The Nate Space was how she’d always think of this special place. Really, she’d fallen in love with him the first time he showed it to her. Trusted her with such a significant part of his secret life.

The creek bubbled behind them, and birds sang to each other softly as leaves rustled in the gentle wind. Echo was waiting on the verandah next to a picnic basket and an ice bucket filled with her ciders and some of the beers that Nate liked.

God, she hoped her suspicions were correct and the biggest promises of their lives were waiting inside.

But Nate paused on the bottom step, and Eloise stopped next to him. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, and there was something in his voice. Not worry exactly. But something she couldn’t quite place. They’d worked so hard to get to where they were now. As a couple. As individuals. In their professional careers. Her training kicked in, and she remembered it was only natural to need a minute when everything was about to change. It was just as natural to want to reassure him. “I’m going to choose you every day, you know,” she said, and Nate relaxed next to her, his breath puffing out on a small laugh.

“Sit still with me for a bit?” he asked.

Eloise nodded and they climbed to the verandah in silence. When Nate sat on the top step and opened his arms, she settled onto his lap.

“I thought a lot about this,” Nate said. “Trying to find the right words to offer you in this moment. But all I could think of was this: I promise to love you with everything I have forever.” When his voice broke, she squeezed his hand even tighter. “I promise to do my best every day to support you and your dreams. I promise to hold your hand when things are tough. And if I can protect you from any pain, big or small, I promise I always will.”

Eloise sniffed and wiped her eyes. Waited for the words she’d first dreamt of hearing as a young teenager.

“Will you marry me?”

Later when she told this story, she’d downplay the way she yelled “yes” so loud it scared some birds from the trees around the Nate Space. But she didn’t care. She was too busy kissing every part of Nate’s face that she could reach. His forehead, his cheeks, his nose, excitement and pure joy bubbling through her veins. When their gazes met, she opened her mouth to speak, but Nate whistled, distracting her.

“Echo, bring it to me.”

Her gaze whipped towards Echo. The dog stood and picked up a velvet pouch that Eloise hadn’t noticed before.

“Joan helped me pick this,” Nate said as Echo dropped the pouch in his hand. Knowing Nate had included her grandmother in such a special moment brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes. He opened a ring box and pulled out a white gold ring with an oval diamond. “But if you want to change it for something else, that’s okay with me but you have to tell your grandmother because you’d better believe she had opinions.”

All of Eloise’s words were caught in her throat, so she simply shook her head and watched as Nate slipped the ring onto her finger. She laughed when he kissed her tears away.

“These are happy tears, right?”

“The happiest. I’m going to do all of that for you, too. All those things you said. I’m going to take care of you forever.”

“I know, baby.”

Well, there was an opportunity. He rarely ever called her that. It felt serendipitous while they were talking about big life changes … “I wanted to ask you something, too.”

Nate leant back but she followed him, making sure there wasn’t any space between them. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I’m just going to say it. I want us to have a baby. If you’re ready, I’d like to start trying IVF. It’s okay if you need more time. I know this is complicated for us, but I’m sure we can get through it together.”

Nate bumped his nose against hers and whispered against her lips. “I really want that, too. We’ll call the doctor tomorrow. Figure it all out.”

And she had no doubt that they would.

This next chapter of their story was going to be the best one yet.