Epilogue

epilogue

. . .

Ruby

Fall was here,and I was enjoying every second of it. It was my favorite time of year, seeing the leaves change and enjoying the cooler weather. The town was festive, with pumpkins and hay bales everywhere you turned.

We were all going trick-or-treating with Cutler. He was the coolest kid I’d ever met, and if I were guaranteed to have a kid like Cutler Heart, I’d probably sign on to have a dozen.

River and I talked about the future often now. It was something I’d never done in the past. But now, I enjoyed looking forward. Dreaming about things I never thought I’d want.

I guess love had a way of changing things. It had for me.

Being loved by River Pierce had exposed a new side of me.

I cried when I was sad, and I cried when I was happy.

I didn’t shame myself for feeling things. I didn’t try to be stoic when something hurt me. I talked about it, and my boyfriend… well, he threatened to beat up anyone who hurt me. And then we talked some more until we both felt better.

At the end of the day, for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like I was going through the motions.

I was living.

It didn’t hurt that my roommate was an avid romance reader, and I’d found this whole new world that I loved escaping to. Turns out that I’m a big, sappy romantic deep down.

Saylor couldn’t wait to get her bookstore open, and me, Demi, and Peyton were her biggest cheerleaders.

That was another thing that I’d found being back in Magnolia Falls.

Girlfriends.

Something I’d never had before, and now, I couldn’t imagine my life without them. Women lifting other women up—it was powerful.

My father was making so much progress, eating healthy and taking much better care of himself. I loved that I got to see him almost every day now that I was living back in Magnolia Falls and he came and had dinner with River and me every Sunday now.

It didn’t hurt that my brothers were thriving. They were both holding down jobs and finally living on their own, and they’d yet to miss a rent payment. I saw them often and they didn’t only come to me when they needed me. Although, they came to me for advice every now and then, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I liked it.

My mom and I were a work in progress, and I was okay with that. We’d had lunch twice now, and though we still had a ways to go, it was better than it had been in a very long time.

I never thought I’d say this, but life was good.

Really good.

We walked house to house, as Cutler ran up and rang the bell and then did the most adorable happy dance each time he got more candy.

We all had our Magnolia Beans cups filled with warm pumpkin goodness as we walked street after street because this kid was not going to miss one house if he had anything to say about it.

“Thank God this is the last house,” River whispered in my ear.

“Stop being ridiculous. He’s loving it.”

“You know what I love? This costume you’re wearing.” He nipped at my ear, and I chuckled.

“I’m wearing black jeans, a black sweater, and a crown. It’s not much of a costume,” I said.

“What can I say? My evil queen turns me on,” he said.

“And what are you supposed to be?” I raised a brow because he was wearing jeans and a sweater.

“I’m a lawyer.”

I smiled. “It’s not a very lawyerly outfit.”

“Damn straight. If I ever start looking lawyerly, you better smack me upside the head.”

“You can count on it.” We walked up the walkway to Nash’s house, and Cutler sprinted into the kitchen to start going through his candy.

“I ordered pizzas. It’ll be here in thirty minutes,” Nash said, as we settled on the big L-shaped couch in his family room.

“Thanks, I’m starving,” Kingston said, as he dropped to sit beside me.

“It’s a big week.” Demi sat between Romeo and Saylor. “Construction starts on the bookstore on Monday.”

“I’m so excited about it. And with me working at the coffee shop, and the bookstore being right next door, I can be watching the progress in real time,” Saylor said.

“You sure you can make a living doing this?” Hayes took a pull from his beer and settled his gaze on his little sister.

He’d worried when she’d moved into her own place and was grateful that I was rooming with her so she wouldn’t be alone. But the guy worried about her a lot. I got it because I had always been that way with my brothers. But I knew this was different. He’d always been like a father to Saylor. They hadn’t had an easy upbringing, and I knew some stuff had gone down with their mother’s husband, but she didn’t talk about it. She wanted to be independent, and it frustrated her that Hayes was so protective.

“Well, I’ve done all the research. I have a business degree. I love books, and I’m turning my passion into my career. So, yeah, I think I can make a living doing this. And if I can’t, then I’ll figure something else out.” She stared at Hayes, and everyone was quiet, because there was definitely tension there, but we all understood both sides.

His need to protect her and her need to prove that she could take care of herself.

“She’s going to kill it,” Kingston said, breaking the silence. “And Ruby passed on this romance book to me, and let me tell you, I’m all about it now. Damn.” He whistled. “I need to step up my game with the ladies. This dude in the book is one hell of a lover.”

The room erupted in laughter, aside from Hayes, who didn’t seem humored by the comment at all.

“Are there that many people reading romance books?” Hayes asked.

“No. It’s a very unpopular genre. That’s why I’m opening a store selling romance books, because I want my business to fail,” Saylor said, not hiding her irritation, which was rare for her. She was a ray of sunshine most of the time. But the pressure of getting this business off the ground, taking out a loan, and making all sorts of decisions was weighing on her.

“I know you’re smart, Say. I’m not questioning that. I just want to make sure you don’t get in too deep.” Hayes softened his gaze and set his beer down.

“It’s always a gamble when you go into business for yourself. And the bookstore won’t only have romance books, although that will be the primary genre, but there will be others, as well. But I’m nervous enough, Hayes, and I don’t need you planting all these seeds of doubt. I’m excited about it, and I need you to get on board.”

“Yeah, you got it. I’ll stop with the comments,” he said, pushing to his feet. “Anyone need another beer?”

“I’ll take one,” Kingston and Romeo both said at the same time.

The doorbell rang, and Nash went to answer the door for what I assumed was the pizza.

“It’s going to be great,” Demi said, bumping her shoulder into Saylor’s. “I was really nervous, too, and my parents were not sure a coffee shop was a good idea. But Magnolia Beans is thriving, and the bookstore will be no different.”

“He’s just worried about you.” River wrapped an arm around me as he spoke to Saylor.

“Yeah, worrying is his love language. Right, baby?” Romeo chuckled.

“Yep. Especially when it comes to Saylor,” Demi said.

“I’m a grown woman.” Saylor shook her head with irritation. “I had a date last night, and Hayes insisted I call him when I got home because he thinks Lucas Kraft is a tool. But he hated the last guy I dated, too.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but Lucas Kraft is a douchebag,” River said over his laughter.

“And why do you say that?” I raised a brow. I agreed with him, but I wasn’t going to burst her bubble. She’d been excited to go on a date, as she hadn’t been out since she and her college boyfriend broke up months ago. She hadn’t yet told me how things went last night, and I had no real reason for not liking Lucas other than his teeth were a little too white, and he was pretty full of himself.

“For starters, he refers to himself in the third person. He came to see me over a year ago about suing his parents because they got rid of his superhero collectibles when he was in college. He wanted to be reimbursed for the toys that they actually bought him.”

Saylor covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m not totally surprised. The date was a total disaster, but that’s not the point. I can take care of myself.”

“Well, he came into the coffee shop this morning and told me you guys had a great time last night. So, I don’t think Lucas has any idea that it didn’t go well.” Demi chuckled.

“Yeah, that’s because I never spoke. He talked the entire time about himself. And he had me split the bill with him, and he had a full entrée and three cocktails, while I had one drink and an appetizer.”

Laughter filled the space around us.

“What an asshole,” Kingston said. “I’ve got your back if he gives you a hard time.”

“I thought you were a lover, not a fighter.” River raised a brow at his brother.

“I’d throw a punch for Saylor, no doubt about it.” He winked at her, and I didn’t miss the way her cheeks flushed.

I’d noticed the way they always seemed to gravitate toward one another when we were all out together. Maybe it was just all the romance books I was reading lately that had me noticing things more.

River had mentioned that Saylor lived with them for a few months during the time he was away at Fresh Start, but he didn’t say much about it. He said it wasn’t his story to tell, and I hadn’t pushed.

“Thanks, King.” She smiled.

“And we’ll make that bookstore everything you want it to be,” Kingston added.

“I know you will,” she said, just as Nash called out to come and eat.

Everyone moved to the kitchen, and River tugged at his brother’s hoodie, holding him back.

“You watch yourself there, little brother. Sisters are off limits, and you fucking know that.” River kept his voice low, so only the three of us could hear him.

“Dude, don’t be an asshole. I’d never go there. Saylor’s like a little sister to me.”

River nodded. “All right, good. She’s far too sweet for you anyway.”

“Hey, I’m the sweetest guy I know. Right, Ruby?” Kingston chuckled.

“You’re pretty sweet—for the town playboy,” I said.

“I can’t help it if the ladies love me.”

“Yeah, it’s a real curse,” River groaned as we walked toward the kitchen.

He intertwined his fingers with mine and tugged me back as his brother made his way over to the pizza.

“You ready to marry me yet?” River whispered in my ear. He did this often. Told me pretty much every day that he’d tie the knot with me the minute I was ready.

“What are you going to do the day that I say yes?” I teased, as I turned with my chest against his.

I was so in love with this man, it was hard to wrap my head around it.

“I’m going to haul your sweet ass over my shoulder and race down to the courthouse and officially make you mine.”

“I’m already yours,” I said, tipping my chin up to meet his heated gaze.

“Yeah, you are.”

I pushed up and planted a kiss on his mouth. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he said.

“Get a room!” Hayes shouted, and everyone laughed.

“Trust me, I’m trying to get her to move in with me. Sorry, Saylor, I know you like rooming with her, but I kind of want her all to myself.”

Saylor shook her head and laughed. “She’s either at your house every night or you’re at ours.”

“He’s such a greedy bastard,” Kingston said. “Sorry. Earmuffs, Beefcake.”

Nash rolled his eyes. “You’re supposed to say earmuffs before you say the bad word, you douchedick.”

“Hey, douchedick is as bad as bastard.”

“Yeah. I’m aware. Do you see his hands over his ears?”

“You’re welcome. I’m the reason he’s covering them up.” Kingston smirked and looked over at his brother.

“I’m only greedy about one thing, and that’s my girl,” River said.

“Cheers to that.” Romeo held up his beer and clinked it with River’s.

I leaned against his shoulder, grateful for this found family I’d come to love.

And this man who’d given me the fairy tale I didn’t even know I wanted.

River had shown me what love was.

We’d been two broken souls that had healed together.

And I’d never been happier.

Forever had started for me the first time he’d kissed me.

And every day since.

THE END

Thank you for reading Wild River. Find all of Laura’s books at laurapavlov.com.

Read a special bonus scene where Ruby celebrates River’s birthday HERE: WILD RIVER BONUS SCENE

If you’d like to see Kingston fall for his best friends little sister… Forbidden King is available for pre-order HERE: PRE-ORDER FORBIDDEN KING