His grin was instant and huge, and he pulled me closer so I was chest to chest with him and our hearts beat as one.
“That's good, 'cause I thought about shackling you to me so you couldn’t ever get away.” I laughed softly and closed my eyes, knowing that nothing in this world that was worth it would be easy.
Because if it was then how could you appreciate it? How could you know what true—real—love really was?
EPILOGUE
Dolly
Five years later
I’d honestly never seen this day coming. Not as a reality in my life, although I’d dreamed about it for as long as I could remember.
I brought the massive pair of scissors down and cut through the red ribbon that was strung up in front of the doors of the newest business in Cherry Falls. The crowd gathered around immediately cheered and clapped their approval as the ribbon fluttered to the ground.
I looked over my shoulder at the massive sign that hung over the front door of my dream.
Bella Ballet Studio
A smile spread across my face, and I didn’t care how goofy it might look.
After handing off the scissors, Tristan immediately pulled me against the side of his body and leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
“I’m so proud of you, baby.” His voice was deep and gruff and filled with so much love that I instantly sank fully against his side, letting his strength hold me up right now. “You made your dream a reality. You did it.”
I smiled and tipped my head back. “We did it.” And that was true. I had the confidence to go after what I wanted, but it had been Tristan’s support, his encouragement for me to go back for further education, and his financial help in allowing me to focus on my schooling that helped make all this real.
And then there was my father, and I felt my heart soften further. He’d also played a big part in this dream. He’d always given me the strength to go after what I wanted even if it terrified me.
I spotted my father right at the front of the crowd, his smile big and wide and coming through his salt and pepper trimmed beard. I mouthed, Thank you, and his grin widened.
My attention was drawn back to Tristan when he placed his big palm over my swollen belly. I looked at him again, unable to stop my smile from widening when he started rubbing his hand over my six-month pregnant stomach. A lot of things had changed in the past five years, and they had all been incredible.
Not only had Tristan and I gotten married a year after we’d made things official in our relationship, but I’d gone back to college to learn more about how to run a business and secured an associate’s degree.
We were expecting our first baby, a little girl, who we would name Eloise… after my mother, and I was able to open my dance studio. All of this had happened in a five-year span, but I’d never been happier or more grateful for the road my life had taken me.
Maybe having our daughter right now wasn’t ideal given the fact the business was just starting, but I already had a full staff, and even had a waiting list for clients to join the studio. So of course, it was pretty overwhelming and a little scary, but I’d never been more confident in things being able to work out than I was now.
“I love you,” Tristan said gruffly, leaning down to kiss me on the lips at the same time he slid his hand up to gently curl around my throat. It was a very possessive act, and one that had my heart racing.
I didn’t care that everybody could see us, didn’t care about the public displays of affection. In fact, I wanted everyone to know that I was Tristan’s and he was mine.
“I love you, too,” I murmured against his lips.
“I’m so fucking proud of you.” He pulled back and moved the hand that was gently curled around my throat and cupped my cheek. He smoothed his thumb right under my eye, his expression intense, his love for me pouring out of him and surrounding me fully.
I rested my head on his chest as I looked back at all the townsfolk of Cherry Falls. This was a community, a supportive and loving family even if they weren’t by blood.
And I realized that although I should never have left, even if it was only for four years to expand on my education, I was so thankful I had because it made me appreciate all of this even more.
This was my home. This was my family. And I loved every minute of it.
I couldn’t wait to see what the next five years brought me.