Epilogue
Brynn
My father poured the beer and slid it across the bar. When Everett put the money down, my dad raised his eyebrow. "What the H-E-double hockey sticks do you think you're doing? Put that away, you don't pay to drink here."
"He doesn't charge half the town," I explained, taking a sip of my own free drink. A glass of white Gewurztraminer wine. Yes, I had finally worked up the courage to tell my dad I really didn't like beer. And he'd responded by contracting with two of the local wineries, giving me my pick of the good stuff. "That's why he's going to be working until the day he dies."
It was so strange being the only ones in the bar. Labor Day weekend had signaled the last day of the season. The tourists had all gone home and life was returning to normal.
Sort of.
"That's my plan!" my dad echoed cheerfully. "I'm gonna keel over right behind this counter and then you're going to take over the business."
"Geez, don't you think that's a little morbid?" I asked, vaguely horrified.
"I think it's kind of cool," Rett interjected. "Keeping something in the family like that. I like that."
"You're gonna help her with it, right?" my dad asked gruffly.
"You bet," Rett grinned.
I licked my lips, unable to keep from smiling like a fool hearing my father and my fiancé making plans for the future. "Though I'm not so great with the public," Rett mused. "Think I'll have to stay in the back and maybe handle the books or something. So I don't drive the customers away with my winning personality." He grinned at me. "I'll let my wife handle the front end."
A rush of happiness flooded through me and I blushed and looked down at my finger. He'd proposed yesterday, for real this time, at the top of the falls. After forcing me to hike up there. I learned two things that day. I really, really hated hiking. And I really, really loved Everett McCabe.
I also really, really loved the ring he picked out and the way the band twisted around itself.
Just like a rope.
I twisted the ring around my finger and then traced a line around my wrist as I listened to my father make plans with my future husband. And as I did, the door slammed open.
"There you are!" Autumn shrieked, making a beeline for me with Cole grinning behind her. I glanced at Rett who was doing his level best to remain stoic. And failing miserably. "Did you call them?" I hissed accusingly.
"I thought you might want to celebrate."
"I thought this was just going to be a quiet night because it's the first day of school tomorrow?"
"We can be quiet," Rett protested. Then winced as Autumn shrieked again when she caught a glimpse of my ring.
"You know I have to be up at 5:30," I reminded him. "New classroom. I want to be there early."
I was teaching first grade this year. And I was especially pleased to see that Grace Moore was on my attendance roster.
"Holy shit," called a familiar voice as the door banged open again. "Guess we're like, family times two now, huh?"
This time I was the one who winced as Rett gaped at Callum. From behind my brother, Rett's sister Harper came squealing over to shriek at my ring. "You called him?" Rett murmured.
"I... thought you might want to celebrate," I deadpanned as Harper almost yanked my arm off, trying to get a closer look.
"Who's buying shots?" Cal demanded. "It's on the house."
"Like any of you jokers pay for your drinks anyways," my father muttered. But he set about diligently laying out the glasses.
I glanced at Rett, my future husband. He caught my gaze and then looked significantly towards the top shelf, where the bottle of bourbon we'd shared that first night sat gathering a thick coating of dust. We'd drunk that together back when I still thought we were using each other. Back when he still struggled with his shame.
Now look at us. Surrounded by family and friends. We'd come so far in one summer and yet... "You want to grab it?" I asked.
"For old time's sake," Rett nodded.
I gestured to my dad, who climbed up on his stool to grab that bottle. "Old times?" I laughed. "It was only three months ago."
"Feels like another life," Rett said, closing his hand around mine. The one that wore his ring. "Like it wasn't even me." He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it as our friends and family whooped. "I can't imagine living without you."
I bit my lip, blinking back the tears. "That sounded like a toast to me!" Cal shouted, lifting his glass. We all lifted ours in return and then knocked back the burning liquid. Harper sputtered and made noises about needing to get her tolerance back up and Cole slapped Rett on the back. Cal leaned over the bar to hug my dad and I just sat there with the biggest grin on my face, Rett's hand in mine and my heart tied to his.
THE END
But not quite!
Hey there! If this is your first Reckless Falls book, you're in luck! As a special thank you for reading, I'm including Autumn and Cole's story, a little novella called KEPT, and Callum and Harper's story, a full length novel called TWICE as a special bonus. Just keep reading!
BOOKS BY VIVIAN LUX:
Sons of Steel Motorcycle Club:
Rockstar Romance
TRUE: A Rockstar Romance
The Reckless Falls Series:
TIED: A Small Town Bad Boy Romance (March 2017)
CRAVE: A Small Town Menage Romance (April 2017)
PLAYED: A Small Town Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (May 2017)
Sports Romance
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