Larkin smiles up at Ford. “We were.”
Looking Ford in the eyes, I say, “I don’t think I need to give you the brother speech, right?”
Ford shakes his head. “Don’t worry—there’s no way in hell I’m letting this girl get away, nor do I plan on breaking her heart.”
“Good answer.”
“Hey,” Palmer says, coming up to us. Her eyes are watery, but she has a giant smile on her face. “Can I talk to you, Beau?”
My stomach lurches. Guess it’s my turn.
I nod and follow her around the house to a giant oak tree that’s far enough from the party to give us some privacy.
“How’s your cast?” I ask, breaking the ice. “I don’t need to change it, do I?”
She shakes her head and lifts it up. “All dry.”
“See, you’re getting the hang of it now.”
“Only took three casts.”
I chuckle. “I’ve seen other patients take longer to get the hang of it.”
“I bet you a five-year-old is better at it than me.”
“I wasn’t going to mention it . . . but . . .”
She laughs and leans against the tree. “Beau?”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“I like you.”
My heart hammers in my chest.
“I like you too.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you too,” I say back.
“I’m going to live here, permanently.”
I scratch the back of my head, trying to play it cool. “Yeah?”
“Yup. Got a job doing social media for Watchful Wanderers. Ford thinks I can grow the brand, and I think he’s right, especially if I post some thirst-trap pics of the local hunky doctor going on a hike.”
A laugh pops out of me. “Nah, I think those pics are going to be saved for my girl only.”
She pulls me in by the belt loop. “And who would that girl be?”
I tug on a strand of her hair. “I think you know who it is.”
Her eyes search mine, and in them I see the girl I first fell for so many years ago. “I’m sorry for everything.”
I shake my head. “No need to apologize. I’m grateful you took a second to figure it all out, because I really do want to be with you, Palmer. I want to see where this takes us.”
“Me too.”
“Because I have a feeling about you. A good one.”
She smiles. “I was just telling my parents the same thing about you.”
“So does that mean, after all these years, I can finally say Palmer Chance is my girlfriend?”
“I think you can, Dr. Beau.” She lifts up onto her toes and pulls me down to her mouth.
Without hesitation, I press my lips to hers and loop my arm around her waist. The feeling of being weightless takes over as her mouth molds with mine.
This is what I want—her, in my arms, with nothing between us.
When she pulls away, she says, “I’m going to move into my parents’ house. They’re signing it over to me, but until they move out, we’ll be staying at your place. I don’t need the doctor examining me with my parents two rooms down.”
I chuckle. “I can’t disagree with that.” I bend down and press another kiss to her lips before I take her hand in mine and walk back to the party, where we join Larkin, Ford, and her parents on the dance floor. “Unchained Melody” plays in the background, and as the sun finally sets, I can see it.
The wife.
The family.
The life.
Right here, with Palmer at my side the entire time.
EPILOGUE
FORD
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Dad says. “You may kiss the bride.”
Cooper cups Nora’s face, and their mouths lock as the intimate ceremony erupts in cheers.
The sun sets behind their kiss, the lake stretching out behind them acting as a backdrop.
After traveling around the world for two years on and off—Cooper still working for Watchful Wanderers and Nora still baking—they finally decided to settle down and get married. They didn’t want anything big, just a small wedding at the house that Palmer and Beau have been renovating over the last year. Something about the ancient tile not being up to code for their baby, who’s supposed to be born any day now.
“May I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Chance,” Dad says.
They raise their hands, and we offer them one more cheer before they head down the aisle.
I take Larkin’s hand in mine and hold our sleeping baby close to my chest as we make our way down the aisle, right behind an extremely pregnant Palmer, who’s been dealing with her extremely overprotective doctor husband. Ever hear of a helicopter mom? Well, Palmer has a helicopter husband. I think she’ll be grateful when the baby is finally out, so she won’t have to deal with Beau checking her vitals and watching over her every second of every day.