“It’s an incredible turnout. I just hope there’s enough space on the street,” I say. We decided that Jack’s wasn’t going to be enough space, nor could Finn manage making all the drinks, so the Second Annual Cocktail Contest has turned into a block party, each contestant responsible for making their own beverage. Ever since Eleanor hired me at the tourism board, I’ve been overseeing event planning, and this particular one makes me positively giddy. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s blown up intosomething none of us could have dreamed of, but I have a feeling it makes me the most excited because of the memories I have from last year.
Eleanor turns to head back into her office, and I start packing up my desk. I still marvel at the fact that I have my own desk at a stable job. Even more than that, every day I pack up my things and drive back to Grady’s house—ourhouse. I feel like I need to pinch myself whenever I walk in the front door. Grady has given me free rein on decorating, and although he had turned it into a modern bachelor pad, I’ve added my own touches. Now, the place feels like the perfect mix of both of us.
A text lights up my phone screen as I’m about to drop it in my purse.
GRADY
Will you be home on time tonight? I have a special date night planned. Xo.
I type a quick reply, letting him know I’m on my way now, and hit send. Butterflies ripple through me. A year later, and I’m still not over going out on dates with Grady. Which is saying a lot for someone who used to adamantly refuse dates of any kind. But he makes every date feel special and spectacular, just by being him, and I’ll never get tired of it.
When I walk through the front door, Grady bounds down the stairs to greet me with the same energy as a golden retriever. That’s what I’ve come to love about him now. He loves with his whole being, he’s loyal and kind, and although sometimes he needs help getting what he needs, his heart is always in the right place. His heart beats for the people he loves.
“Is Mason here?” I ask. His old blue pickup truck was parked out front when I arrived. I love Mason, but not as a third wheel for our date.
“Nope. He lent me the truck for the evening. Part of the surprise I have for you,” Grady answers. I lift my eyebrows in intrigue.
“So mysterious tonight,” I coo.
“Are you ready? I thought we could just get going.” His energy, though endearing, is throwing me off. He’s practically buzzing around me.
“I was hoping to shower and freshen up first,” I say.
“Okay, sure. We can go whenever you’re ready.” Grady kisses my temple, his hand caressing the back of my head. “No rush.”
I never thought my love language would be having a man not rush me to get ready, but this is yet another thing I’ve learned from Grady, who gives it to me so freely.
He’s waiting for me on the couch in the living room when I emerge from the bathroom an hour later, hair freshly blown-out, and feeling like myself again after a long day of work. I can’t help but notice the way his knee is bouncing. He’s impatient for some reason.
He gets up and meets me in the middle of the warm, homey living room, and slides his arms around my waist.
“Hi,” he whispers. Dipping his forehead to rest it on mine.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
He sucks in an audible breath through his nose, pulling himself out of the moment.
“Let’s go,” he says, and I follow him out the front door and into Mason’s truck. I’m momentarily confused when Grady takes a left out of the driveway instead of the right turn that would take us into town. But as realization dawns on me as to where he’s taking me, I stifle the grin so as not to show that the surprise has been ruined.
As suspected, we wind our way up the mountainside and come to a stop at the lookout Grady brought me to, just over a year ago to the day. The day he showed me what Heartwoodmeans to him. Coming here now, I have a different appreciation for the sleepy little town nestled in the valley. I’ve become intimately connected with this place and have no intention of leaving it.
“Give me a second,” Grady instructs as he hops out of the driver’s-side door and pulls off the tarp that was covering the bed of the truck. From the back window, I can tell that underneath it is an air mattress, pillows, blankets, and a picnic basket.
Before I can open my door, Grady is at the passenger side opening it for me and offering me his hand to get out.
“Grady, this is …” I don’t have the words. Special. Thoughtful. Sweet. All of the above. Just something that Grady would think to do.
He leads me around to the tailgate and helps me up into the makeshift bed.
“You remember the day that we came up here, that first day that we started working together?” he asks, climbing in behind me.
“Of course I remember. I remember every moment with you.” And it’s true. Every single thing that Grady has done for me, big or small, is branded on my heart, a beautiful love letter.
“Well, what I didn’t tell you is that part of the reason I love this spot so much is because it gives the perfect vantage point for stargazing.” Grady opens the picnic basket, pulling out everything for a charcuterie dinner and a bottle of wine. He pours me a glass, and we toast to the last year of us, Grady adding a lifetime of many more, and my heart clenches when I imagine all the years we have ahead of us. Our future doesn’t scare me the way it once did. Grady has shown me time and time again that I can let myself free fall, and he’ll be there to catch me.
I take the first sip of my wine, but he doesn’t, his gaze pinning me. His mouth twitches as he regards me.
“What, do I have something on my face?” I ask, bringing my hand in front of my mouth. “A big piece of food in my teeth? What is it?”
