“But you did. That takes guts.” Something flickered in her eyes, vulnerable and quickly hidden. “Standing up to someone you love.”
I looked up, surprised. “How did you know?”
“That you love him? Please. You look at him like he hung the moon.” She stood quickly. “Come on, we have a party to save.”
When we got back, the room had transformed. Sutton had set up a photo station with props. Hope was arranging memory books. And Grady stood in the middle of it all, sleeves rolled up, helping Danika adjust speakers.
He looked up when I walked in, something unreadable in his expression. I set down the guitar and crossed to him.
“Thank you,” I said.
“For what?”
“For letting me do this my way.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry. I was trying to control something that was never mine to control.”
“You were trying to help.”
“I was trying to make it perfect. But perfect isn’t what you needed.” He glanced around at my friends, at the organized chaos they’d created. “This is.”
Guests started arriving—families who’d taken me in, friends who’d made me belong. The hot chocolate bar was mobbed within minutes. Sutton’s camera clicked constantly. Someone started a Christmas carol, and voices joined in, imperfect and joyful.
I sat with the guitar, nervous, but Hope started harmonizing and suddenly others were singing too. It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t professional. It was messy and real and exactly right.
Later, when the room was full of laughter and love, I found Grady by the windows. He pulled me close, and I leaned into him, watching the party we’d created together—his planning, my heart, our compromise.
“I love you,” I said, the words finally breaking free.
His arms tightened around me. “I love you too. And I’m done trying to control everything. I just want to build a life with you. As partners. Equals.”
“Even when I insist on twelve toppings?”
“Especially then.” He kissed my forehead. “Though I’m never letting you plan anything without a fire code review.”
I laughed, and somewhere across the room, Avery caught my eye and winked.
The party wasn’t perfect. But standing there in Grady’s arms, surrounded by my chosen family and the magic we’d made together, I realized something important.
Perfect was overrated.
Real was so much better.
EPILOGUE
GRADY
The lighting booth was my favorite place in The Evergreen Room.
Most people didn’t even know it existed—tucked away on the second level, soundproofed glass overlooking the main venue below. This was where the magic happened. Where I could orchestrate an entire event with the press of a button, control the mood, the atmosphere, the exact shade of romantic or festive or corporate professional.
Control. My favorite word.
Well, second favorite now.
My first favorite was currently leaning over the control panel, her dark hair falling across her shoulder as she studied the lighting grid I’d pulled up on the screen.
“So if we do the winter stars effect here,” Mollie said, tapping the timeline, “and then transition to the warmer glow during dinner…”
