She exhales, a shaky laugh breaking free.
I cup her face and kiss her, slow and sure, like I’m making a promise with my mouth. She kisses me back like she’s finally letting herself believe she’s allowed to have this life.
“I can’t believe this,” she whispers.
I rest my forehead against hers. “Believe it,” I say. “This is real. And it’s good.”
Behind us, Owen yells, “I’m calling dibs on the biggest bathroom if there is one.”
She laughs again, warm and free, and something settles deep in my chest.
For the first time in my life, I know what good feels like.
And it’s standing right here in front of me.
Chapter 37
Poppy
3 Months Later
Joy Of My Life by Chris Stapleton
In three months, everything can change, that’s for sure. I stand in the middle of the shop with my hands on my hips, staring at the new sign in disbelief that this is actually my life. The letters are clean and bold, freshly mounted above the bay doors that have been here longer than I have.
Wilder Auto Body
Not Murphy’s. And this shop is not my dad’s. It’s mine. And the Pine River Motorcycle Club.
Ollie leans against the tool chest beside me, arms crossed, watching my face like he’s waiting for the moment it really sinks in. His hair’s a little longer than it used to be, his jaw rough with stubble from a shift that ran long. He looks tired and steady and completely, undeniably mine. It still feels surreal that this is my life.
We’ve partnered with the local college to bring in interns, young adults excited to learn. They remind me of what Idreamed this place could be like. I still teach at the high school, and in the summer, I get to work in my shop. I love it. I love seeing that moment when something clicks for them, a puzzle is solved and repaired, and they realize they’re capable of more than they thought.
The bay door opens, and one of the interns waves on his way out, calling a cheerful goodbye. When the door shuts again, the quiet feels good.
I glance at the office wall, where a framed photo now sits—Ellie in Ollie’s arms, with chubby cheeks and a crooked grin. Owen was standing beside him, taller every day, his arm slung around Ollie’s shoulder at their final basketball game.
Ellie is officially ours. I signed the adoption papers last week, my hand shaking as I wrote my name, tears dropping onto the page. She’s big and happy and loud now, full of squeals and drool and determination. She smiles when she sees Ollie walk into a room like he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
She’s not wrong. He’s the best thing that has happened to any of us.
Owen is thriving in a way I didn’t know how to hope for. He got a horse for his birthday and talks about her like she’s a person, like she understands every word he says. He’s out at the barn as much as he can be, brushing her, feeding her, learning responsibility. He’s so happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.
He laughs more, and he’s confident.
Ollie and I are officially his guardians now, and we’re working with Weston on adoption, too. That court date is coming up. It feels surreal to say it out loud. The Wilder name is all of ours, and Owen’s soon.
We’re still living above the auto shop and it’s crowded but we’re happy.
It’s officially time to retire the last name Murphy. Ididn’t realize how heavy that name had been until I got rid of it. Things are different now that we’ve changed everything up. It feels good.
Ollie clears his throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ve got something to show you.”
My brows knit together. “What kind of something?”
“The good kind,” he says, already smiling like he knows he’s about to undo me.
He takes my hand and leads me out to the sidewalk, past the shop, and down the street toward the town square. Then it comes into view. My breath catches in my throat and my heart feels like it’s beating so fast.
