Like a montage of scenes from a movie, I see our future, laid out in weeks and months and years. Introducing Noelle to my family. Creating our home back at B and A. Helping Noelle achieve her dreams of starting a community theater in Williston—with extensive background checks for everyone who auditions. Proposing when the time is right in the most over the top romantic way possible. Marrying Noelle. Maybe starting a family. Growing old with her.
It’s all the things I never thought I wanted.
But really, I just hadn’t met the woman I wanted them with.
I cup Noelle’s cheek and kiss her. “I can’t wait either, gorgeous. Our future is going to be amazing. I promise.”
She smiles. “I know it will.” Then she kisses me again. “I love you, Webb.”
The love in her gaze steals my breath. “I love you, Noelle. Always.”
EPILOGUE
8 MONTHS LATER
NOELLE
There’snothing sexier than watching Webb in action.
I can’t take my eyes off him while he pilots the helo; his expression intently focused on the controls and the expanse of blue sky and wisps of clouds around us. He’s fully confident in his skills, never hesitating. A small smile tugs at his lips, a reminder of how much he truly loves this—being up in the air and commanding this powerful machine.
Every thirty seconds or so, he’ll glance over to check on me, the intensity in his gaze softening immediately. And sometimes he’ll take my hand and give it a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring me that there’s nothing to worry about.
I’m not worried, though. Not with Webb as my pilot. In the year we’ve been together—well, if we’re counting from our first official date, which I am—I’ve come to trust Webb with everything. My safety. My hopes and aspirations. My heart. And he’s never let me down, not even once.
Don’t get me wrong, we disagree like all couples do. Like when I think Webb is being too overprotective, or he thinks I’mtaking unnecessary risks. Or it could be something absolutely ridiculous in hindsight, like when I got mad at him for bringing home takeout after I’d spent the last two hours cooking dinner at home as a surprise.
For the record, we ended up having my dinner that night and saving the pizza for the next. Which was a pretty obvious solution when I thought about it. But in all fairness, IwasPMSing. So I think I could be excused for a little irrational anger.
“Rafe just brings me chocolate,” Eden confided when I brought up the dinner argument during our last wine and charcuterie night. “He knows it’ll be easier on both of us if he does.”
Rafe brings Eden chocolate. Indy brings Bea cooking accessories. And Webb? He brings me cute stuffed animals to add to my ever-growing collection. Now I have an entire shelf in our bedroom dedicated to them, with Bigfoot and Grizzle right at the center.
The thought of my stuffed animals reminds me of the most recent one Webb gave to me—a fuzzy stuffed Scottie named Monroe. It was the first of my one-year anniversary gifts, propped up on my pillow when I came back into the bedroom this morning after brushing my teeth.
“Happy anniversary,” Webb told me as I stroked Monroe’s fuzzy head. “Another to add to your collection. And I was thinking… If you wanted, we could look for a real one. Now that you’ve got the community theater up and running.”
We’ve talked about getting a dog before, but there was always something stopping us. An extended work trip for Webb. Casting for the first production of the Williston Theater, which celebrated its first opening night four months ago. Then there were the vacations—to London, San Antonio to visit the Bravo Team, and New Mexico to visit with Owl and his friends. And most recently, everything that happened with Ace and Yara.
But now… things seem to have finally calmed down. The theater is plugging away nicely, thanks to the help of Glenda and Randy, who not only started dating thanks to Webb’s matchmaking efforts, but turned out to be huge theater lovers. Business with Blade and Arrow is good. I’m only working lunches at Doug’s Diner now, so I’d have time to take care of a dog. Plus, I know everyone else at B and A would want to be a part of it. So maybe…
“How are you doing?” Webb asks, his voice crackling slightly over the headset. “Still feeling alright?”
“Still good,” I assure him. With a smile, I add, “Must be because I have such a great pilot.”
He reaches over to take my hand again. “My co-pilot is pretty great, too.”
With a small snort, I reply, “Your co-pilot hasn’t done anything other than sit here and look at the scenery.”
“That’s enough for me.” Webb adjusts the throttle, and the helo gracefully dips in the air. “If you’re enjoying yourself…”
“I am.” As Webb steers the helo to the right, the snow-covered peak of Mount Hood appears. My heart catches as I’m reminded of Webb and my first official date. It’s hard to believe that back then, I could have resisted dating him. It’s hard to believe I didn’t know he was the one I’d want to spend the rest of my life with.
But so much can change in a year.
And oh, has it.
I don’t live on my own anymore, but with Webb at his—our—apartment at the B and A headquarters.
