It struck me how little he’d changed. Same cadence. Same certainty. Same belief that reality would fall in line with whatever he wanted.
“I get that you like this rustic thing,” he continued, gesturing dismissively to my cozy cabin. “You can visit Jace whenever you want. Fill our place with handmade furniture. I’ll adjust.”
I took a breath. “The life I’m building here isn’t a phase or a tantrum or an aesthetic. It’s not a way to get your attention. It’s a correction. It’s a return to the things that used to make me happy before I got carried away with all the things money could buy.”
I glanced back at Elias, who was watching the interactionintently.
“Layne, your career—”
“I know you think being with me will put you in line to take over my dad’s company.” My voice stayed calm. “You still have that chance. My dad is a fair man, and there is one less person vying for the top position because I’m not going back.”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t know who you are in this place. This isn’t you.”
I shook my head. “You’re right, you don’t know me in this place. I’ve changed and you haven’t. That’s why we will never be together again.”
His nostrils flared and I could see the wheels turning, thinking of something to change my mind.
I continued, not wanting to give him the change. “I love my job here. I have my brother. My friends.” I met Elias’s eyes. “And I have a boyfriend who sees me for who I am. Can you just be happy for me, and let me move on?”
He looked around the cabin, clearly seeing boring where I saw belonging.
“Go put on a jacket,” I said. “Put on boots. Meet me at the real estate office in a half hour. We’ll sign the papers and be done.”
I closed the door before he could respond.
I turned to Elias. He crossed the room but stopped short, hands in his pockets.
“I’m going to sign the last paper I need to officially have Teddy out of my life,” I said.
“Okay.”
“Since I’m monologuing this morning, I’ll make one more. I don’t know when this stopped being pretend, just that it isn’t anymore. The things I’ve said and done with you, whether in front of Teddy or when we’re alone, I meant them. All of them.”
His face softened. “It never felt like an act to me.” He pulled me closer. “You used the wordboyfriend,” he added carefully. “Did you mean it?”
I nodded. “Assuming you’ll have me?”
His grin was slow and real. “Of course I will.”
“Good. I’ve had enough of performative relationships to last a lifetime. I just want something honest and real.”
He brushed his thumb along my jaw. “Then stay honest and stay here with me.”
I wrapped my arms around him, resting my forehead against his chest.
“This is a big change for you. Any regrets?” he asked.
“Not a single one.”
Outside, the snow kept falling. A steady backdrop to the start of something new.
I had come here to heal. I hadn’t expected to stay. I hadn’t expected to fall for someone again. But sometimes endings aren’t endings at all. Some are beginnings if you’re brave enough to choose them.
Epilogue - Four Months Later
Layne
The Beast project was still moving along, with more bumps and interruptions than any project I had ever seen. Because of that, I had been frowning at our work schedule, trying to move things around so the delays weren’t felt on the client end. I didn’t mind. I never had. I was with my brother and my friends here. More importantly, I was with Elias.
