“Okay.”
Lulu appears with a knowing smile, setting down two plates neither of us ordered. “Figured you’d want your usuals. And just so you know, you two are the talk of the whole diner. Probably the whole town by morning.”
“Good.” Hunter doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Cause we’re officially off the market.”
Lulu laughs, refills our water, and disappears again.
We eat slowly, hands linked on the table between us, talking about everything and nothing. He tells me about the mill, about Derek being professional but clearly jealous, about Luke razzing him all afternoon after I left. I tell him about my week, about a surgery that went perfectly, about Esme asking when she gets to plan our wedding.
“She’s getting ahead of herself,” I say.
“Is she?” His eyes are warm. “Because I’m pretty sure I want to marry you someday, Claire Elliott.”
My breath catches. “Someday?”
“Someday.” He kisses my knuckles. “When you’re ready. No rush. I’ve got time.”
We finish eating, pay the check despite Lulu’s protests, and walk out into the parking lot hand in hand. The sun’s setting,painting the nearby buildings in shades of amber and gold. Through the diner window, I can see people still watching us.
At my car, Hunter backs me against the door and kisses me slow.
“Come home with me,” he says against my mouth.
“Your place or mine?”
“Mine. I want you in my bed.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “Okay.”
“Follow me?”
“Yeah.”
He kisses me once more, then heads to his truck. I get in my car, and as I pull out behind him, I catch sight of us in my rearview mirror—his taillights leading the way, my headlights following.
This is what choosing looks like.
Not swept away or talked into it or settling because it’s easy. But choosing deliberately, eyes open, knowing exactly what I’m saying yes to.
I’m choosing Hunter Ashe.
And for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of where that choice might lead.
Epilogue
Claire
Three Years Later
The mashed potatoes are getting cold, but nobody cares.
Hunter’s mom, Linda, is making faces at our daughter from across the table, and Hadley’s shrieking with laughter in her high chair, smacking her chubby hands against the tray. Piper’s filming the whole thing on her phone while her mom tries to convince her to actually eat something.
“She’s going to be spoiled rotten.” I smile at my mother-in-law, lucky to have one as good as they come.
“That’s what grandmothers are for.” Linda doesn’t even look at me, too focused on making Hadley giggle. “Isn’t that right, sweet girl?”
My wedding ring catches the light when I reach for my water glass. It’s a simple gold band that matches the one on Hunter’s finger. We got married two years ago in St. Sebastian, just family and Esme and Franklin. It was a small ceremony on the beach atsunset, bare feet in the sand, Hadley growing in our surrogate’s belly while Hunter and I promised each other forever.
