“I’m incredibly up for it,” I tell him.
Thorn’s fingers land lightly on the curve of my neck, and he pulls me in close, until his lips find mine and there’s no space between us at all. I let myself get lost—this moment could last forever and still not be long enough.
He kisses me like we have all the time in the world, like we’re the only two people on the planet. It feels like a dream, the best dream yet. It hasn’t sunk in yet that this is real life…that it’smylife.
When we break away, his eyes are sparkling under the globe lights.
It’s beautiful when I think about it: this moment may be over, but it isn’t the end. There will be more, many more, because the road ahead of us is long—and we get to explore it together.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he says, his smile bright as he leans in for another kiss.
Every single step that brought us to this point—every difficult, miserable, uncomfortable turn along the way—has been more than worth it, because all of it led me straight to him.
Wherever the road takes us from here, I’m ready.
ONE YEAR LATER
Ennetbürgen, Switzerland
Elegant and inviting, Hotel Villa Honegg is the perfect destination for adventurous couples who love a touch of luxury—prepare to rest, relax, and enjoy the view at this five-star boutique hotel in the heart of Switzerland.
—Henry Herrington,Switzerland: A Travel Guide(Second Edition)
EpilogueSADIE
I’m a bird in the clouds, on top of the world.
This terrace has to be the most serene place on the planet: it’s the crown jewel of our boutique hotel, nestled high in the Swiss Alps, overlooking Lake Lucerne and the entire rim of the surrounding mountains.
The view is breathtaking.
Across the lake, the first rays of sunlight have just started peeking out above the horizon, piercing through the hazy morning sky to cast the world in a pink-orange glow. I’m stretched out on a lounger, sipping coffee from delicate china, enjoying some much-needed relaxation after the last six months—planning a wedding is no joke!—and especially after the last few days, which culminated in a night so glittering and magical it will be seared into my memory forever.
Abby was the most wonderful maid of honor, balancing out my extravagant wedding-planning instincts with practical wisdom—and Thorn’s father, who also served as his best man, made everyone cry with his speech. Matteo flew in from Portland and seems to be in a much better place these days: he’s in culinary school and hopes to open his own restaurant someday, but took a job working for the coffee bros inthe meantime. He and Thorn talk every week—and while they’re still rebuilding after the rift between them, they’re in a better place, too.
We said our vows in Texas under rows of twinkle lights, danced under the stars, and feasted on hors d’oeuvres and cake and champagne. Thorn’s new boss, Sky Ranger, gave us a substantial deal on the venue—a vineyard he owns in the Hill Country—and I finally met Thorn’s old boss, Danica, too. She and Thorn might technically be colleagues again soon, even though they’re now based in different states: there’s been talk of a merger between the two tour companies, with Sky Ranger acquiring Danica’s business in a generous deal.
All of that feels so far away, though, like it’s in an entirely different world—it’s utterly silent up here, entirely still.
It’s the perfect place to kick off our honeymoon.
Thorn planned every detail of our itinerary. I told him I trusted him to surprise me—a huge symbol of progress for me and my chronic overplanning ways, if I’m being perfectly honest—and I waited patiently formonths, not having a clue where we’d be going until we arrived at our airport gate.
He more than delivered.
Not only did he make arrangements for all of our stops, he put together an actual itinerary for me to flip through on the plane: where we’d be staying, what we’d be doing, why he picked each specific place.
Every single choice blends natural beauty with a sense of adventure, dotted with luxurious touches all along the way—scenic waterfront promenades in Zürich, a helicopter tour and hiking in Zermatt, paragliding in Interlaken, a luxury resort in St. Moritz, and more.
It’s the perfect trip for the two of us, a lovely echo for the way our lives have blended together in the year since that first epic hike we experienced together out in California.
“Sadie,” Thorn says, waving me over. “You’ve gotta try this!”
He’s lounging in the heated infinity pool, taking in the view from one of its built-in bench seats. I set my coffee down on a nearby table, head over to join him.
I strip out of my robe, down to my blazing red bikini. It’s chilly, even for late June, so I’m eager to get in. The water feels practically steamy compared to the crisp morning air.
We’re alone out here, and for a moment it’s easy to pretend we’re the only ones at this entire hotel—maybe in all of Switzerland.
