“I feel the exact same way,” I tell him, my voice thick with emotion. “I hope our ride continues to be wild.”
Victor grins, then leans into me and gives me a slow, deep kiss that causes me to lose my breath. We only break apart when our friends start cheering. I blush as I pull back... but have zero regrets. I’ll never mind showing the world my love for my husband.
“Here’s to love,” Zach says, raising his glass.
“And friendship,” Sia adds, clinking her glass against his.
“And to crazy adventures,” Blaze chimes in.
“And to the family we choose,” Courtney finishes, her smile wide.
We all raise our glasses together, a silent agreement passing between us. It’s not the restaurant, the success, or even the lives we’re building that matter most. It’s this — the love, the laughter, the people we hold most dear.
As the sun dips lower, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, I lean against Victor once more, and feel our baby moveagain, a gentle reminder of the life we’re about to bring into this beautiful, chaotic world.
“Here’s to everything that’s still to come,” I whisper to him. He nods, his eyes filled with love and promise.
“Here’s to us,” he agrees.
We continue chatting, surrounded by the people we love, holding each other close. It’s all I’ve ever wanted without knowing it was what I wanted. I really did win the cooking competition. The prize wasn’t what I thought it was... it was even better.
