I’ll give you a call later this week. Surely you can make some time for your mother.
When I gotto Golden Falls a few months ago, one of my hopes was that things couldn’t get worse. Never in my wildest dreams did I think everything would getthismuch better.
It had only been a week since I got back from Chicago. A week since Wesley told me he loved me. A week of getting into my new routine.
Within a few days of me being back—and once Wes and I finally left his bed—we decided it made sense for me to move in with him over trying to find an apartment. After all, we had basically been living together all of August.
The reaction from those closest to us was better than we could have anticipated. I didn’t expect any negative reactions, but I wondered if they’d think we were rushing into it. No onedid. If anything, everyone was relieved we made this decision and they didn’t have to intervene.
When I told Eliza and Lily that not only was I staying but I was moving in with Wesley, Lily wouldn’t stop smiling. Eliza pulled me into a tight hug and said, “We wouldn’t have let you leave anyway.” It sounded ominous, but I swear she meant it in a loving way.
My parents were more than eager to meet Wesley, especially after getting the chance to talk with him over the phone and video chat. They had plans to come up to visit us, and Wes said they had to come next summer so he could take them out on his boat. Wes was already in the family group chat. I was hoping Grant could make a trip up here soon, although he seemed to have his plate full between work and whatever was happening with Scarlett, his ex-wife who was apparently still his wife.
My mom claimed she called my relationship with Wes from the beginning, but I didn’t think anyone saw it coming better than Hal. When I told him I was sticking around, he wasn’t surprised. Like, at all. He simply said, “Well, of course, you are,” and went back to reading his newspaper.
The attention fromParadise Loveresurfaced with the most recent article, but it quickly faded. For me, at least. I didn’t think Tony could say the same.
Truthfully, I hadn’t expected Tony’s actions to catch up with him. Men weren’t held to the same standards as women, whether that was on reality TV or in the real world. I thought a different show would want him to increase their ratings, which would likely lead him to breaking another woman’s heart. So, it was good to see there were consequences. Hopefully, he learned from them. And if he didn’t? Well, the devil worked hard, but karma worked harder.
I initially hadn’t planned to post photos on social media from my summer, but I thought about my conversation with Rubyat Lake Ridge. About how watching me on the show made her realize she could be unapologetically herself and how one of her exes called her “too much.”
I thought about what my brother said at the very start of the summer. How people didn’t pity me but instead related to what I went through.
That’s who I posted those photos and the caption for. I wanted to show them I found a group of friends and an incredible man who didn’t think I was a “handful.” Someone who loved things about me others, including myself, had been critical of. I wanted it to be a reminder not to settle and not to chase a person who didn’t deserve your light.
Selfishly, I also wanted to clear up Tony’s accusations about how I knew his intentions to fully close that chapter of my life. I didn’t have regrets about going on the show, because it led me to Golden Falls—to Wes—but I was ready to fully move on.
I didn’t plan on posting on my personal social media often, because my focus shifted to the new account I had created—Campbell Creations. Cheryl had allowed me to name the new design firm I was leading.
With my arms crossed over my chest, I stared up at Wesley’s house—our house, now—knowing without a shadow of a doubt this was exactly where I needed to be. I looked around, admiring how beautiful Lake Golden looked in the sun and the stunning view I would get to appreciate every day from here on out. I’d get to see Golden Falls when the leaves started to change color in the fall, when the snow fell in the winter, and every season after.
I walked closer to the steps, raising my brow. “What do you think you’re doing? This is private property.”
Wes turned around with an amused grin, waiting to roll his eyes until he was facing me. He had two moving boxes stacked in his arms. “Very funny,” he deadpanned. “How long have you been waiting to use that one?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a few months, maybe? I was playing the long game,” I mused.
He let out an amused huff.
“If you’re lucky, I’ll let you stay with me.” I walked past him to pull the door open for him.
Wes followed me inside, setting down the boxes and immediately wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me into his arms. “I’m the luckiest man in the world with you by my side, city girl.” He tipped my chin up with his thumb and forefinger. “This is only the beginning. I have big plans for us. Just you wait.”
“I’m more than happy to wait. Forever, remember?”
“Forever,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my mouth.
I melted into his arms, wanting to remember this moment. The start of our life together.
When I got to Golden Falls, I thought this summer was for me. Turns out, it was the summer for us.
EPILOGUE
WESLEY
Three monthslater
November
