IN MY OLD apartment above the bar, where I had lived on and off since I was eighteen years old, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Downstairs, I could hear people gathering for Finn’s and my birthday party. My gaze traveled up and down my dress.
I never, ever thought I’d wear a dress like this.
I smiled at myself.
Footsteps in the doorway caught my attention and I turned to see Finn leaning on the doorframe, wearing a navy-blue suit that made his eyes stand out.
Even after all this time, all these years of knowing him, I couldn’t get over how handsome he was. His hair was unruly and a little curly, the sharp line of his jaw beckoned me to trace a finger down it, and the curve of his lips made me want to grab him by the lapels and make out with him.
“Wow.” He blinked at me in my dress. “You look hot.”
I snorted. “You’re supposed to say I look beautiful.”
His expression turned wicked. “You do, but you also look hot.” He leaned on the doorframe. “You ready?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
I realized what we were about to do and emotion rushed up my throat.
Finn caught the expression on my face and sighed in a dramatic way, making me laugh. “No way. Are you going to cry?”
I winced through my laughter. “I think I might.”
“If you cry, I’ll cry.” He walked toward me, slow footsteps echoing in my old, empty bedroom.
“If you cry,” I told him, “your brothers will cry.”
“And if my brothers cry, that means everyone else is crying.”
I rolled my lips, chest shaking with laughter. “Your mom is going to be sobbing.”
He gazed at me, smiling, and let out a sigh, like he could spend forever looking at me. My heart squeezed up into my throat. “This is going to be a shit show, isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
“Great.” He held his hand out to me. “Let’s go.”
I slipped my hand into his and we left the apartment, pausing at the door. I glanced around the empty space, scattered with a few remaining boxes.
“Are you going to miss this place?” Finn asked.
I hummed, thinking. “A little.” I turned to him. “But I can’t wait for what’s next.”
THE BAR WENT dead silent as Finn and I stepped out of the hallway, my hand on his arm.
Sadie saw me and started screaming.
“You two are getting married?” she screeched.
Finn and I grinned at each other before turning to our stunned friends and family gathered in the bar. Over the counter, a sign hung. Happy birthday, Olivia and Finn!
“Surprise,” Finn said with his wicked grin, squeezing my arm.
A wall of noise rose up and we were surrounded.
“Oh my god.” Sadie’s face was inches from mine, eyes wide and shining. “Oh my god.” I laughed as she grabbed my face. “I love you so much,” she told me.
“I love you, too, Sadie. I’m happy you’re in my life.”
She stared at me in awe, shaking her head. “Love looks good on you.” Her gaze dropped to my dress. “And so does this dress.”
I glanced down at the short vintage mini-dress, ivory fabric smooth under my fingers. Above the neckline, the pink petals of my tattoo peeked out.
“I knew it,” Avery told us, shaking her head before wrapping me in an embrace. “I freaking knew it. I knew you were planning something.”
Emmett tackled Finn in a big hug, slapping each other on the backs with matching beaming grins.
“Do you have plans in about ten minutes?” Finn asked Emmett.
Emmett’s eyes were so bright, and the smile across his face was the proudest I’d ever seen him. He straightened up and adjusted his tie. We had told people to dress up.
“Please tell me I’m officiating,” he told Finn.
Finn shrugged. “It’s family tradition.”
Hannah and Wyatt lingered behind them, smiling. Cora clung to Wyatt’s neck, wearing a green dress with ladybugs on it. After the park incident last month, everyone told Finn stories of when they had screwed up. Apparently, when they were kids, Elizabeth had her back turned and Emmett tried to feed Finn rocks. Everyone had acknowledged that mistakes happen, and in the end, the only thing that mattered was that Cora was safe.
“Congratulations,” Hannah said softly, wrapping me in a hug.
“Oh my god,” Sadie said to Holden, shaking her head, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize what was happening.”
Wyatt and Hannah switched, and Wyatt pulled me to him in a squeeze.
“Knew you two would figure it out,” he said quietly, nodding at me.
“Thanks, Wy.”
Holden stepped up and gave Finn a big hug before turning to me. I smiled at him and he nodded, mouth strained like he was holding back a grin.
“Good work,” he said. “You two finally stopped being stupid.”
We all laughed. For years, Holden had been frustrated that Finn and I were no longer friends. When he and Sadie broke up for a few weeks before they were engaged, he admitted at the bar one night that perhaps things weren’t as simple from the outside as they seemed.
“Holden,” I told him, shaking my head. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Happy for you,” he said as we hugged. “You were always family.”
My heart expanded in my chest. “Thanks, buddy.”
Elizabeth appeared in front of me, already crying, and we all burst out laughing.
“I knew you two would find your way,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
“Mom.” Finn doubled over laughing. “Come on.”
Elizabeth laughed too, wiping her eyes with a tissue that Sam pressed into her hand. “I’m sorry. I’ve waited so long for all my kids to be happy.”
“It’s okay.” I smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for being patient,” I whispered in her ear, and she squeezed me tight.
My parents and Cole were next, hugging and congratulating us. And on my mom’s face? Not a lick of hesitation or worry. My chest eased as she and Finn embraced. She had changed in the past month. I didn’t know whether it was regret over what she said in the past, or if she saw Finn in a new light now that she was spending more time around him, but her attitude toward him had changed. A weight had lifted in me that I didn’t even know was there.
“You’re beautiful,” Cole told me before pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you, honey.”
My heart warmed at the words and I smiled, inhaling his woodsy dad scent. He had moved back and started a handyman business here. Every Wednesday night, we had dinner. Sometimes Finn joined, but sometimes he was busy or working, and it was just Cole and me. Cole seemed happy living here. He had found a new AA group, and he and Holden watched hockey together at the bar, even if Cole just drank soda. No one cared. He and Joe were even becoming friends.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I told him as he pulled back to look at me.
He nodded, mouth pressed tight, and it was like looking in a mirror. “Me, too.”
“Alright,” Finn said. “Enough crying. Let’s do this.”
A cheer rose up around us.
Emmett performed the ceremony in the middle of the bar, with our friends and family surrounding us with love and support. Elizabeth sobbed the entire time, and Finn and I kept laughing during the ceremony as more and more people started sniffling until we were all crying.
I smiled at Finn as we said the words in our hearts, the words we didn’t say for so long. He held my hand, his thumb stroking over my skin, and I bared my heart for him in front of everyone. He slipped a ring onto my finger—a pale green sapphire we had picked together. On his hand, a white gold band glinted in the low bar lighting, and a possessive, prideful warmth weaved through my chest.
The smartest thing I ever did was let myself love Finn Rhodes.
When the ceremony was over, we opened the champagne. Someone turned the music up. Despite Elizabeth’s protests, Finn put the game on the TV behind the bar. The place was filled with laughter, warmth, and love. We took photos, and the alien dildo hanging on the wall beside the TV was in half of them. The painting of Holden sobbing was in the other half.
Our wedding was perfect.
“Hey,” Dot called as I stepped behind the bar, swatting at me. “You’re not supposed to be back here.” She shooed me out and pointed at a bar stool. “Get.”
I snorted and took a seat. “How’s the new gig?”
Dot had taken a job as the new manager of the bar. My dad had hired her to take over while he searched for the right person to buy it. I could see him glancing around the old building with wistfulness. I’m excited for new things, he had told me. Your mom and I are going to spend the rainy winters in Mexico.
Dot wiped the spotless counter with a rag. “I love it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this years ago.”
Beck slipped into the seat beside me, quirking a smile at me. “I think some congratulations are in order.”
“Thanks.” I smiled at him and Dot slid us each another glass of champagne. “I’m glad you got time off for our birthday party.”
He laughed, and the skin around his eyes crinkled. “I saw the note about dressing up and thought it was something I needed to be here for.”
I chuckled. “I appreciate it.”
Finn slipped into the seat on the other side of me, looping an arm around my shoulder and pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Hello, wife.”
The word made my skin tingle. He’d been trying it out for days, sometimes in public. I had to shush him to keep the secret. My mind flicked to last night when I gripped the headboard while he took me hard, gritting that word into my ear. In the bar, my face heated and Finn smirked like he knew what I was thinking.
“You’re lucky,” Beck told us.
Finn and I exchanged a smile. “We know,” I said.
Finn leaned toward Beck. “Is the boat done for the season?”
Beck sighed and leaned back in his chair. “It’s in my garage until spring.”
I studied his regretful expression. Sometimes, it seemed like his boat was the only reprieve Beck had from the demanding hours at the hospital.
“Are things still busy at work?” I asked him.
His eyebrows lifted. “I think things are about to get better. One of my dad’s old friends, a specialist from Toronto, is moving here for retirement and he’s going to be working part time at the hospital. My dad’s hiring another doctor to mentor under the specialist.” He frowned. “They brought someone in for a third interview today. I haven’t met them, though. They’re keeping the interviews private until they make a final decision on the candidate.”
“That’s good, right? More time for hanging out on your boat.”
He laughed quietly. “Yeah, I guess.” He stood. “Be right back.”
He slipped away and Finn and I sat there, saying hello to the people who came up to congratulate us.
The redheaded woman from earlier in the summer appeared at my side, sending confused glances around the bar. Tourist season was mostly over so we hadn’t bothered closing the bar for a private party. Her eyes narrowed as she read the sign above the bar and then took in my dress and Finn’s suit.
I beamed at her. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She winced. “I came in for a drink but…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “I should go.”
“Stay.” I gestured at the seat Beck had left empty. “Did you have another interview?”
She nodded, a small crease forming between her eyebrows. “I did. I’m Cassidy, by the way.”
“Olivia.” I gestured to Finn. “This is Finn, my…” Our gazes met and he wiggled his eyebrows at me. “My husband, I guess.”
Finn shot me a flat, amused look. “You guess?”
I choked out a laugh. “You are. I signed the papers. Everyone saw.”
He chuckled and reached out to shake Cassidy’s hand. “Hey, Cassidy.”
She glanced up at the sign again. “So this is not a birthday party.”
I shrugged. “We lied.” I gestured around the party. “It’s our wedding. Surprise.”
She snorted, surveying the room with an amused expression. “This place is weird.”
“Yeah.” Finn and I grinned at each other. “Queen’s Cove is really weird.” I turned back to her. “Where are you interviewing?”
“Interviewing,” Beck repeated at my side, staring at Cassidy with a weird, tense expression, like he’d seen a ghost. He blinked at her.
Cassidy looked at Beck with a cold glare. “Are you fucking kidding me?” she hissed at him.
Finn and I exchanged a charged, curious glance.
Beck’s eyes were still on Cassidy. “What are you doing here?” He didn’t sound welcoming.
Her back went ramrod straight and she laughed without humor. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to get the mentorship, too? God, what are you, stalking me or something?”
Beck’s jaw ticked. “How’d your interview go?” Sarcasm and something sharp dripped from his tone.
“Great,” Cassidy bit out. “I fucking wowed them.”
Beck’s chest rose and fell fast, and his gaze locked on hers. I’d never seen him so pissed. I’d never seen him pissed at all. Beck Kingston was calm, collected, and kind.
He wasn’t rattled by anything, but something about Cassidy infuriated him.
Cassidy gave him a wry, smug smile. “Don’t get your hopes up, okay? I accepted the job today.”
He shook his head, laughing to himself without a trace of humour.
“What?” she demanded.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I already work there.” He folded his arms, mirroring her. “We’re going to be working together.”
She stiffened, blinking like she’d been slapped.
“Jesus fuck,” Beck sighed.
“No,” Cassidy whispered.
“Yes,” Beck shot back.
“Fuck.” Her gaze slid to me, eyes darting like she was panicking. “I have to go.”
Before I could say a word, she shot to the door and disappeared. I turned to Beck, who stared after her, gritting his teeth.
“Who was that?” I asked him.
“My worst fucking nightmare.” He tossed the rest of his drink back with his eyes on the door.
IN THE EARLY hours of the morning, as the party continued in the bar, Finn pulled me into the hallway and up the stairs.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see.” He laced his fingers through mine as he led me to the end of the hallway, below the skylight. He set the ladder beneath it and climbed up first to open the hatch before descending. “You first.”
I gave him a flat look. “Don’t look up my dress.”
He snorted and gave me a light smack on my ass to make me laugh. When I climbed up onto the roof, my breath caught.
“Finn,” I murmured.
He had set out a blanket, covered in pillows and surrounded by tiny tea lights. We curled up together on it and stared at the stars, holding hands, my head leaning against his hard chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“I’ve never felt this happy,” I murmured, and his free hand came to my hair, brushing lightly, lulling me further into a relaxed bliss.
“Me, neither,” he whispered. “Sometimes I wondered if I was crazy, and there was no hope for us.”
“I’m glad you kept trying.”
“So am I.” He squeezed my hand and I squeezed back.
A shooting star raced across the sky.
“Make a wish,” I told him.
He sighed a happy sound. “I wish that we live a long, happy life together.”
“That we get to be as old as Dot.”
He made a pleased sound in his throat. “That we spend our eighties hiking through the mountains.”
“That our kids are so cute we can barely stand it,” I added.
“Oh, yeah. They will be. Have you seen us?” Finn shot me a grin before turning back to the stars. “I wish that for the rest of your life, you never doubt how much I love you, how much I want you, how much I need you.”
I squeezed his hand. “You’re my best friend.”
“I love you, Olivia Morgan.”
I lifted up on my elbows, a soft smile curling on my mouth as I studied his gorgeous face. “Finn Rhodes, it’s only ever been you.”
