He saw me looking at his fingers and understood. “It’s okay. You can ask.”

I met his eyes. “Did you forget?”

He shook his head, a smile on his lips. “Nope. I put it on out of habit, and then I took it off on purpose. I’ve thought about no one but you for months, Cheyenne. I was thinking about you when I got dressed. And I knew I was going to go after you, try to make you understand. I didn’t want to do that wearing the ring someone else put on my hand. I’m not married to her anymore.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. “And I want to be with you.”

I wound my arms around his waist and pressed my cheek to his chest. “That makes me happy. But if you feel like you should keep wearing the ring until you have a chance to talk through everything with Mariah, I’ll understand. I know she likes you to wear it.”

“You know, you’re making it really easy to fall in love with you. Are you doing that on purpose?”

I laughed, blissfully happy. “Yes.”

We decided it would be better to meet at breakfast than to walk in together, and ended up sitting at different tables. I sat with my mom, Griffin and Blair, and Cole was seated with Mariah, his mom, and Moretti. But we exchanged enough secretive glances that Blair pulled me aside while everyone was leaving the restaurant.

“Oh my God, what is happening?” she whispered frantically, her eyes darting over my shoulder. “Never mind, I know what’s happening—or at least what happened. You slept with Cole!”

“Shhhh.” Taking her arm, I tugged her into the lobby, away from where Cole and Mariah were chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Moretti. “Keep your voice down.”

“Is it true?”

I faced her, unable to hide a smile. “Yes.”

She gasped, then jumped up and down, squealing and fluttering her hands. “I can’t believe it! And yet I can!”

“How did you know?”

“Number one, because it was inevitable. Two, because you guys were both conspicuously absent from the bar last night. And three, because you guys have been staring at each other the whole weekend, but this morning, instead of these longing, I-wish-we-could type looks, it’s more like oh-yes-we-did-and-it-was-fucking-awesome.”

“It was fucking awesome,” I confirmed.

“I’m so happy for you guys,” she gushed. “So how did it happen? Not the physical part, I get that, but did he say anything? Like, what made you change your mind from the night before?”

“He showed up at my door and demanded I let him in. He had to put his hand over my mouth to get me to stop talking so he could apologize, and then he told me he had feelings for me.”

“Eeeep!” Blair clapped her hands. “So it wasn’t just a one-time thing?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head, still amazed. “He wants to be with me. He said it out loud.”

Blair’s face melted like she’d just seen a cute kitten, and she put a hand over her heart. “I’m so happy for you guys. So are you going to move into his new house with him?”

“What? No!” I laughed, shaking my head. “Jesus, give us a minute!”

“Sorry, I’ve got wedding brain. I’m in happily-ever-after mode right now.”

“Well, you’ll have to adjust your expectations for Cole and me, because we can’t really even go public until he talks to Mariah.”

Blair waved a hand in front of her face. “Easy peasy. Mariah is crazy about you.”

“That’s because I’ve never been a threat to her before. Kids take these things seriously, and Mariah is sensitive about Cole. He and I both agree we need to be gentle with her.”

“I think you should get married next summer,” Blair went on, as if I hadn’t said anything. “Maybe outside at one of those old mansions on Center Avenue that’s not a Bed & Breakfast. Or, oh! Oh! How about at the Beale’s lavender farm?”

“Blair. Listen to me.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “You need to calm down. I’m happy right now. The ever after can wait.”

She sighed. “Fine.” Then she took my arm as we started to walk back toward the restaurant, where Griffin was waiting for her. “But just in case, I think we should check the calendar at that lavender farm. I bet they book up early for the summer.”

“Blair.”

“I know, I know. I heard you. Ever after can wait.”

“Thank you.”

The truth was, of course, I was just as anxious as Blair to move forward with ever after. My God, I’d loved him all this time, and now that he’d said he wanted to be with me, it was as if every last dream I’d ever dreamed was coming true. But I’d meant what I said to Cole too—I could be patient. Reassuring Mariah that I wasn’t a threat to her or even to her mother’s memory was the most important thing we could do at this point.

And I was more than willing to play a role in that, but I knew it had to come from Cole first. I’d follow his lead. In the meantime, I’d enjoy the memories from this weekend and savor any stolen moments we could manage in the days to come.

Someday, I hoped we wouldn’t have to steal them at all.

He texted me as I was about to leave my room and check out.

Cole: We’re heading out. Please drive carefully and let me know when you get home.

Me: I will. You do the same, okay?

Cole: Okay.

I waited for a moment, hoping for something a little more intimate and personal, but no more messages arrived. I stuck my phone in my bag, grabbed my garment bag and roller suitcase, and took a last look at the room I’d always think of as ours.

“We’ll come back sometime,” I whispered, a promise to myself. “Together.”

I took the elevator down to the lobby—the memory of Cole’s kiss in there making my stomach cartwheel—and spotted my mother at the desk. As I was making my way over there, I heard Mariah calling my name.

“Miss Cheyenne!” she cried, running toward me and throwing her arms around my waist. She was all bundled up already. “Are you leaving now too?”

“Yes,” I said, laughing as I nearly lost my balance.

“I don’t want to go home. I love it here.” She pouted, looking around the lobby.

“Me too,” I said. “I was just thinking a minute ago that I already want to come back.”

“Yes! And next time, let’s come in the summer so we can ride the horses!”

“Sounds good to me,” I told her.

Cole appeared over her shoulder, wearing his winter gear. He’d clearly been outside already, because his nose and cheeks were pink. “Hey.”

“Hi,” I said, knowing my cheeks were flushed with pink now too.

“Car’s out front, Mariah. I already loaded it and we’re taking up a spot, so let’s get Grandma and hurry.” Cole pulled off his gloves and hat. “She’s over there by the door. Can you help her with her bags?”

“Okay.” Mariah gave me one last squeeze. “Bye, Miss Cheyenne.”

“Bye, honey.” I patted her puffy jacket.

She took off running toward her grandmother, and I stood face to face with Cole. “Cold out there?”