“What time are we supposed to meet Anni and Reid at the Winter Parade?” I ask, shimming into my underwear.

“Uh,” Tyler reaches for his phone on the floor, “Twenty minutes ago.”

I shrug and give him a lopsided smile, “I’ll blame our tardiness on how hot you look in an apron.” Looking for my dress that Tyler ripped off of me a half hour ago. I find it behind a plant in our bedroom.

“How was I supposed to know you’d nearly devour me when you got home from work.” He says, pulling on his jeans.

“You weren’t wearing anything else besides the apron! How could I resist seeing that amazing ass of yours. You knew what you were doing.” I squint.

“I regret nothing,” he gives a cheeky smile back to me and before he can slip his shirt on, I walk over and rip it out of his hands.

“We can be ten more minutes late.” I say and sink to my knees.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking across the ranch property to the main house. Tyler has officially moved into the cottage with me once his friends Miles and Alyssa moved here. Miles took a job at Parker Wellness and Alyssa works as a PA at the hospital. Alyssa is pretty intense and I wasn’t sure how we’d get along until she revealed she likes to read. Just like that, my three person book club with Reid and his step-mom got a new member.

Alyssa and Annika get along perfectly which is a relief since Tyler and I will be leaving for Yosemite next month. Griff has his first climbing tour there and it’s supposed to last a few weeks. I’m both nervous and excited for this new chapter. Knowing that Tyler will be there with me makes it a bit easier.

Tyler and I are really great. I never thought a relationship could have the heat and passion but also the trust and peace. It was always one or the other. All or nothing. Not with Tyler. With him, I can have it all.

The four of us park at the high school parking lot before walking into town. It’s already packed with people. I didn’t realize there were this many people here.

“Do you see them?” I ask, jumping up to get a view above the sea of people.

“Annika said to meet them by the fountain.” Alyssa reads from her phone.

I lock elbows with Tyler as he guides us through the crowd, Miles and Alyssa following. The street is dimmed, only a few stores are open with their lights illuminating the streets. The countdown is to start any minute now that will brighten the entire Main Street.

“Ah, there they are.” Tyler says and we squeeze through a few folks to the fountain. My heart drops as soon as I see Annika’s red rimmed eyes. I look at Reid, whose eyes are just as glassy. I shake my head, bile rising in my throat. They can’t break up again. They can’t.

“What’s wrong?” I croak out and feel Tyler’s hand at my back. I look up at him and he’s smiling. “Why are you smiling? What’s going on?”

Annika smiles, tears sprinkling down her cheeks as she lifts her left hand up and reveals a sparkly ring on her finger. Relief immediately washes over me as I squeal and wrap my arms around hers. She cries and laughs into my shoulder.

“Oh my god!” I yell and hug Reid next. “This is incredible!”

“Congrats you two,” Tyler says hugging each of them. Miles and Alyssa do the same.

Annika recounts that before they left, Reid was looking for his shoes. She was getting so frustrated because they were going to be late and he had plenty of shoes by the door. It turns out, he hid the ring in a pair of boots and couldn’t find them. He finally asked her where the boots were and she said she put them on a shelf in the closet which she grabbed. He asked her to reach in the boot and she pulled out a black velvet bag as he got down on one knee and proposed.

I leaned into Tyler as they told the story, fantasizing if he and I would ever get to that moment in our life. I hope we do, I can’t see myself being with anyone else besides him.

“Welcome to the Winter Parade!” The mayor says into a microphone at the center of the block. She thanks us all for being here, those in town and from adjacent towns. She explains that Auburn Hills is a simple town but one that will always be here for you. It will be a place you need at that moment through thick and thin. A place where you can unite with each other and start new beginnings. A place to be celebrated. With the end of her speech, she makes a cue to whoever is in charge of the lighting.

And like some sort of magic, thousands of twinkling white and multicolored lights illuminate the area. The fountain lights up with teal bulbs, and a large tree erected at the roundabout sparkles with lights and colorful bulbs. Ooos and Aaahs wave through the crowd as they turn their heads around, taking in the wonder of the time of year.

Tyler reaches down to me and kisses me deeply. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into him. My heart fills with support and love. From him and my friends and this cozy town I call my home.

Ten months ago, when my best friend and I rolled into town, I expected a quiet life. I had a plan laid out that I’d continue my life void of men and complicated feelings. Instead, I was greeted with a town where new beginnings would find me and where I found the courage to go after them. Where I found the love of my life who would empower me to be a better version of myself.

So as I hold the love of my life in my arms, the sparkling lights and my friends around me, I welcome the unknown journey ahead, knowing I can conquer whatever comes my way.

The End