Epilogue

Four months later

“If I fall and break my leg, Lilly is going to be pissed. Crutches aren’t a good look for a co-maid of honor.” Mo wobbled unsteadily as August guided her with his hands on her hips, maneuvering her as she walked with the blindfold covering her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Sunshine.” His deep voice whispered in her ear. “I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.”

Warm joy spread through her entire body at his words. The six months August was supposed to be her roommate had come and gone, but thankfully the man himself was still here. They renewed the lease on her apartment, choosing to stay for another year while August got his flower farm up and ready. It would take some time to get the greenhouse ready and the land plotted out for all the different species of flowers he intended to grow.

In addition to being the primary supplier for Porter’s Petals, he already had secured contracts with two other flower shops in the area and planned to sell at a few local farmers markets in the summer. Agatha had agreed to let Chris start working at the shop full-time to give herself a little break every now and then, which made August happy.

Mile High Happiness was doing great, and the women were busy putting the last-minute details on Lilly and Lincoln’s wedding this upcoming summer. Agatha’s health had improved significantly since the surgery. The woman said she felt sixty again. She and her friend Patricia were even planning a girls’ trip to Vegas. A real one this time.

Life still had its little hiccups every now and then, but Mo couldn’t remember a time when she’d been happier. August was not who she thought she’d end up with, but she was so glad the universe was smarter than her. He was perfect for her. They were so different, but those differences meshed together. It caused them to try new things, view life from opposite angles. Being with August made her a better version of herself.

“Can I take this thing off now?” she grumbled as she tripped over another rough spot on the ground.

“Almost. Here, hold on.”

Suddenly, she was scooped up into August’s arms. Snuggling into the warmth of his chest, she inhaled deeply. His scent wrapped around her, calming her like nothing else could. He paused, and she felt him jostle her slightly while she assumed he opened some kind of door, judging by the squeaking sound she heard.

“Okay.” He gently set her back down on her feet, lifting the blindfold from her eyes. “Now.”

She opened her eyes, blinking as the bright light of the day burned away the darkness she’d been in for the past twenty minutes. As her eyes focused and she glanced around, she gasped. They were inside the greenhouse on August’s flower farm, but unlike the last time she was here, it wasn’t just an empty building. Now the beautiful glass structure was filled with dozens of flowers and plants, and sprayer hoses lined the ceiling, dripping water onto the vegetation. Sweet floral scents filled the air, and a bed of river rocks made a path through the middle of the building.

“August, it’s beautiful!” She turned in a circle, taking it all in. “I had no idea you’d gotten so far in the process.”

His arms wrapped around her waist from behind. “I wanted to surprise you, and look.”

He pulled her to the back of the greenhouse where a tiny bench sat with lattices behind it, covered in long, bright green strands of ivy. She glanced at the bench, noticing some engraving on the back and leaning closer. The words had her eyes misting.

Love grows where you plant it. MR + AP

“Do you know what ivy symbolizes?” He spoke into her ear, nodding to the ivy behind the bench.

She shook her head. Honestly, he told her so many plant and flower meanings she’d forgotten most of them or kept mixing them up. And they all had multiple meanings, anyway; how could anyone keep them straight?

“It means friendship, affection, fidelity.”

See? So many meanings. Someone should tell flora to stop being greedy and pick one.

He came around in front of her and dropped to one knee, pulling out a small wooden box. “And marriage.”

“Holy crap!” Her heart jumped up into her throat, beating a million miles a minute. They’d talked about the future before, but she hadn’t seen this coming. How had she not seen this coming?

“I honestly don’t care if we get married tomorrow or stay together forever and never get married like your parents. All I want is to be with you, every day of my life, because you make the days better simply by being in them. So, Moira Rossi, we can get married or just keep doing what we’re doing, but will you be mine? Will you let me be yours? Forever?”

He opened the box to reveal two wooden rings, one small and one larger. He hadn’t gotten the traditional engagement ring, but two rings. Symbolizing them both. Their journey. It fit, considering how untraditional they were. It was perfect. It was them.

She tried to speak, but the happy tears clogging her throat prevented her from getting any words out, so she simply nodded, throwing her arms around him. Bad idea. With his unsteady position, they both went crashing to the ground in a tumble of laughter.

“Oh no, did you hurt yourself?” he asked. “I don’t want Lilly to maim me. That woman scares me.”

Her friends might have given August a piece of their minds when they first met him, but then they lovingly embraced him into their circle.

“I’m fine.” She kissed him, pulling back with a bright smile. “Fantastic. Ecstatic. Happier than I’ve ever been.”

He smiled right back. “Me, too.”

“And yes, I do want to get married. I want to have a big party to celebrate our love and declare to the world that we’re soul mates.”

He shook his head with a small chuckle. “A year ago, I would have never believed such a thing was possible. But then I met you. So I’m in. Let’s get married, have a big party, invite the whole city. Whatever you want.”

He was giving her carte blanche. She should take advantage. With a mischievous grin, she asked, “Anything I want? Even pineapple pizza at the reception?”

August threw his head back with a booming laugh. “Sunshine, for you? I’d eat nothing but pineapple pizza for the rest of my life.”

She pulled him close and kissed him deeply. Yup. She’d found her soul mate for sure. Who would have thought opening her door all those months ago would have changed her life forever? Not her, but she was so very glad it had. And whether they had pineapple pizza or chicken breasts with zucchini slices, Mo knew they could handle anything as long as they were side by side.

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