EPILOGUE

*JENNIE

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Six months later…

"There you are." I hear Lisa's voice seconds before her arms wrap around me from behind. "I've been looking all over for you. It's freezing, what are you doing out here?"

I take a moment to appreciate her scent that instantly engulfs me, breathing her in deeply before responding, "Hey." I lean my head back against her chest and look out over the expansive lake that sits at the back of the Manoban property.

It's the first time I've been here in years, and so many memories have come rushing to the surface in the twenty minutes since I found myself standing on this dock.

"It's so beautiful out here this time of year." I sigh in contentment, loving the way the moon hits the frozen water just right, making the lake look like it's speckled with diamonds.

"It is," Lisa agrees, running her hands up and down my arms in an effort to warm me. "Still doesn't explain why you disappeared on me." Her lips brush the spot just below my ear. "Had enough Manoban family fun have you?"

"How you ever grew up with parents like that I'll never understand," I admit, turning in her embrace to look up at her.

"Please. Those two people in there are nothing compared to what I grew up with."

Lisa's parents, at some point while she was away at school, seemed to have rekindled a relationship they had long since lost. While they are still nearly unbearable to be around, it's clear to see that life in the Manoban home is a lot better than it used to be. And I know how much that means to Lisa. It's been a long and messy road, and while I don't think they'll ever be the type of family Lisa deserves, I think it's enough for her that they're at least trying.

"Even still, if I have to listen to your mother tell me one more time that I don't have the body for a strapless wedding dress, I might end up stabbing her in the forehead with my dinner fork."

At this Lisa laughs, a deep rumble vibrating through her. It instantly brings a smile to my face. It's my favorite sound in the world.

"Well, you better get used to it. In just a few short months you will be an official Manoban, and old mom and pop up there will be your family." She gestures up toward the house.

"Can I reconsider?" I joke, earning me a quick squeeze to my side.

"Not a chance. No take backs." She tightens her grip around my waist and pulls me closer. "I've been waiting years to marry you, Jennie Kim. There's no way I'm letting you slip through my fingers now that I'm so close."

"Then perhaps the next time your parents' invite us up for a long weekend we should reconsider," I tease.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how your mom is doing in there. Some daughter you are, throwing her to the wolves like that."

"Please. My mom can handle her own. Besides, Jeff is in there with her. He'll make sure my mother doesn't kill yours. I mean, at least I think he will." I laugh at the thought.

"Remind me again how we ended up with all of them in the same house?" She chuckles in response.

"I have no idea. They must all have a death wish." I shake my head. "I just can't believe my mom brought her new boyfriend over here. I guess she figures if he can handle a night with your parents' then he's a keeper." I reach up, wrapping my arms around Lisa's neck.

"Well, if I had to guess, I'd say he's passing with flying colors." She leans down and lays a light kiss to my lips, smiling against my mouth. "I remember the very first time I brought you out here." She changes the subject.

"Me too." I pull back slightly, grinning up at her. "Thought you were gonna get lucky."

"Oh, I did get lucky."

"That's not the way I remember it."

"Are you kidding me? I got to hang out with the most incredible girl I'd ever met, watch her drink whiskey like a boss, and then spent two blissful hours watching her sleep—all the while thinking how I'd never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life. If that's not getting lucky I don't know what is."

"Are you trying to butter me up, Ms. Manoban?" I pull her down for another kiss, letting my lips linger against hers.

"That depends, is it working?"

"Keep talking and we'll see," I tease, dragging my tongue along her lower lip.

She pulls back just enough to look down at me, her hand reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear—something she's always done. "I love you, Jen."

"I love you more," I practically cut her off.

"Not possible," she argues, continuing the tradition from when we were teenagers.

"So possible," I retort.

"Don't argue with me, Jennie," she warns, her eyes playful.

"Don't argue with me, Lalisa." I give it right back to her, laughing when she swoops me up and cradles me to her chest, nuzzling her face into the crook of my neck.

"Thank you." She suddenly falls serious, her hazel eyes locked on mine.

"For what?" I question, confused by the abrupt shift.

"For spending Christmas in this shit show. For moving to California with me. For agreeing to be my wife. For making me the happiest man in the entire world. The list goes on and on." She kisses the tip of my nose. "I imagined this life, being with you like this. For years I dreamt of it, prayed for it, but I don't think I ever really thought it would actually happen. Being here with you like this, remembering how it all started and how far we've come, it just makes me appreciate it all that much more."

"Me too," I agree, my voice shaky, emotion bubbling inside my chest.

"What do you say we ditch the wedding? Let's get married now," she suggests, a wide smile spreading across her handsome face.

"What do you mean now?" I choke.

"Tomorrow. Let's get married right here on this dock. Just you and me."

"I'm pretty sure Rosé and Jisoo would kill me," I object, convinced she's not actually serious.

"Well, they can try, but they would have to get through me." She shifts, slowly lowering me to my feet. The instant they hit the dock her hands are cupping my face. "I'm mean it, Jen, let's do it. Why wait?"

"You're serious?" I finally manage to speak after a long moment.

"I am. I don't need anyone to show up but you. All I want is for you to be my wife, and I want it now. Hell, I'd marry you this very second if I had someone who could perform the ceremony."

"Lisa," I start, but she instantly cuts in.

"Over six years ago I fell in love with you on this very dock. I fell in love with your smile and your laugh, with the way you viewed the world like everything had beauty and purpose in it even though you had no reason to believe it so. I fell in love with you right here, and I've only fallen harder every day since then. Marry me, right here, where it all began. What do you say, Jen?"

"I say you have some phone calls to make, and I have a dress to buy." It takes a moment for my statement to register, but once it does that incredible smile of hers slides into place.

I squeal when she lifts me off my feet and spins me around, our fogged breath clouding the air around us as we laugh and kiss, losing ourselves in the moment.

An outdoor wedding on a dock overlooking a frozen lake in the middle of winter would not have been my first choice, but looking at Lisa—seeing the sheer happiness etched into every feature of her face—I can't imagine doing it any other way.

Because at the end of the day, all that really matters is Lisa, becoming her wife, spending my life with her. It's all I've wanted from the moment she took my hand on that balcony over six years ago.

Lisa pulls my mouth down to hers, delivering an earth-bending kiss before lowering to my feet. "Tomorrow can't come soon enough," she mutters against my lips.

And that's how our future begins.

THE END

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