We stand there a moment, just holding each other. Then Finn releases me. “Ready to go say your goodbyes?” he asks, smiling again.
I nod. “Just so you know, Dee threatened to hire a stripper.”
“A what?” Finn exclaims.
“I know. I tried telling her. But she swears we’re going to elope, and this is her only chance for a bachelorette party.”
Finn drapes an arm around me, and starts walking back to the car. “You tell her from me, when we get hitched, it’ll be with a white dress, and a church, and everyone watching.”
When. I sneak a glance up at him, and the promise in his eyes takes my breath away. “You seem pretty certain for someone who hasn’t even asked me yet,” I say, trying to hide the butterflies dancing in my bloodstream.
“Why, am I wrong?” he arches an eyebrow, looking too sexy and smug for words.
“No.” I nestle against him, perfectly content. “You’re not wrong.”
In the end, half the town turns out to celebrate us leaving, spilling into the backyard until our intimate BBQ becomes a real party. Finn mans the grill, Lottie rules the playlist, and we dance and party as the sun sets, everyone full of good wishes for the next chapter in our lives.
“You have to go to all the cool bars and shows, and tell me everything,” Delilah orders. “And get a place with a spare room, so I can come visit all the time!”
“I promise.” I hug her tightly, feeling emotional. “I’m going to miss you!”
“You too, babes.” Delilah squeezes me. “Work won’t be nearly as much fun without you there to talk to all day.”
“You’ll do fine without the distraction,” I reassure her. “I bet you’ll have Marcie pushed out and be running your own empire before we’re even back for the holidays.”
“True!” Delilah brightens. “And remember to line me up a hot rock star for when I come visit. I want a full run down of all Finn’s sexy friends.”
“I’ll do my best,” I laugh.
“I’m happy for you,” Delilah says, sincere this time. “You two belong together. It even gives some hope to commitment phobic lost causes like me.”
“Don’t say that!” I protest. “I’m not exactly a role model. It took us long enough to find our way back to each other.”
“You can say that again,” Edith agrees approvingly from behind us. I smother her in a hug.
“Good luck to the both of you.” She nods.
“But what about you?” I ask, feeling a pang of guilt. “How will you manage at the shelter on your own?”
“I’ll find a way.” She reassures me. “And Sawyer will stop by, help me keep the litter in check.”
I see him across the yard, talking with Dee and Lottie. I say goodbye to Edith and head over, meeting Sawyer with a hug. “So, Broadway awaits?” he says, offering me a soda.
“I don’t know about that,” I laugh. “But my old drama school is happy for me to re-enroll and finish out my degree. We’ll see,” I say, excited at the thought. “Maybe it’s not the right dream for me anymore, but at least this way I have a chance to figure it out for myself.”
“Well, Chester and I will miss you around the place,” Sawyer says.
“You’ll keep an eye on Edith?” I check. “She’s getting older now, and with her back—”
“Don’t worry,” he reassures me. “I couldn’t stay away from that place if I tried. She’s got me scheduled to give all the dogs their booster shots. Last I heard, she was drawing up a list of blind dates, too.”
I laugh. “Sounds like her. Watch out though. She has interesting ideas about what makes people compatible.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
Finn joins us, and Sawyer holds up his hands in mock surrender. “We were just talking,” he grins, and Finn laughs.
“Hey man, I’m sorry about before. I can be pretty possessive when it comes to this one.”
“No hard feelings.” Sawyer shakes his hand. “I hope you guys will be happy in New York.”
“What do you think?” Finn looks down at me.
I smile, full of love and possibility. “I think we’re going to find out.”
I hold him tight, thankful that the years and distance only brought us closer together again.
Our adventure is just beginning.
THE END