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After this, Jack let her stay on the project.

They’re not best friends, not even close. But something has shifted between them. The tension, the cold, the years of silence—they’ve softened into something like mutual understanding. During one of my visits to their movie set in L.A., I watched them share a quiet laugh between takes. Megan said something, Jack rolled his eyes, and they both smiled. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t fake.

It was healing.

I fly out once a month to see him—and catch up with Nova, one of my new closest friends—and he calls every night without fail. He sends flowers with ridiculous notes, like “This reminded me of your hair that morning you woke up grumpy.” I frame the notes and tease him about how sappy he’s become.

The door chimes, and a customer walks in. I greet them with a smile, all the while my heart doing that little flutter thing it does whenever I check the time. Jack’s supposed to land tomorrow. He says he has a surprise.

I think back to everything—the matchmaking, the confusion, the hurt, the calla lilies, the town’s love, Jack’s public confession—and I’m still in awe of how everything changed. How he changed me.

And I changed him.

We’re not perfect. We still argue. We still struggle with distance. But there’s never been a day I’ve doubted the love between us.

Never been a moment I didn’t know we were choosing each other.

And honestly?

That’s more than enough for me.

I’m not the only one who’s happy, either.

It feels like everyone around me is finding some kind of peace and balance—and that makes my own joy feel complete.

Ryan kept his dental practice here and has done well growing it. We see each other around town, and it’s amicable, if sometimes awkward. Funnily enough, he started dating Mirta a couple of months ago. I truly wish them all the best.

Riley’s pregnant, and to be honest, I’m as shocked as I am happy. I can’t wait to see her as a mom. Ethan’s over the moon. And I know the Bardstown community will rally around her. She’ll never be alone in this. Aunt Dotty would never allow it, especially when she’s already busy enthusiastically buying every baby item known to mankind.

Emma’s practice is thriving, and Sam continues to do amazing things for our town in his role at the fire station. She told me the other night they’re finally about to start trying for a family, and I cannotwaitto be their little one’s new aunt.

My parents have also decided it’s finally time to stop meddling in my life and do something with theirs. Chuckling, I pick up my phone and open the video they sent from salsa class. It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen—they’re like tornadoes with feet. Their teacher definitely has their work cut out for them. But I’m glad they’re finding new hobbies.

Just as I put my phone down, it buzzes with a new text. I grab it again, thinking it’s Jack, but seeing my sister Sophie’s name makes me smile even harder. I miss her, but I know she’s off living her best life, married to a handsome prince. If her life isn’t a fairytale, I don’t know what is. Honestly, I really should consider becoming a matchmaker.

Hi Mia. Guess what? Graham and I are coming to Bardstown next month! I’d better get to meet Jack finally—I love his movies! Oh, and that he loves you. But his latest really is the best in the franchise.

Laughing, I start typing a reply, excited to see her soon. We chat for a few minutes before a customer walks in, and I have to go.

Later that evening, I’m contemplating closing early for the day when the bell over the shop door jingles again, cutting through the quiet hum of the space.

I glance up, expecting another regular with an order for something bright and cheery—but the sight that meets me catches my breath in my throat.

Jack.

He’s standing there, framed by the soft golden light streaming in behind him. His hair is a little longer than the last time I saw him, tousled in that effortless way that makes him look like he just stepped off a movie set. He’s wearing jeans, a simple white T-shirt, and that smile—the one that’s both cocky and tender, the one that’s only ever for me.

“Jack?” I gasp, the name falling from my lips like a whisper. “What—what are you doing here?”

He drops his bag just inside the door and steps toward me, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Surprise,” he says, his voice warm, familiar, steady.

I blink at him, still frozen, hands halfway between sorting dahlias and dropping everything on the counter. “You were supposed to land tomorrow.”

“Yes. But…” he grins. “I needed to see you a little sooner. I missed you. As soon as I wrapped up on set, I grabbed the first available flight.”

My heart stumbles over itself as I round the counter, and before I can stop myself, I’m in his arms. He lifts me slightly, holding me tight like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.