Page 40 of Knottily Ever After (Crescent Lake Cozy Omegaverse #1)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Vaughn

I ’ve never been to Los Angeles in my life, and I have to say, I don’t feel like I was missing much.

It took the four of us about a month to coordinate coming out here together and helping Violet pack up her place.

She conveniently left out the part where she lived in a high-rise penthouse more than twice the size of our apartment in Crescent Lake. And she had this place all to herself for years.

I admit, I feel a bit inadequate standing here in the cool, modern space, seeing all the amenities, like a doorman and a rooftop pool.

What does Crescent Lake offer Violet that she couldn’t have here?

I mean, if pressed, I don’t doubt the three of us would uproot our lives and move to L.A. to be with her.

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

Violet peers over a box at me. She’s been alternating stacking books and clothes into the same boxes so they don’t get too heavy.

And this woman has more books than a library.

Where are we going to fit all of this stuff?

“I’m absolutely sure,” she says, voice firm. “This isn’t my home anymore. My home is with you all.”

I smile, because, who wouldn’t at those words? But I’m still pensive. “You know, we could figure something out if you wanted to keep living here.”

Violet sighs, but she doesn’t sound frustrated, more like she’s placating a small child.

What a turn of events.

On her feet, she approaches me, places her hands on either side of my face, rises onto her toes to kiss my lips softly.

“Vaughn. We are going to have a wonderful life together in Crescent Lake. I’m looking forward to making the town my home.

” Her head shakes. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I really, really don’t.”

I lean my forehead down to rest on hers, slide my hands up her forearms to grasp her wrists. “I just want you to be happy.”

“ You make me happy,” she says. “My career makes me happy, too, and I can be an author anywhere in the world. Crescent Lake itself makes me happy just being there.” She twists to kiss my fingers. “I promise you that this is the right choice.”

And with that, we all continue to pack Violet’s things.

About thirty minutes later, my phone chimes.

Quinn

When are we doing this thing?

I stifle a smile.

Me

After dinner.

Quinn

You’re the boss. *smirking emoji*

Me

I’d like us all to make lists of all the things we think Violet will need when she officially moves in.

Ben

I can tell you right now, she’s going to need a library and an office the size of our entire apartment.

I can’t hold back my grin now.

Me

Make the lists on your phones. We’ll address them together in private.

“I have an announcement.”

We’re all seated in Violet’s immaculate dining area outside of her impressive kitchen that nearly made me weep with envy upon seeing it. We all have wine glasses, each about half full still after completing our meal.

I stand with mine, and Violet turns curious eyes on me.

“With the guidance of a knowledgeable financial advisor—”

“It’s Steve,” Quinn chimes.

“Spoiler alert,” Ben mumbles.

I clear my throat, throw a little glare at them. “Yes, with the help of Steve, we’ve made an expansion plan for the microbrewery.”

Violet’s hands clap together with a gasp, her smile gleeful. “Vaughn!”

“We’re going to start selling our beer all over California, offering it on tap and now also in bottles.

” I take a deep breath. “And that’s not all,” I continue.

“For the home location, we were just approved by the city to expand into the restaurant next door.” My heart thuds.

“And we’re going to become a bar and restaurant in Crescent Lake. ”

Violet leaps from her seat, throws her arms around my middle, and squeezes tight. “A restaurant,” she breathes, then peers up at me with those emerald eyes. “You’ll be able to bring all of your wonderful recipes to life.”

I smile down at her, glass still in hand.

“But there’s more!” Quinn says theatrically, standing along with Ben, both of them with glasses in hand.

“We’re going to rebrand,” I say, not taking my eyes off hers. “Going forward, we’ll be Wildflower Brewing Company.”

She freezes around my ribs, lips parted, eyes round. “W-wildflower?”

I lean in and press my lips to her forehead with an affirmative hum, raise my glass high. “To our Wildflower.”

“We love you, sweetheart,” Quinn says, raising his glass.

Ben raises his, sips and puts the glass down before approaching a still-shocked Violet.

He takes her hand and pulls her gently toward him.

When she looks up at his face—and I can’t help but notice he’s been wearing his glasses a lot more lately—he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a deep purple velvet box.

When he opens it before her eyes, she gasps, hands flying to her mouth.

“This is to symbolize forever, baby,” he tells her in that low, calm tone of his.

He puts his hand out to take her trembling one, and slides our ring on her finger.

We’d had it specially made at the local jeweler, as most packs in Crescent Lake do. It’s made up of three thin bands pressed together, one platinum, one black tungsten, the other yellow gold. All three are wrapped in a spiral of delicately inlaid deep purple tungsten, holding them all together.

“It’s… us,” Violet breathes, eyes shining. “Vaughn, Ben, Quinn, me.” She says our names, pointing to platinum, black, gold, then purple.

When she begins to cry, I’m not far behind her, tears of happiness welling in my eyes. We embrace as one, as it should be.

As it always will be.