Page 100 of Full Send

I think about that word and the last two weeks. I’ve always thought of Jackson as this special place, a fairy tale escape. But now, I might actually get to call it home.

Home with Tanner, the man of my dreams. The man that grounds me. The man that I trust. The man that reminds me I’m strong. The man who pours his heart and love into me, giving me as much as I need. The man that I’m hopelessly in love with.

I look back to the road stretching out in front of us. With the sun setting behind the mountains, the sky is a beautiful collage of blues, purples, reds, and yellows. It’s a view I’ve seen so many times, but now, with Tanner here, it’s more magical. If I could live in this moment forever, I would.

I don’t know everything that’s in store for us. I know it won’t always be easy. I just know that I want to be with Tanner. Always. I’d follow him anywhere. I don’t care where we end up.

Home is wherever I’m with him.

He is myhome.

Epilogue

Ronni

2 Months Later

After lunch, we get in line for the gondola. Tanner and I get in the car easily and watch as Collin and Lizzy stumble and fuss with their skis, failing to get on the same gondola with us. It almost looks like they’re ignoring the help of the lifties. Somehow, even with all that practice two months ago in Jackson, Lizzy still hasn’t figured it out here in Aspen Valley. Laughing, we look back at her and my brother. I see an amused look on her face and a shit eating grin on his. I must be seeing things because I swear I even see Lizzy wink.

I groan. “Those two. Always causing trouble.” Across the gondola car, Tanner looks at me, his eyes that familiar, smoldering green. Somehow it never fails to make my stomach flutter and make my skin tingle.

“Oh no,” I wave my hands in surrender. “No no no. Not again,” I say, practically giggling. “We have no idea how long this gondola is and this one isn’t nearly as tinted.”

He laughs, but his gaze never leaves mine. It’s been that way for the last two months since themudroom. The two of us, his loving eyes always on me. And I’ve learned so much about myself since then. Tanner and I have pushed each other to be the best versions of ourselves. He’s helped me to focus more on the moment, to only worry about what I can actually control, and to keep learning to let go of the rest that I can’t. I’ve pushed him to keep opening up, to stop bottling up his feelings, and to focus on what brings him joy, because I’ll always be there for him.

Together, Tanner and I are learning we can both have what we’ve always wanted.

Jackson feels like home more than it ever has, for us both.

After our whirlwind drivehomewith Tanner, I put my house on the market. Collin took advantage of his ability to work remote and did the same. Now without mortgages in Ohio, we don’t have to rent the condo any more and Collin is moving into it. He’s going to keep his online clients, but he’s taking on new clients at one of the local yoga studios from time to time.

Looking across the gondola, I can’t help but feel my heart melt by the way this man makes me feel. He takes off his gloves and helmet, setting them neatly by his side before leaning across the gondola. I feel my cheeks flush as he smirks at me.

That smirk. Those dimples. He shows them more and more now and I make sure I never take them for granted. I feel like everyday he feels more comfortable about sharing his feelings instead of bottling things up. I’ve watched him become more focused, like a weight’s been lifted off of him and he’s free to focus on his property management company and making knives. With Collin’s excitement about driving a plow, they plan to partner and grow that business.

He’s even been dedicating more time and energy to his knives too. He seems so inspired to create. Now, instead of a case at the Eclectic Elk, he has a full wall dedicated to his work. Earlier thismonth, a chef at a big name restaurant in Seattle bought a set of his knives. He’s working with Giselle to create a waitlist for custom pieces too.

Across from me, he lowers himself onto his knees, only pure worship in his eyes as the smirk leaves his face.

“I thought I just said we’re not doingthat, Tanner.” I playfully raise an eyebrow at him. I can’t believe I’m telling himno, but I’ve got to havesomeself control from time to time, as hard as that is around him.

“Ronni, I will always get on my knees for you. There’s nothing you can do to stop me from loving you.” His voice is gravel and strained. I’ve only seen him like this once before. That night in the mudroom when it looked like he was tormented about whether or not to kiss me. The night he finally leapt and we’ve never looked back.

And that’s when my heart stops. He pulls a box from his pocket, one I’ve seen before. The velvet box I’ve kept my grandmother’s engagement ring in all these years, hoping for my person to come into my life.

“Oh my god. Oh my god, Tanner.” I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth. I can feel the tears already building in the corners of my eyes.

“Will you marry me, Ronni? I’ve been kicking myself for waiting this long to ask. But with you, I never want to waste another second that we could be together.” His eyes stare deep into me, pleading yet confident, immediately grounding me the way he always does.

“Yes, Tanner. Yes!” I squeal through tears. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” He says, grinning wildly before leaning forward to kiss me like I’m the only thing in his world.

I still feel like I’m living in a fairy tale. He really was the missing puzzle piece in my life. With him by my side, it feels like the rest of my life has fallen neatly into place.

I havemy person.

Someone that reminds me I’m strong and lifts me up. Someone that will take things off my plate without even being asked. Now I’m finally building my career to where I’ve always wanted. I’m surrounded by people that bring me up, make me better, and empower me to do more.

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