Page 101 of Unbearable

“I got it!” He barreled toward me, sweeping me off my feet, twirling me around.

“I knew you would, sunshine. I told you—they’d be stupid not to see how amazing you are.”

Noah made a gagging sound. “Gross. Get a room.”

“Noah, you are literally in my room,” I pointed out.

“That is true. I might just be bitter because you’re leaving me,” she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.

“You know, you could come with me,” I pleaded. It wasn’t the first time I had asked.

After John’s situation, I wanted her close, but I understood why she didn’t want to uproot her life. But John was still on the run, and no one had heard from him, which worried me.

“I can’t. I’m in the middle of the school year and don’t want to leave these kids. Plus, I don’t want to run away because my boyfriend turned out to be on the FBI’s most-wanted list,” she joked, though I could hear the pain in her voice.

Knowing she had let someone like John in had really messed with her head. I tried to be there for her in every way I could, but I knew she struggled with it all. Seeing her hurt made me want to fix everything, because if anyone deserved a happy ending, it was her.

“Noah,” I scolded gently.

“I know, sorry. I deflect with humor.” She chuckled. “You do too, though…” I gave her a serious look.

“If you ever need a safe space, or even a weekend away, I’m here.” I smiled. Trent cleared his throat.

“Dotty’s right. We’d be happy to have you come out. Once we finish the cabin, we’ll move in there, and you can use my place. No pressure, but the offer is there if you need it.”

“Thanks, Trent. You turned out to be not so bad after all. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever like you,” she teased.

“Well, I made him grovel a little, so he made up for it.” Trent smiled at me, giving me a peck on the cheek. “Come on, help me carry out the last of my boxes, then I’ll buy dinner,” I said.

“Only if it’s pizza.” Noah smiled.

“Deal.”

With boxes in hand, I walked through my apartment door for the last time, feeling a sense of freedom. I was leaving behind the life I thought I wanted and stepping into something so much more.

A life with my family, with the hot cowboy who I fell for at nineteen and then again at twenty-nine. A life where I didn’t have to compromise my love or my career because I was fortunate enough for both to coexist perfectly.

A life where all the puzzle piecesfinallyfell into place. I looked back at the door I had crossed countless times throughout the years.

“You ready?” Trent asked.

“Yeah,” I replied, looking at his charming face and outstretched hand.

“Let’s go home.”

THIRTY-EIGHT

Epilogue - Trent

FIVE YEARS LATER

I stood in the driveway,pacing back and forth while staring at the cabin. Dotty and I had made this space our home over the last five years, and it held so many memories.

Just north of the cabin was where I proposed to her four and a half years ago. I was never known for being patient, and I wanted to do it right after I got out of the hospital, but she asked me to wait six months. So, I did.

The front porch we spent hours patching up together was where Dotty told me she was pregnant. Our bedroom that we painted the color that took us hours to settle on was where we spent hours binging TV shows on late nights.

And the main living room was where we hosted countless family dinners, holidays, and game nights. The older David got, the easier it was for him to pass the torch on hosting, especially since we had poured so much time and energy into making this cabin the perfect space for everyone.

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