Page 45 of Battle of the Exes

Breathless, a wisp of a smile on her lips, Ivy pretends to consider. “Still reckless and irresistible.” Then she turns serious. “There’s one more thing, though.”

A flicker of worry as I brush my thumb along her jaw. “Anything, my love.”

Her expression now mischievous, her gaze shifts to the café’s back door. “I also came for carrot cake.”

I laugh with joy, relief, and a heart brimming with love.

Ivy kisses me once more and this time’s the charm. Because in her loving arms, I know she’s here to stay.

Chapter Forty-Three

Ivy

The last notes of the July Fourth parade trail off. Streamers strewn along the street, kids clutching cotton candy, the air still buzzing with celebration.

Beau and I slip away with Rusty trotting ahead, tail high, following the quiet curve of the Silver Pine Trail into the hush of the trees. It’s just us now.

The late afternoon sun filters through the aspens, warm and dappled. Wildflowers edge the path, and the air smells like pine and summer. Beau holds my hand like he has no plans to let go.

We walk in silence, taking breaks to catch our breath and steal kisses. I’m drinking in the glorious meadow when Beau looks at me with an intensity that makes my insides melt.

And then, out of nowhere, he says it.

“Marry me again.”

I blink. “What?”

Beau’s lips form into one of his famous smiles, the dimple back in full force. “I’m serious. We were pretty good at it…for those, what? Three days?”

“Is that your best pitch?” I laugh.

He brushes a strand of hair from my cheek, fingers lingering. “Ivy, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, the piece of my heart that I’ve been missing since we parted.”

My mouth goes dry. His expression is so open, vulnerable, full of love. For me.

“You’re the reason I bought the house. Someplace deep inside, I hoped you’d find your way back to me.” His eyes water. “And you did. Please marry me again, Ivy.”

There’s no kneeling, no ring. Just Beau, offering the one thing I never imagined.

He takes my hand in his. “What do you say, Dear Ivy?”

Tears flow down my cheeks. “We’ve done everything backwards. Why stop now?”

He lets out a joyful laugh and pulls me into his arms, whispering in my ear, making my skin tingle. “No more running, okay?”

“Only towards you.”

He kisses me with a smile against my lips, sealing the moment with joy.

And just like that, we begin again, two decades later, finally on the right path.

Epilogue

Ivy

The porch swing creaks beneath me as I nurse the last of my lemonade and watch the sun spill gold over the Rockies. Rusty lies sprawled on the planks, snoring softly, one paw twitching in a dream.

This is peace. This is home.

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