Page 80 of The Reality of Wanting Him

“Alpacas.”

I actually laugh at that. He says it so seriously though, like he’s put a lot of thought into this. “You’re out of your mind.”

“I am not!” he exclaims. “They’re profitable, Liam! We could sell the wool. Make blankets. Plus, they’re fluffy and adorable and I love them.”

I cross my arms and level him with a look. “Uh huh, and how much research have you done on all these animals?”

“I’ll have you know, a lot. It’s my entire TikTok algorithm. They’re all I see. I know so much now.”

“Oh, Jesus." I laugh to myself.

“Trust me, I have so many ideas, and the animals will be great for bringing families to the farm! Petting zoos are the best. I’m officially taking over the expansion plans.”

I tug him in, whispering against his lips, “I love you, Blake. So much.”

He smiles against my lips and presses a kiss to my mouth. “I loveyou, Liam.”

And at this moment, I know we’re going to be okay because we have each other. As ridiculous as his ideas might sound, I love that he’s making plans forus. That this isn’t just my farm anymore, it isn’t just my dream, my future.It’s ours.

EPILOGUE ONE

BLAKE

A Few Weeks Later, May

The final episodes of the show released last week for streaming, and it feels like all of America has seen our love story unfold. I might be biased, but I think our relationship and all the drama that occurred during filming is the reason that the show became so popular.

Sure, when it came out that Jace and Kieran had grown up together and that they hated each other’s guts, there was obviously some interest from the viewers as well,but I still think we had a more captivating story than them.

Everyone who made it through enough of the show to at least meet their partner in person is back tonight for the live filming of the reunion episode. Andy is seated in the middle of the stage that’s been set up in front of an audience that seems way too big for the soundstage. The audience is packed.Apparently a lot of people wanted to be here for this.

Jace and Kieran are seated together on a love seat, along with the rest of the couples who are still together to the left of Andy.Those who didn’t say “I do” are all seated in single chairs to the right of Andy.

The show put Liam and I in our own armchairs and explained that it would be more dramatic to start out this way. Then when it’s time, they’ll swap our chairs with a love seat after it’s announced we’re still together.

We’re moments away from starting as the crew gets everyone in the audience to quiet down by holding up signs with instructions. Someone counts down the final moments before we must be live, and Andy’s booming voice rings out across the studio.

“Good evening, fellow romance lovers and reality TV show watchers. We have a very special episode planned for you all tonight! We have brought back the cast of the inaugural season ofLove Without Labelsto bring you the latest updates and gossip over how life has been since the show stopped filming!”

He pauses to smile and make eye contact with a few of the couples seated on the stage before turning back to face the audience. “Are they still together? How is life away from the cameras? And the real reason I think most of us were so eager to tune in tonight—what really happened between Liam and Blake?”

I can feel my cheeks heating at the mention of my name, but I try to cover up any nerves with a big smile of my own.I have no reason to be nervous. Liam and I are better than ever.We’ve spent the time since the show aired working together to really improve the structures around the farm and prepare to open our pumpkin patch, and I successfully convinced Liam to fill the largest barn on the property with animals for a petting zoo.

The baby highland cows we purchased should be ready to leave their mom any day now, and I can’t wait to see my newest children again. The goats have been amazing, even if they are a bit destructive, and Lucky has loved spending time with her new siblings, even if she does prefer to spend most of her time with Liam’s dad. And Liam and I have been looking into the bestplace we can get alpacas. I feel like we’re building a great future for ourselves, and I really hope that we can attract other people to come see how special the farm is.

It’s crazy to me just how much the farm feels like home in such a short time. It feels far more like a home than the city ever did, and I’ve made Chad come experience the farm life twice so far. I think he finally sees the appeal. Liam’s childhood best friend, John, just ended up moving back home kind of unexpectedly, and it’s been great to spend time with him too.

Andy has a script of questions to run through, starting with some of the contestants who got less screen time, before moving to Jace and Kieran. Obviously, I’d heard what happened between them on the show when they first met the person behind the anonymous profile, especially since Jace and Liam became close during the process. But the producers and editors weren’t sure exactly what had gone down between them in the past, so their shift from anonymous dating and picking each other, to hate, to being in love was a little jarring.

They weren’t nearly as good at monologuing to the cameras as Liam and I were.

Andy tries to get more out of them about why they were so opposed to each other initially, but they both give very vague answers, not revealing much, which I can respect. Even Andy’s bubbly optimism starts to flatten when they give their fourth or fifth nonanswer and it becomes clear that they’re not going to turn this into some tell-all that I’m sure the audience and producers alike were hoping for.

After what feels like forever, Andy finally turns dramatically in his seat to face Liam and I, crossing his legs and folding his hands in his lap like he’s settling in, ready to catch up with old friends. “Hello, boys!”

“Hi, Andy,” I respond conspiratorially.

“Well, I think that we all know you two are the oneseveryone was willing to sacrifice their first-born for while trying to secure tickets to tonight’s taping.”

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