Page 171 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
EPILOGUE
SOPHIA
“How do you own this many books? Do you have a hoarding problem?” June teases, dragging another box through the front door. “You could build a furniture set out of these.”
“This is not hoarding, trust me?—”
June arches an eyebrow. “Six boxes, all labeledBOOKSlike they’re endangered species. It’s giving romance-librarian-with-light-hoarding-tendency vibes.”
“Well,” I say, grabbing a box from her, “the guys hired a delivery service to bring everything Meredith packed up for me back when I thought I’d only be here for three months. And now… I’m moving in. Funny how the universe works, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Meredith says, entering behind her, already brushing her hands off. “I packed the boxes, but somehow only now seeing themheream I realizing how absurdly skewed your kitchen logic is.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
June pushes a box aside so she can reach the couch.
“Iknewsomething was off,” Meredith says. “Sophia, you own seventeen coffee mugs, three corkscrews, andtwoplates. Were you hosting brunch for ghosts?”
“Coffee is essential. Food is… optional.”
June flops onto the couch, grinning. “I see your priorities—caffeine first, basic survival later.”
I toss a cushion at her.
She ducks, chuckling as it flies right over her head.
“I gave up my entire garage corner for this, by the way,” Meredith says. “Packed and labeled and everything. I had to put my kayak in storage to make room for your emotional baggage in paperback form.”
“I love you for it.”
“I know.”
“Okay, Meredith, if you ever decide to stay in Montana, I already have a list of places with bottomless mimosas and one sketchy karaoke bar that will absolutely ruin your life in the best way,” June adds.
“Oh, we’d get arrested together so fast,” Meredith says brightly.
“Bailed out before midnight,” June replies without missing a beat.
I laugh, sinking into the armchair with a happy sigh, watching them bounce off each other like they’veknown each other for years, not just a few days. It’s all warmth and rapid-fire sarcasm, the kind of effortless connection that feels familiar.
And I love it.
I love having them both here. Watching them bond this easily feels like the universe giving me permission to want more.
So now I’m doing what any reasonable woman would do: secretly figuring out how to convince Meredith to move here too.
“Oh my God.” June pulls out a candle from a box. “Why do you have one that smells like Cash? Is this supposed to be cologne-scented?”
“It does?” I go over and sniff it, and instantly my body burns up. My face goes hot. “Wow, it does smell like him.”
Both girls are grinning wickedly now, sniffing the candle. “This is hilarious,” Meredith says. “You bought a candle that smells like your boyfriend before you even met him!”
“The universe was telling me years ago about my scent match,” I add, chuckling.
Meredith laughs. “I’ve missed this. You, I mean. Our chats and banter.”
“You’re staying the whole week, right?” I ask, suddenly worried she’ll leave early.
