I watch as Aspen’s face shifts from shock to awe, his eyes roaming the space with a mix of wonder and disbelief. His gaze lingers on every detail like he’s afraid to miss something, like this could all disappear if he blinks too quickly.
“Is this really ours?” He asks, his voice quiet almost reverent, like he’s afraid he might break the magic if he speaks too loudly.
I toss him the keys, the motion feeling almost symbolic. “Let’s take it for a spin.”
His hands shake just slightly as he catches them but the smile on his face tells me everything I need to know. He’s overwhelmed, but in the best way. Aspen walks over, still taking it all in, and opens the passenger door for me, of course he does. I slide in with a laugh, leaning back against the seat and letting the excitement settle over me like a warm blanket. I’m in love with him, I’m in love with this life we’re building, I’m in love with all the possibilities.
He jogs around to his side of the van and climbs in, his face practically glowing with joy, I can’t help but smile at him. He looks like a kid in a candy store, his excitement so pure so contagious. He leans over the center console and kisses me slow and full of emotion, like he’s trying to tell me everything without saying a word. When he pulls back he cups my face gently in his hands.
“I freaking love you, Mrs. Genevieve Davis,” he says and I swear I feel the words sink straight into my soul.
Hearing him say it hearing him say my name like that still sends a shiver down my spine. It’s like I’m hearing it for the first time, every time. I smile so wide that my face hurts, but I don’t care.
Oh, did I mention we eloped in February?
Aspen told me to come to the resort after hours in January and meet him at the bar, I thought maybe he wanted to recreate what we did that one night, ride and try not to get caught. But when I entered the bar I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The entire bar was covered in hundreds of candles and twinkling lights hung from all over the ceiling. Aspen was in the middle of the room waiting for me with his hands behind his back.
I slowly walked up to him and that’s when he gets on one knee. I nearly gasped, I couldn’t believe what was happening, he pulls out a small velvet box and opens it.
Nestled inside the box was a silver ring—delicate, but not dainty. A single diamond sat in the center clear and bright, but it wasn’t just the stone that took my breath. The setting around it wasshaped like a snowflake intricate and glinting, as if winter itself had laced it together. The diamond sparkled like the heart of a snowfall simple, timeless, and quietly breathtaking. Just like him.
Of course I said yes, and a month later we eloped. Just at the court house, nothing crazy.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but that moment, our moment, changed everything. I’m no longer carrying that Brown name like a weight on my shoulders. I’m not just my parents’ daughter anymore. I’m my own person, and now, I’m his.
We drive around town, windows down music blasting, the sound of our laughter mixing with the wind. We both feel the freedom in the air, the kind that only comes when you’ve found your person, your place, your home. We feel like teenagers again, no curfew, no responsibilities, except for each other.
At one point, I stick my head out the window and scream into the wind, just because I can. I don’t care who hears me.
This is it. This is freedom. This is love.
And if I ever doubted moving here, ever questioned if I made the right call this moment erased it all. Every doubt, every fear, every moment of uncertainty is gone. Everything led me here.
And now, I can finally say it: I’m so damn glad it did.
Everything truly happens for a reason.
Aspen
4 months after buying the van
We’re in the car, on the way back from the airport and my heart’s beating faster than it does before a competition. I’ve pulled off plenty of tricks in my life, but none quite like this. I glance over at Genevieve in the passenger seat, her legs curled up under her, hair a little messy from the long flight, but somehow she still looks like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
And I’m about to blow her mind.
Going pro in snowboarding opened doors, endorsements, contests, sponsorships and gives me the means to finally spoil the hell out of the girl who stood by me through it all. We don’t live flashy lives though. That’s not us, our life’s simple and quiet in all the best ways. Most of the money I make just sits untouched, collecting dust in the bank. I still drive the same damn Subaru, Savannah, that takes forever to warm up and wear the same clothes. But when her birthday started creeping up on the calendar… I knew I wanted to go all out.
It’s been four months since Genevieve bought us the van, and six since moving into the house. It’s perfect yet peaceful, tucked into the pines, feels like ours. But there was one thing she always quietly complained about: the kitchen, too small, outdated appliances, and nowhere near the dream cooking space she deserves. She never whined about it, just mentioned little things here and there. The gas stove acting up, the fridge being too tiny to hold all her meal prep, and the drawers that stuck no matter how many times we fixed the tracks.
So, I planned the ultimate distraction. A week-long early birthday getaway to Paris. Her dream city. Croissants in themorning, art museums in the afternoon, wine in the evenings… and while we were away, a team of contractors worked their magic back home.
They sent me updates every day, white cabinets, gold hardware, hardwood floors polished like glass, and state-of-the-art appliances installed with care. A whole new kitchen, built from scratch with Genevieve’s style in mind.
And I didn’t stop there. On one of our last days in Paris, while she was off enjoying a spa day that I’d surprised her with, I slipped out for something a little more personal. One final gift…
Now, as we pull onto our street I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. She has no idea what’s waiting behind that front door.
