Thank you for helping this story reach 4,000 reads! To thank everyone who's gotten this far and put so much time into this story, I wanted to share this small bonus chapter, considering the epilogue didn't really cover as much as I wanted it to.

This is for all my readers, who have inspired me and helped my writing grow so much.

Thank you

approximately six months after the epilogue

A Sandy Cove Winter

Like the way the final jigsaw piece glides smoothly into its place, my fingers found themselves intertwining in his. Like they belonged there. They had all this time.

Winter brought with it the stinging breeze from the ocean, hitting our exposed faces as we meandered along the jetty. It also brought peace to Sandy Cove, a tranquillity that came only with the absence of tourists.

We walked to its very edge, where the wooden planks ended and the turbulent ocean began. Around us, the sea roared with the heavy wind, curling and foaming like an untamed beast, showing off its power as if it were bragging.

"Is this vantage point enough for you?" I asked, my lips fumbling in their half-frozen state.

Alastair's fingers loosened from mine to retrieve the camera from its case. His eyes flitted to meet my own, they were wrinkled in the corners with a smile. "Your lips are blue."

And then, to solve the problem, he took a step forward and pulled me towards him by my waist, his warmth cascading through the thick jacket I was wearing and wrapping around my skin in an intoxicating caress. From first dates to family dinners, the building of our relationship did nothing to stop the magnetic pull I still seemed to feel around him.

As if it were trying to assist us, a wisp of wind carried my hair out of my face, granting him the opportunity to press his warm lips to mine. He tasted of the hot chocolate we'd enjoyed only moments ago, and the ends of his hair tickled my forehead. It was a testament to my success in convincing him to grow it long.

I couldn't help smiling into his lips, and I felt his pull up in return.

"We're here to take photos, not to make out," he murmured, the huskiness of his voice and the tingle of his breath on my lips made me desperate to move closer to him.

"Take photos then," I whispered, but I prevented him from responding by kissing him harder.

There wasn't a soul around us, the streets were deserted. The storm that had taken Sandy Cove only this morning had left with it a freezing chill, locking residents into the warmth of their homes.

Which is why we had to keep close. To preserve our body heat, right?

"I wouldn't have taken you with me if I'd known you'd be so distracting," he said. "I'd have left you between my bed sheets to wait for me to get back."

I groaned in protest. "I hate it when you sneak out."

"Which is why I brought you along. But you're not helping your case," he said solemnly. I gave him a look that was menacing enough to return the smile to his face.

Alastair let out a breathy chuckle, but he didn't lean in to kiss me again, instead he flicked a few switches on the camera and turned away from the ocean and towards the shore.

The hotel stood tall and grand along the esplanade, just how the Sullivans had imagined it. After the addition of the finishing touches just yesterday - being the huge golden logo gleaming along its walls - Alastair needed a photo to send to the project manager. It was just a pity he'd dragged us into the cold to do it.

He started pressing the button, checking the screen before continuing. I smiled at him even though he couldn't see, sometimes I couldn't help it. It was hard to imagine how someone could keep you giddy without even trying.

My gaze returned to the ocean. Settling back into Sandy Cove had been easy, it really was as if I hadn't left. But, things had definitely changed. I missed Maisie, my high school friends, and even the gorilla boys. Yes, even Logan Mathews.

Living at home was lonely with Dad gone. I actually spent more time at Penny's with both of them, or at Alastair's apartment than in the house that was too big for me. It didn't help that it was slowly degenerating, the roof leaked in the dining room and at night I could hear the creaks of the roof groaning in stress.

I guess it helped that I spent most nights at Alastair's anyway.

It had taken a while for us to get to that stage. I think we both had the idea that taking things slow was what would make things work the best, especially after all the time we'd spent apart. But it didn't take long for things to pick up at an exponential rate. It's so hard to be patient when you've waited so long.

"I think I have enough," Alastair said, pulling me from the daydreams I'd started to have about our first few nights together, blending into the memories from just last night.

"Great," I said. "Now can I distract you some more?"

"Hmm," Alastair pondered. "Soon."

"Soon?" I asked, mimicking the English tone that fell naturally from his lips.

"I wanted to ask you something," he said. "I was up thinking about it all night."

I frowned, wondering what was significant enough to plague him. We'd spent the evening cooking together while watching the news, discussing the storm that was due and joking about the probability of our meal turning out to be inedible. Then, we'd watched a movie on his couch and I remember falling asleep on his shoulder - it wasn't until the movie was finished that he woke me up to go to bed.

And, then, I'd gained a new energy. And energy that stemmed from being close to him, our skin against skin causing shivers to burst beneath the surface of my legs as they intertwined between his. Sleeping with Alastair was beautiful. It was right, and it was worth the agonising wait.

After that, I'd fallen asleep in his arms.

But what had been worrying him as I dreamed?

"What is it?"

A slow smile graced the lips that I loved to kiss so much. "Will you move in with me?"

My lower lip dropped open. "What?"

Alastair looked amused. "Move in with me. You spend so much time at my apartment anyway, and when you don't it's too empty. Too quiet. I don't get to hear you singing pop songs in the shower or see you in the kitchen wearing my shirt in the morning. It's hollow."

"Alastair, I-" I took a sharp intake of breath, the idea of moving in with him brought a wave of solace to my body, I wanted it so badly. But my mind was already running, spinning all of the things that could go wrong. Over my university years I'd learnt how to deal with that pessimistic voice, the one that reminded me what would happen if things didn't work out. But moments of surprise brought it back full strength.

I took a deep breath. "I don't earn nearly as much as you - the ice-creamery won't pick up until October and even then it needs a lot of work. And the hotel is due to open next month, your work will be done... we've never even spoken about what we'll do when it's finished. And then, if you move on I won't have anywhere to live, or if something happens we'd be-"

Alastair shut off my hysterical rambling with a swift kiss to the corner of my lips. "I knew you'd react like this."

"Well have you thought about this stuff?"

"Of course," he said. "And I came to the conclusion that we should live in the moment for once. What kind of life would we live if we're always expecting the worst?"

"If you expect the worst it means you aren't disappointed."

"You aren't disappointed because you never let yourself get happy in the first place. Do you want this?"

He gestured between us, a harsh breath of wind whipping between the short distance.

"I've never wanted anything more," I said. Because it was true. Every single day we spent waiting for each other was for this.

"Then live for now, do what you want, stop over-analysing everything." He chuckled, pulling me into the warmth of a hug. "We'll work it out. And if we can't, we'll get through it together."

I inhaled his musky scent, letting myself feel the comfort of his chest against my cheek.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"Of course." Ever since that deal, a thousand summers ago.

"I love you, Val," he said, so quietly it could have been carried away by the wind. But I wouldn't let it.

A smile grew on my lips and I pulled him tighter to me. Everything would work out, even if it didn't go exactly how I thought it would now. Waking up with him every day would be worth it.

"I love you too, Alastair."