Page 171 of The Fall Classic

Cloud Gate.

Or, as it’s more commonly known, The Bean.

We stop underneath the massive bean-shaped reflective sculpture that looks like it’s made of liquid mercury, and we look up and all around at the warped versions of ourselves, legs too long in some reflections, faces too wide in others. But tucked beneath the sculpture as we are, we’re surrounded by infinite versions of ourselves.

It’s silly and yet so beautiful.

“Two roads diverged,” I say, putting my hands on her hips, my thumbs running across the waistband of her jeans, “and somehow they both led here. Dare I say it was … meant to bean?”

She groans, laughing against me. “That is so cheesy.”

But her dimples are flashing, and I kiss one, then the other, then her lips.

“It may be cheesy,” I say, putting my finger beneath her chin and looking into her gorgeous brown eyes, “but it’s true. You and me, Georgie. We’re meant to bean.”

“It’s not any better the more you say it,” she says, laughing against my mouth.

“Nope.” I kiss her again. “But it’s still true.”

EPILOGUE

Georgie

No professional athlete looks comfortable climbing out of a minivan, but as awkward as it looks for Lucas and Coop, it is so much worse for Bruce Fischer.

He’s the largest man I’ve ever seen in real life, not height-wise, but in sheer muscle. He looks like he could be lifting buddies with The Rock and John Cena. Yet here he is, practically unfolding himself from the back seat of the minivan Scottie drove from the airport to Alma and Julio’s place in Mullet Ridge.

“Who is the silver fox?” Liv asks me. I wrap my hands around the to-go cup I have waiting for Scottie, borrowing the warmth before I give it to her.

“That’s Logan’s dad.”

“Dang, girl. Your man is going to age very well.”

I smile. “I know. Is it bad that that makes me excited to grow old with him?”

“Not remotely,” she says. Then her eyes widen. “And who’s the brooding bad boy?” she asks, looking at Jake in a way that makes me elbow her.

“Whoa, I didn’t know you had a thing for bad boys.”

“Olivia did. Liv does not.”

“Well, Jake’s actually a great guy, although I think he may be the last one to know it.”

Scottie and Liesel were in the front seats, and they both walk over to me. Scottie starts jogging when she sees the to-go cup in my hands.

“Is that for me?”

“It is,” I say, handing it to her.

“You are my favorite person in the whole world,” she says, hugging me.

“She says that like she didn’t stop at Meant to Bean on the way here,” Liesel says, and Scottie doesn’t deny it.

“That was my travel latte,” Scottie says, even though Alma and Julio’s place is only ten minutes from Meant to Bean. She must have chugged it to be done already. “This is my lunch latte. Try to keep up.”

Liesel smirks and gives me a hug, too.

“Liesel, Scottie, this is my dear friend, Liv,” I say. “Liv, this is Liesel, Logan’s sister, and Scottie, his twin brother’s girlfriend.”