Page 159 of Love Overboard
“It’s my new restaurant,” Finn said.
I blinked up at him, heart thudding as Graham motioned for me to pass the photo down the line.
And then Finn had my hand in his again, his eyes searching mine.
“I thought the first one was it for me,” he said, voice steady but full of emotion. “I built it in Dublin with everything I had. But the truth is… I wasn’t ready. Not the way I thought I was. And maybe that failure wasn’t the end of my dream — maybeit was the beginning of something better. I think we both know now that the universe had other plans.”
His lips quirked up, and my eyes watered, my heart so full I could burst.
“I think maybe my Gran knew I couldn’t do it without you.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to cry as the audience collectively melted.
“This time, I’ve got the right people. The right investors. The right team. A new menu I’m already testing with my future staff. A fresh start — in South Florida, where I can be with you.” He smiled. “And a name.”
I expected Graham to make a joke, but he was quiet, all attention on Finn.
“It’s calledPygo,” he said. “Short forpygolampída.”
I quirked a brow. “Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“It’s Greek,” Finn said. “For firefly.”
That was it.
Whatever emotional dam was holding me together broke in an instant. Greece — the place we met, the place we fell in love, the place he called meFireflyfor the first time.
“This is too much,” I whispered, breath catching on a laugh as my thumb brushed his knuckles. “Are you sure about the name?”
“I’ve never felt surer of anything in me life,” he said, voice thick now. “About who I am. About what I’m doing. And I know it’s because I have you by my side. I want you to keep chasing what lights you up, Ember. So I’m making me home in Fort Lauderdale, because that’s where you shine. This way, you don’t have to give up anything. And I don’t have to do this without you.”
I couldn’t see him through the tears bubbling in my eyes now. My heart was a mess. I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt.
“Well,” I said, voice shaky but sure, “speaking of chasing dreams…”
It was Finn’s turn to cock a brow.
“I’ve accepted a new position,” I said. “Chief stew on a private yacht for a family.”
His mouth parted. “You’re kidding.”
“I was going to tell you right after this,” I said on a laugh. “It’s an interior twice the size of theSinking Sun. Full creative control. A path to purser, if I want it.”
Gasps and applause rippled through the room, but I barely heard it. All I could see was the way Finn looked at me.
Like he’d known I could do it all along.
“So,” I said, teasing, “we’re both out here living our dreams, huh?”
He reached for me, cupping my cheek, and pulled me in for a kiss. “Life is a dream with you.”
The crowd lost it.
Even Graham laughed. “Okay, okay, you two — get a room.”
Everyone chuckled as the cameras panned out, Graham delivering his final address and telling everyone to tune in for bonus content on the website. Crew members were already beginning their wrap-up shuffle, the show winding down.
But I stayed there with Finn, heart pounding, his arm around my shoulder, the weight of everything we’d survived finally lifting.
