Epilogue
CARI
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I ask Max. “Being with me all the time? Seeing me and sharing space with me?”
“Babe, I promise I’m ready for this. I wouldn’t have asked you to move in together if I wasn’t.” Max chuckles.
“But then there’s no escaping me, you’ll have to literally go bug Aspen to sleep on their couch or something.”
“They have a spare bedroom. But that isn’t the point.
” She laughs when I gasp. “I don’t want to escape you, the last year has been good for both of us.
We talked it over with both of our therapists and I feel like we’re in a pretty good space.
If you’re getting cold feet, we can call it off, I can give you more time if you need. ”
“No! I just want to make sure this is really what you want.” I sigh.
Max takes my hand and pulls me against her, back leaning on the kitchen counter.
She brushes my hair out of my eyes and holds my cheek for a moment.
Max looks at me and I relax, like all the worries I was feeling can fade away.
She had this effect on me, where when things felt bigger than they were, she could bring me back to the moment.
I don’t know how she did it, but it always made me feel better.
“I love you, I meant it when I said it and I’ve meant it every day since.
I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it and to get my shit together but I love you.
And I’m going to spend as long as you’ll have me convincing you of that.
So please know I want to live with you and spend all my time with you. ” She says looking into my eyes.
“Okay.” I blush, my stomach turning to mush at the way she makes me feel. “I love you too.”
“Good, now let’s get to the new place before the movers do and they can’t get in.” Max says taking my hand.
We had decided when she asked me three months ago to move in together, that we should search for a new place.
Both of our places had a lot of memories that we didn’t want to keep so we agreed on a new place in Brooklyn.
It was a little further from the city than I wanted but it was two bedrooms, using the second as a shared office space for us.
Some days I worked from home with Ellie, and Max would have a space to edit her photos.
Hazel was taking over my lease with her girlfriend and Rachel and Liz were looking for a new roommate.
Max said they were a little picky about living with someone.
Liz and Rachel were at work, having had a goodbye celebration with Max last weekend.
So we grab the last of her things and head for the subway.
The moving truck had most our stuff but we wanted to carry the things important to us.
For Max it was her camera and laptop, for me it was my journal and some photos.
We were moving in the middle of the week, hoping to combat some of the traffic which seemed to work as we got on a fairly empty subway car.
“The mattress should arrive later today, they said the delivery window is between noon and eight pm.” Max says looking over the email.
“Well, I guess it’s good we have other furniture until then.” I joke.
We both agreed we shared our old mattress with too many others and would like to start fresh.
Instead of it being a fight, it was something I brought up in therapy and then calmly explained to Max.
She happily agreed, as long as we would not use my mattress either, for the same reasons.
I didn’t blame her; it was better to be starting over.
Just like our relationship, sometimes all you need is a second, or third chance to start from scratch.
“Do you think you’ll like Brooklyn?” Max asks.
“I think it’ll be a change not being able to walk over to River’s house anytime I want,” I admit.
“Yes, but you’ll be able to see me anytime you want.” Max winks.
I laugh, “Yes, that’s definitely a perk.”
“I’m sure it’ll take some time to get adjusted, but I’m also really excited to take on this new adventure with you.” Max smiles.
“I like that, you’re right it is an adventure.”
“One day at a time, and maybe one box at a time because we apparently have a lot of stuff.” Max chuckles.
“I know, it didn’t seem like that much until I was packing it all up. Like what the heck was that?”
“I knew you had a lot of clothes, but it seems like we both did.”
“If only we were the same size, then at least we’d be doubling our wardrobe.” I joke.
“Excuse me? Why can’t I wear your dresses and t-shirts?” Max laughs.
“Oh yeah, and I’ll try squeezing into your collection of black distressed jeans.” I roll my eyes.
“Hey! Those are distressed from wear and love, I didn’t buy them all like that.”
“Oh yes, my bad. Let me not try to squeeze into your ratty old jeans then.” I tease.
Max rolls her eyes and bites her bottom lip.
She stares directly at my mouth, and I freeze, feeling an array of butterflies in my stomach.
I love that after a year of a stable relationship she can still give me butterflies just by looking at me.
I lean closer, her lips dangerously close to mine and I can feel the heat radiating off her.
But the second she’s about to kiss me, the subway doors ding and open for our stop.
We both laugh, she takes my hand and we head out of the subway, ready to take on whatever our next adventure was.