Chapter 22 #2
"You people and your speeches," I mutter, cursing at Chase who's folded his arms across his chest, looking smug as hell.
Charlie hands me a beer, and I take a long sip for courage before addressing the crowd.
"Okay, okay," I say, and the tavern quiets. "So. Summer festival. Who's in?"
The response is overwhelming and pretty soon, I'm outlining the plan.
I can’t help but smile as I look around. This place, this life, it feels right. For the first time in forever, I’m not just going through the motions, pretending to be someone I’m not.
Here, in Stone River, I’m allowed to be Piper. Messy, imperfect, and all.
I glance over at Chase, who’s leaning against the bar with that crooked grin of his. He knows. He sees me, the real me, and he still wants me. The thought makes my chest ache with something that’s not just love, but a kind of gratitude I’ve never felt before.
Chicago will soon feel like a memory, a life I lived for other people, not for myself.
This? This is what I’ve been missing. This is where I belong.
Behind me, Charlie tacks my crooked poster to his bulletin board, right next to the Come for the beer, stay for the gossip sign.
"We'll need volunteers," I continue. "For setup, for staffing booths, for cleanup. This only works if we all pitch in."
"I'm in," Travis calls out.
"Me too," says a woman with dark hair. She's tucked under Knox's arm, looking up at him with obvious affection.
Um. When did that happen?! Who the hell is she?!
Knox catches me staring and grins, raising his glass and winking like he's going to be the next one Etta and Mabel set their romantic sights on.
"To Piper," he announces. "For choosing Stone River and giving us all a reason to party!"
Chase helps me down from the bar, his hands steady on my waist, and when I'm back on solid ground, he doesn't let go.
"You're amazing," he says, low enough that only I can hear. "You know that?"
"I'm terrified," I admit. "What if I screw this up?"
"Then we'll fix it together." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "That's what we do here, Piper. We show up for each other."
Someone cranks up the jukebox, and the crowd shifts toward the makeshift dance floor. Chase pulls me close, swaying even though the song is too fast for slow dancing.
Times blurs, and soon, it's past midnight by the time we stumble back to Chase's apartment.
My suitcases are stacked haphazardly in the entryway, labeled like moving boxes, with my neat handwriting: BOOKS. CLOTHES. KITCHEN STUFF I'LL PROBABLY NEVER USE.
Chase trips over one, swears, and I dissolve into exhausted giggles.
"Careful," I manage between laughs. "That one has my good china."
"You have good china?"
"Of course. My mother insisted." I kick off the hiking boots I wore all day and collapse onto the couch. "I've never used it. But apparently every proper young woman needs a full set of china."
Chase drops down beside me, pulling my feet into his lap. "We're keeping it."
"We are?"
"Hell yeah. We'll use it for mac and cheese and canned soup and every other un-fancy thing we can think of."
I love him so much it hurts.
"So. No more weekends only," he says quietly, his thumb rubbing circles on my ankle. "Just us. Every day."
"Every day," I echo, and the promise settles warm in my chest.
"I got you something."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out something small and brass—a key, I realize, with a tag attached.
He leans over and kisses my cheek as I take it, squinting at the engraving on the tag: Forever Friday.
"It's official," Chase says, and there's vulnerability in his voice that makes my heart clench. "You live here now. With me. No more flying back and forth, no more counting down hours until you leave. Just... me and you. Home."
"Home," I whisper, smiling at the word.
It fits.
"Fair warning," he continues, a smile tugging at his lips. "The key comes with a lifetime supply of cold mornings, walk-of-shame breakfasts at Bear Paw, and nothing but flannels for fashion."
"Sounds perfect."
"And terrible karaoke nights at Timber. And Etta and Mabel knowing our business before we do. And—"
I kiss him to shut him up, soft and slow and full of every feeling I can't quite put into words.
When we break apart, I press my forehead to his.
"You know what everyone keeps saying?" I murmur. "About Stone River's charm? About how it's this magical place that heals people and brings them home?"
"Yeah?"
"They're wrong." I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. "Stone River's charm isn't the town, Chase. It's you."
His breath hitches, and for a moment he just stares at me like I've given him something precious. Then he's kissing me again, deeper this time, his hands cupping my face like I'm something worth holding onto.
"I love you," he says against my lips. "I love you so damn much, Piper Whitman."
"I love you too." I thread my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. "My Forever Friday."
Outside, Stone River sleeps beneath a blanket of stars. Tomorrow, I'll start unpacking. I'll finalize festival plans and probably field a dozen angry calls from my mother. I'll figure out what comes next.
But tonight?
Tonight I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Home.