Epilogue
BEAU
“You headed out?” Sarah peeks her head into my office and gives me a knowing look.
“Yeah, big plans tonight.” I can’t help the massive smile that stretches across my face. I’ve been looking forward to tonight for months. Which she knows, because I’ve talked about it constantly.
“Well, don’t have too much fun. See you tomorrow.” She disappears, and I hear her voice down the hall talking to others.
Sarah is a big personality, but I adore her.
In a lot of ways, she reminds me of Vincent with her bright, cheery attitude.
Even in the most stressful circumstances, I’ve never heard her say a single unkind word.
It’s a nice change from the usual office gossip.
Not that there isn’t plenty of that here, but it’s mostly harmless.
Transitioning from a job in finance to the library required some adjustment.
The work is, of course, very different. Working in the archives is a dream come true.
A dream I didn’t know I had until I saw the job posting.
I didn’t know jobs like this existed, getting to read old documents, catalogue them, and help decide which ones become part of a display.
I’m still undergoing training, but it has me thinking about going back to school so I can get some formal education to become an archivist. I’m still bouncing the idea around.
It’s also a wildly different environment. I tried to eat lunch at my desk during the first month so I could use the time to catch up on some tasks. Apparently, that was a hard no. Sarah dragged me from the office and made me eat lunch on the lawn with her instead.
Maybe she reminds me of Jacklyn more than Vincent.
They also don’t care that I’m leaving a little early tonight so that I can get ready for my Valentine’s Day date, even if it’s February fifteenth.
After a quick trip back to my apartment to shower and change, I arrive at the same theater where Vincent and I had our first almost date. We’re seeing It Happened One Night again. This time, as a couple, and not two people tolerating sitting next to each other.
I have big plans to ensure this year is better, even if it won't take much. For starters, the outfit I’m wearing isn’t stained with coffee. I make my way to the concession counter and grab a large popcorn and a Coke before heading into the theater.
My heart stops when I see him sitting in his seat. It’s not the exact same one, since someone snatched up those tickets before I got to them, but it’s close.
As always, it takes way too long to push through the crowd to get to my row, then even longer to scoot across the people on the outside of the row. When I finally sit down in the seat next to Vincent, I’m relieved.
“Hey, baby,” he says, leaning over to kiss me. He tastes of bubble gum thanks to the lip gloss I’m now very familiar with.
We break apart quickly, not wanting to draw too much attention in a crowded theater.
“Did you make it home and back okay?”
“Yeah, but I’ll be happy not to make that commute anymore.” Next month, when my lease expires, I’ll be officially moving in with Vincent. I’m a bit nervous, even though I’m there four nights a week. I’ve never lived with a boyfriend before, so I expect it’ll be a big change.
Though everything with Vincent has been a change from my usual routine, and so far, it’s been nothing but good surprises.
“Popcorn?” I ask, offering him the big bag.
“Look at you sharing,” he chides me.
“Yeah, yeah. It even has extra butter just for you.”
“Thank you, baby.” He grabs a couple of pieces and tosses them in his mouth. I’m tempted to lean over and give him another kiss to find out how the butter and salt taste against his lips, but the lights in the theater go down. Instead, I settle for leaning my head against his shoulder.
“I love you,” I whisper in the dark.
“I love you, too.”