Epilogue
Six Months Later
“I’ve never lived with a man,” I said as I carried a box full of Elijah’s stuff toward my … our … apartment.
He was also carrying a box and he laughed. “So I’ve heard.”
“And I’m working on it, but you know I’m particular.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
I smiled his way. His laid-back nature had actually helped me relax as well, not need to control every little thing.
Maybe that’s what trust did for a relationship.
I hadn’t been able to depend on most people in my life until now.
But I could depend on him. For the last six months we’d gone back and forth between Los Angeles and Clovis.
He was winding down his role in the boxing gym when in Clovis and picking up his camera when in Los Angeles.
Mine wasn’t the only restaurant now that he’d helped find a style through photography.
His specialty was bringing nature indoors in unique ways, and he was building a name for himself. I was so proud of him.
In Clovis, I would visit Tara and sometimes my mom.
My dad never showed up. That wasn’t a surprise.
The surprise came when something clicked inside my mom and she stopped calling him, stopped making excuses for him.
She wasn’t perfect, she was still overly critical and negative, but she was thinking about going to therapy and I could tell she was trying.
And now, Elijah was moving here, and our lives were going to involve much less driving and much more time together. I wasn’t nervous at all. I was only excited.
“I still want the right side of the bed,” I said, unlocking the front door. A package sat on my doormat, and I kicked it inside as I walked in after it.
“You’ve had the right side of the bed. I gave it to you six months ago.”
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t taking it back.”
He smacked my butt as he followed me inside and I laughed.
Just as I slid the box I held onto the table in the breakfast nook, my phone rang. “Raya, hey.”
“We need to hire another server.” Ever since our restaurant makeover and new viral review six months ago, we’d been busy. More than busy, waiting list busy. I’d already hired another server.
“Did you have someone in mind?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Already did the preliminary interviews. Do you want to meet her first?”
“No, I trust you.” Raya and I were rarely both at the restaurant at the same time anymore, like we’d been that first year.
Looking back, I realized it was because I’d had to be involved in every minuscule decision.
I hadn’t trusted her. But she’d more than earned my trust, and I was finally giving it to her.
Because I didn’t spend fourteen-hour days there anymore, I’d had more time.
More time to go on nature hikes and walk on the beach and watch Elijah take pictures.
I was happy. So happy. And I only thought about the fact that it could all be snatched away from me about once a month now. That was progress.
I pulled the tape off the box I’d just set down and opened one of the flaps. The leaf of a plant poked out. It took me a second to realize it was fake.
“Thanks,” Raya said on the phone. “You’re in tomorrow, right?”
“Yes,” I said. “You’re not.”
“I miss you,” she said. “Can we do a double date soon or at least a shift together?”
I laughed. “Absolutely.”
We hung up the phone, and I lifted the plant out of the box and turned toward Elijah, who was sitting on the couch unloading the box he’d brought in. “What is this atrocity?” I asked.
“Not all of us can keep real plants alive,” he said.
I set the plastic plant on the table and walked over to him. He seemed to know what was coming because he shifted to the back of the cushion. I sat on his lap, straddling him, his hands immediately cupping my ass, a smile on his face.
“You can’t take care of live plants? But you’re so attentive and thoughtful and nurturing.” I rocked against him.
“Don’t use the word nurturing when you’re straddling me.”
“Is that a bad word? I thought it was a compliment.”
“It makes me think of motherhood.”
“Yeah, don’t think of mothers right now.
Unless you want to. How are your parents?
” His dad had been disappointed in Elijah’s decision to walk away from the gym, but his mom had been more than supportive for both of them.
And his dad seemed to be coming around. The more photos he saw and the more time we spent with them, the better he seemed. Plus, Elijah was still paying him back.
“How are my parents?” he asked with a laugh.
“Yeah, have they said anything else about your move here?” They were sad he was leaving but said they’d visit us soon. Maybe we really would have to move into a two bedroom eventually so we could have more guests.
He took me by the waist and flipped me onto my back, lowering himself onto me. “I’m about to nurture the shit out of you.”
I wrapped my legs around him. “Yeah, you’re right, not a sexy word.”
He laughed and kissed me.
“I’m going to love living with you,” I said against his mouth.