Chapter 49
Nolan
I make a drumroll with my free finger on the table as Andi finally signs her contract with her publisher.
It’s been two weeks since she handed in her official resignation to Gretchen. It was a tough decision to leave her, but the right one. But because Andi is Andi, she stayed with her through those first few weeks after the separation to help Gretchen organize her affairs.
It’s one of the reasons I love this woman so much.
Her heart. The woman who comes with me to visit my mom nearly every single day and reminds me to bring her a bushel of daisies each time.
The woman who supports my career, my long hours.
The woman who’s always making sure I have everything I need before I realize I’m missing it. And I can’t believe she’s mine.
A small tear rolls down her cheek when she sets the pen down. I catch it with my thumb, wiping it away, along with all the loose strands of hair in front of her face. “You really don’t have to film this,” she says, sniffling, taking a swipe at the camera.
I pull her into me, tracing the delicate line of her jaw, the full part of her bottom lip, partially tucked in. “Oh, but I do. This is a big fucking deal.”
“Thank you,” she says, her eyes glossy with emotion. “I don’t think I would have had the courage to do this without you.”
“You would have,” I say. “And I’m going to be here with you every step of the way, cheering you on. I’m proud of you, Andi. You deserve all of it.” And I mean that. Seeing her live out her dreams is surreal. Honestly, I just feel lucky to be here for the ride.
“So am I. Thank you for making me realize that—”
Something fuzzy yips at my feet, disgruntled by the lack of attention and belly rubs for the past five minutes.
“Just a minute, Cody,” I say, despite the way he’s wagging his tail and nudging my leg.
I adopted Cody. About a week after he was taken home by his new family, I got a call from Deidra.
The adoptive family had brought him back.
Apparently, Cody had been terrorized by their cat, who was on a mission to make his life miserable.
Cody was so scared, he wouldn’t come out from under the bed.
When Deidra told me, I didn’t hesitate. I hopped in the car and drove straight to the rescue farm.
Now, Cody is back with me…well, Andi and me.
I’m crashing at her place temporarily until the yellow house closes next month.
Andi started feeding him cheese like she did with Lars, and he’s never been happier.
He’s curled up at my feet, looking up with those big, soulful eyes as if to say, More cheese, please.
Cody gives an approving yip and rolls onto his back, exposing his fluffy belly. His hair is starting to grow back, now that we’ve figured out the proper diet.
“Honestly, I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been,” she tells me once we giddily hit send on the contract.
Her words wash over me like the tiniest rays of sunshine. “It’s just the beginning.”
“Just the beginning,” she repeats.
She smiles, nuzzling her nose into the curve of my neck.
I feel the warmth of her wide smile against my skin, and everything in me stabilizes.
I’ve lived my entire life in motion, always coming and going—mostly going.
Running. Never letting anyone get too close to me.
Living in constant fear of being unworthy, of being left behind, forgotten. Of getting hurt.
For the first time in my life, I have this overwhelming urge to stay put.
To let her fill my life with her sweet laughter, her smile.
I can’t wait to get the keys to the yellow house so I can officially ask her to move in with me.
Andi has already made a Pinterest board full of design ideas.
There are so many little renovation projects I want to start on.
Mostly, I want to walk Cody along the same, familiar route every day in the trails behind the house. I want to go grocery shopping every Saturday and come home to her every single day, smiling at me from over her laptop, her hair pulled into a wild bun.
I always thought I’d be happy anywhere else, somewhere just out of reach. But there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here with Andi, my home.
And there’s not a chance in hell I’d ever trade this life for anything.