Epilogue Harrison
THREE MONTHS LATER
“You’ve lived here for how many years, and you never acquired a single piece of your own furniture?” Lila asked, gently folding and placing the last of my T-shirts into a large suitcase she’d brought over.
I shrugged and looked around my almost-bare room. “I mean, the bed is mine, but we don’t exactly need a second one at your place.”
“What about this dresser?” she asked.
“Oliver got that from the side of the road.”
“That lamp.” She pointed at the large gold monstrosity that stood next to my bed. I think Oliver had pulled it out of a dumpster our first year here.
I scrunched my nose. “Do you want that to be mine?”
She huffed. “No, but I just can’t believe that moving you into my place only involves a few boxes and a couple of suitcases. I’ve been pacing around my house all week, moving furniture and figuring out how to make space for your things.”
“Hey.” I pulled her up from her crouch and crushed her into a hug. “I love your stuff, okay? You don’t need to make space for me. I already feel at home there.”
She let out a huff. “But it’s so pink and colorful and you’re so—” she gestured to my black sweatshirt. “So not.”
A grin crept across my lips. “Maybe I’m not on the outside, but inside, it’s all pink thanks to you.” I patted my chest.
“Harrison, be serious.” She pushed off me and folded her arms. “I don’t want you to have any regrets about this. I know it’s soon.”
I hesitated for a moment, trying to assess if she was truly stressed about my stuff, or if it was us moving in together that was causing her concern. Technically, she had been the one to ask me to move in, but I had already been thinking about it. The fact that she owned her place and I lived at Oliver’s complicated things, though; I couldn’t simply ask to move in to her house, and I also didn’t want to suggest we move in together somewhere else. She loved that house. It was her pride and joy.
So, when she’d finally asked me, I had gratefully agreed immediately. I didn’t care if it was soon. I didn’t have a relationship handbook, or any prior experience to go off of, but it felt right. I liked having her nearby. I hated the nights we spent apart, the ones where I had to text her a simple Goodnight, I love you , instead of being able to hold her as I fell asleep.
“Are you having any doubts?” I asked, praying the answer was no.
“What? No way,” she said, and relief washed over me. “I just want you to be comfortable. This is a big step.”
I held her face in my hands, forcing her to take a breath and meet my eyes. “You’re the only person I’m comfortable with, okay? Don’t worry about me. The fact that you’re letting me into your space is already beyond my wildest dreams.”
She bit her lip and let out a small laugh.
“Seriously,” I continued. “I don’t know how I tricked you into this, but I’m just trying to get in your house as soon as possible before you change your mind.”
“Never,” she whispered.
“Love you,” I said.
“Love you too,” she replied.
“Excuse me.” Oliver appeared in the doorway, arms folded across his chest. “Not that I’m eavesdropping, or anything, but did you just say you’re only comfortable around Lila ? Because as your best friend for over twenty years, I’m taking that as a personal insult.”
I waved him off. “You know you don’t count.”
“Ouch.” Oliver clutched his heart. “The end of an era, and this is all I have to show for it? A dismissive wave from my best friend in the entire world?”
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Come here.”
Oliver stepped around my boxes and held out his hand. I clasped it and went in for a hug, smacking him on the back.
“Thanks for everything, man,” I said, knowing he knew I was talking about a hell of a lot more than just a rented room.
“Love you, man,” he said.
“Wait. Stay there. I need to get my camera.” Lila pretended like she was searching for it, but Oliver grabbed her and pulled her into a group hug.
“I’m so fucking happy for you two, I could be sick.”
“We’re going to miss you, Ollie,” she said. I could see her blinking back tears.
“Hey, no sad faces,” he said. “Who knows how long I’ll be gone? Might even be back for the summer.”
“Speaking of that, what do you want me to do with this furniture?” I asked, gesturing to the remaining pieces in my room, all of which belonged to him.
“Leave it,” he said. “I’ll be crashing at a friend’s furnished apartment, so I don’t need anything, and I already told the people renting this place that it came partially furnished.”
“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Lila said, hugging him again.
I couldn’t believe it either. I could never have imagined a situation where Oliver was leaving and I wasn’t going with him. We’d barely been apart since we met. But while he was still my family, he was no longer the most important person in my life. That honor belonged to the beautiful woman in front of me, the one whom I would follow anywhere.
Oliver helped us get the rest of my stuff to the van we’d rented, and we piled it in. I shut the door, and Lila went around to the passenger side.
“I’ll see you around, man,” I said to Oliver.
“Don’t be a stranger,” he said. The moment was harder than either of us realized it was going to be. “I’m serious. Bring Lila and come visit. Key Ridge is only a few hours away.”
“We’ll be there,” I told him, before saying my final goodbyes and climbing into the driver’s seat.
To my horror, Lila was in tears next to me.
“Babe, what is it?”
“I’m just going to miss him. And watching you two say goodbye?” she choked on a sob. “I couldn’t take it.”
I smiled and leaned over the center console to kiss her damp cheek. “You’re adorable, you know that?”
“Shut up,” she said through a smile before clicking her seatbelt into place.
As I made the short drive to her home— our home—I let the heavy feeling of contentment settle in. I hadn’t even realized how stagnant my life had been until Lila came bursting into it. Now, I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter.
“So,” Lila said. “You made me your girlfriend, told me you love me, now you’re moving in. For being new at all this, I’d say you’re killing this whole relationship thing.”
I shot her a half-smile. “Oh yeah? What’s next for us, then?”
She tapped her chin and stared out the window. “Another trip, perhaps?”
“I don’t know about that.” I shook my head and laughed. “It would be hard to top our first.”
The End