7. Eliza
ELIZA
The Chocolate MooseCafé is packed, but I spot Melanie and Willow in our usual corner booth right away. As soon as they notice me, their faces light up.
“Well, well, well,” Melanie smirks as I slide into the seat across from them. “Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence. We were about to send out a search party.”
“Speak for yourself,” Willow giggles. “I’ve loved having the apartment to myself these last few days.”
I roll my eyes, but I don’t actually mind their teasing. It’s good to be back in the Cooper Hills after spending the last few days on vacation with Drew. And since he insisted that I take the rest of the day off today, I decided to meet my friends for lunch to catch up.
“Sorry for not texting you guys more.” I take a sip of the hazelnut iced coffee already waiting for me. “Things have been so crazy these last few days.”
Melanie wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Crazy good, I hope?”
“Yeah, you’ve got that look, Eliza.” Willow grins.
“What look?”
Melanie leans forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh, you know, the look of someone who just spent the last few days getting railed by her boss.”
I nearly spit out my drink from laughing. “Melanie!”
“What?” She replies innocently. “I just call it like I see it.” Then she grins at me. “Now come on, give us the details! How was your vacation with the hot boss?”
Amazing. Thrilling. Terrifying. But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I say, “It was…really nice.”
“Really nice?” Willow scoffs. “That’s all you’ve got?”
My face flames hotter. I’m not used to talking about these things. But Melanie and Willow are my best friends—if I can’t share this with them, who can I share it with?
“We just relaxed,” I say, hoping to gloss over the intimate parts. “Watched movies, cooked dinner. Drew showed me how to make carbonara pasta from scratch.”
Melanie gives me a sly grin. “And by relaxed, I’m guessing you mean that you stayed in his bed the whole time?”
“Yeah, there was... a lot of that.” I blush, laughing. “But there was also more than that, too. It felt real, like we were really getting to know each other.”
“So does this mean you’re finally going public with your relationship?” Willow asks. “No more hiding out at his place?”
I take another sip of my coffee, trying to buy some time. “We haven’t decided yet whether to go public,” I reply coyly. “But Drew did ask me to move in with him.”
My friends’ jaws drop in unison. “What did you say?” Melanie asks.
A mix of excitement and anxiety bubbles up inside me as I recount the moment. “I didn’t say yes yet,” I admit. “But I am thinking about taking a few things over to his place this afternoon,” I confess, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. “Just to see how it feels.”
Melanie’s eyes light up, and she reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “I’m so happy for you girlie.”
“Thanks,” I reply, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “That really means a lot.”
Willow gives an exaggerated sigh. “Another one bites the dust. At this rate, I’ll be living alone by next month!”
She says it like a joke, but I can tell she’s forcing a smile, and my heart aches. Willow has always been the type to put on a brave face and focus on the positives, but I know her well enough to see through it.
The three of us have been best friends since college, and after we graduated, we moved in together to save on rent. But a few months ago, everything started to change.
First, Melanie met Jake and moved in with him, leaving just the two of us at the apartment. Then Willow’s mom passed away unexpectedly. Now, I’m thinking about moving in with Drew.
“Hey, don’t worry, Willow,” I reassure her. “Drew said he would cover my portion of the rent until the lease is up. And Melanie and I will still come over for movie nights.”
Melanie nods in agreement. “And we can have brunch every Sunday like always.”
Willow’s smile widens, the forced edge gone. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”
“And you never know, Willow,” Melanie adds with a mischievous glint in her eye. “You could be the next one to find love and move in with a mountain man. I swear there’s something in the water in this town.”
Willow snorts. “And that’s exactly why I only drink iced coffee and Prosecco.”
After I leavethe Chocolate Moose, I head back to my apartment. I decide to take Drew up on his offer to move in slowly, so I pack a small box with a few trinkets, along with a duffel bag. Then I drive over to his place.
As expected, Drew lives in the most luxurious penthouse I’ve ever seen. There are three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a huge living room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the city, and a spacious kitchen equipped with the latest appliances.
But as I settle in, I can’t help feeling a little overwhelmed. Moving in with someone is a big step. While part of me thrills at the idea of waking up in his arms each morning, the other wonders whether we are moving too fast, not to mention what will happen when our families find out the truth.
As I unpack a box of books, the front door opens. Drew strides in, all sharp suit and tousled hair. His gaze lands on me, and the tension in his expression melts into a smile.
“You’re here.” He crosses the room in three quick steps and pulls me into his arms. I breathe in the crisp scent of his cologne, relaxing against the solid warmth of his chest.
“I couldn’t wait.” I tilt my head up, meeting his sea-green eyes. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” He kisses me, slow and deep. “I’ve been thinking of nothing else all day.”
Drew releases me to shrug off his jacket, but his hands remain on my waist, as if he can’t bear to lose contact completely. I frown, tracing the crease between his brows.
“What’s wrong?” He catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm.
I take a deep breath, my heart pounding. It’s now or never. “Drew, there’s something I have to tell you.”
He searches my face, eyes narrowing. “You can tell me anything.”
I swallow hard. “I hate lying to our families. Sneaking around like this, hiding what we have...” I trail off with a sigh. “I don’t want to go behind their backs anymore.”
Drew stiffens, jaw clenching. I rush on before he can speak.
“We’re falling for each other and it’s only going to get harder.” My voice trembles. “I don’t want to dread family events or worry they’ll find out by accident. If we’re going to live together, I want to be with you openly.”
For a long moment, he’s silent. I brace myself for anger, for rejection. Instead, Drew pulls me close again, so tight I can barely breathe.
“I don’t want to hide this either,” he murmurs against my hair. “I was going to lose you, wasn’t I?”
“What?” I cling to him, bewildered. “Of course not. I just want?—”
“To be with me openly.” He tips my chin up, meeting my gaze. “Like you deserve. Like I want, more than anything.”
Joy and relief flood through me. “Truly?”
“Yes. I’m not letting you go.” His lips curve into a smile. “We’ll tell our families the truth tomorrow at the opera. Together.”
I throw my arms around him, nearly weeping with gratitude. At last, there are no more secrets. No more hiding or sneaking around. Drew and I can finally start our future, out in the open for all to see.
“Great, I’ll text Fiona and let her know that I want to meet her and Wes for a drink during intermission. We’ll tell them then.”
Drew smirks mischievously, tugging me closer. “And after that, maybe we can have some fun in my private suite. I hear the acoustics are excellent.”