Epilogue
December
“You look good in this apron,” Harlow whispers in my ear. Her hands are on my hips, and I lean back into the warmth of her body.
“Thank you. So do you.” I turn my head and frown. “Except you have …” With a cheeky grin, I tap her nose, leaving a dusting of flour.
“Lily,” she scolds. “I’m going to get you for that.”
She reaches for more flour. I squeal and reel backward.
A throat loudly clears. “Can we focus, please?” Lucy glances between us impatiently before extending her hand toward Harlow. “The sugar.”
Harlow winks at me, then reaches for the sugar and walks around the kitchen island to help Lucy.
I’ve always reluctantly participated in the Lewis lady tradition of baking cookies on Christmas Eve, but, I have to admit, it’s a much more enjoyable experience having my girlfriend and niece here.
I’ve officially lived in Blue Skies for just under two months.
It took some time researching and exploring my options.
I could’ve applied for the Chicago pilot base—the closest one to Michigan my airline has—but chances weren’t high of getting it.
Plus, I’d have to be a commuter. Which isn’t a huge deal, but not something I personally am interested in.
In the end, I applied for a wide range of airlines that have bases all over the lower peninsula and Ohio.
I can’t believe my luck in securing the dream location in Detroit.
I may be starting fresh at a new airline, but I don’t care.
Glancing around the kitchen, I know I’m finally prioritizing what’s most important to me.
Harlow flew up, and we road-tripped it over in my Subaru.
We made a whole list of places neither of us has been to and included a couple of our favorite places we wanted to show each other.
It was an amazing ten days, and I can’t wait for more trips like that with her. Next time in her van with Daisy.
The gayme night crew was ecstatic for us when we told them everything about Harlow and me.
Em was shocked and a little upset I kept it a secret so long.
But Brandon gloated, all smug, insisting he suspected us all along.
And as fun as sneaking around can be, I’m happy to be able to hold Harlow’s hand in front of everyone and kiss her whenever the hell I want.
“Lily, can you grab me two eggs?” Mom asks, bringing me back to the moment.
“And try not to drop them this time.” Taylor giggles.
“Oh, my god. That was one time!” I groan before joining in with the laughter.
“I got you, babe,” Harlow says and grabs two room temperature eggs from the counter.
“Thank you.” I squeeze her hand as she passes me.
“Oh, my god. You two are disgusting,” Landon teases, appearing in the doorway holding a sleeping Lindsay. “Get a room!”
“Oh, shut up!” I slap his arm, and he dramatically gasps.
“How dare you! You could’ve hurt the baby.”
I roll my eyes.
“Do you remember when they thought no one knew they were secretly dating?” Taylor asks Landon.
Lucy laughs as Harlow’s head pops up. “Wait. What?”
I freeze, not knowing what Taylor means.
I didn’t tell Harlow my mom already knew about us, since I could tell how much it meant to her to tell Mom herself.
They had a very sweet moment where Mom celebrated the news and hugged her first, telling her that she is like a daughter to her and it will never change no matter what happens between us.
Harlow got teary-eyed and tried to hide it, Mom and I pretended to not see a thing.
We told everyone else the week after I moved home. I invited them over for dinner to see my new apartment. They were all sweet and nice but didn’t say anything about already knowing.
“Oh, my god, yes! They thought they were so slick.” Landon muffles his laugh behind his fist, trying not to startle Lindsay.
“I’m just glad Landon didn’t win again,” Lucy says.
That clicks. “You bet?”
My accusing gaze bounces to every member of my family. My siblings and Taylor are way too smug, and Mom is pointedly not meeting my eye.
Harlow surprises me by letting out a full-on belly laugh. “Who won?” she asks.
“Me!” Dad sings from the entryway. “Thank you, two, for taking forever to tell us.”
“This is ridiculous,” I splutter. “How? When? What?”
“Seriously, Lily? How could we not know?” Lucy says. “You used to only visit once a year. How many times have you been back this past year?”
“Okay, but you don’t know it was for Harlow. Taylor was pregnant.”
Taylor snorts. “Landon’s room is next to yours. We saw you sneaking out your window and creeping through the backyard at least twice.”
“Like a damn teenager.” Landon winks.
I facepalm.
“Then there was the fact one of our refrigerator magnets went missing, and it mysteriously showed up on Harlow’s fridge at The Sweet Spot.”
The tip of Harlow’s ears redden, and my face flushes with heat. She means the TeresasTravels magnet I gave her last Christmas.
“You knew?” Harlow asks.
Mom squeezes her shoulder. “I thought it was a coincidence until I overheard you two on FaceTime. You must’ve forgot I was in the back room, and I quietly saw myself out before you could realize.”
Harlow’s mouth opens and shuts a couple times.
“You two truly weren’t as subtle as you thought you were,” Dad says while snagging a cooling peanut butter blossom.
“Well, this is mortifying,” I say.
Harlow wraps her arm around my side. “I think it’s kind of sweet.”
I side-eye her. She holds my gaze a beat, then we both laugh.
“Lucy, stop,” Mom says. “We need to start the gingerbread cookies next.”
“No, Mom, they can wait!” Lucy snatches the bowl from Mom’s hands.
My sister has been grumpier and bossier than normal. Greg’s not here and hasn’t been for the past couple family dinners. She says he’s just working but refuses to talk about it. I’m starting to worry about her.
“We need to work on the blossoms,” Lucy continues.
“No. We can’t—”
And on and on they bicker back and forth like clockwork. Taylor, Harlow, and I exchange knowing looks. Even if Lucy wasn’t in rare form, it’s not Christmas Eve without these two bickering.
Dad steals another cookie. Taylor walks toward Landon and stands on her tiptoes to get a better look at her sleeping daughter.
Harlow bumps my hip and points with her head down the hall, and I giddily follow her. We disappear into my childhood bedroom, Harlow pushing me against the door.
“Are they going to do this every year?” she asks.
“What? You mean you don’t want to mediate my sister and mom again?” I tug on the strap of her apron, pulling her in closer to me.
“Nope.” She laughs before kissing me. I feel the rush of tingles down to my toes.
“But it was so hot when you did it last year.”
She lifts one curious eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
“Mhm,” I say and curl my arms around her neck. “But I think everything you do is hot.”
She laughs.
“Does it bother you my mom knew about us—and apparently for a long damn time?”
Harlow exhales heavily. “No. But I am surprised she never said anything.”
“She is the worst with keeping secrets.” I chuckle.
“Not as much as you apparently,” she teases.
“Oh, my god. Stop!” I complain until Harlow leans in to kiss my neck. My eyelids flutter shut, and I sink into her.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too,” I say softly before kissing her.
Thinking back to us in this room a year ago—me stupidly putting my foot in my mouth after the hottest one-night stand of my life—I’d never in my wildest dreams imagine we’d be here like this today.
I couldn’t be more thankful. We kiss a little longer, then rejoin everyone in the kitchen.
Harlow gives me a soft smile, and my chest is full with so much warmth.
It’s never felt so good being home.