Chapter 53
It’s funny how rooms always look smaller when they’re empty. You would expect it to be the other way around, but no. Sitting on the floor of Claire’s empty bedroom with her, it feels like a massive, gaping wound in my otherwise warm, cozy home.
“This is really it,” she whispers. “I can’t believe I’m actually moving out.”
“Me either. You’ve been right here during every big moment for as long as I can remember.”
Claire hugs her knees to her chest. “Like the time Whitcombe first reached out to you.”
“And the day you met Levi.” I giggle as a smile fills her face.
“So embarrassing. I can’t believe a ski lesson with a floundering boy on the mountain got us here.”
“He’s gotten much better at skiing.”
“That was a requirement to live with me.” She laughs.
I lean back on my hands, palms down against the pale green carpet. “Just please, always let him make the coffee. Okay?”
“Lucy Hart, are you saying my coffee is bad?” She feigns indignation before a laugh escapes her. “Yeah, deal.”
She stands, pulling me up with her and into a hug. It’s one of those where you squeeze as hard as you can, like it will show just how much you love each other.
“I’ll still see you daily,” Claire whispers in my ear. “It’ll be like I’m not even gone.”
“I’m holding you to that,” I whisper back, not sure if either of us will be able to keep this promise.
Finally, she releases me and turns to go. We collect the final two boxes from the hallway, carrying them out to her car.
I don’t wait to watch her go, heading back inside and straight upstairs. My plan was to spend the evening in my studio, but I find myself hovering in the doorway of her empty bedroom instead.
Downstairs, I hear a door open. Claire forgot something, I reason, quickly wiping away the tears welling up my eyes. But then there is the unmistakable sound of paws—specifically the patter of dog nails against linoleum floors.
I turn around as the patter turns into an urgent thud on the stairs, then there’s Bear, bounding down the hallway towards me.
A gleeful squeal bubbles out of me, and I kneel in time to catch the dog barreling towards me. He knocks me back on my rear, and I wrap my arms around his neck as Jake appears behind him.
His warm eyes crease at the corner as he offers a small, reassuring smile. And he looks so sturdy standing in the hallway, like whatever I’m feeling right now, he could absorb for me.
Jake’s been there for me since that first day though, really. He saved my life, and now I can’t imagine having anyone else around to help me pick it back up.
“How did you know she’d left?” I ask as he helps me up from the floor. His hands wrap around my waist, and I sink into his embrace, resting my cheek against his chest.
“You said evening, so Bear and I have been out on a little walk until I saw her car go by.”
“You brought me Bear.”
“He’s always been your dog, Luce,” he murmurs into my hair, chasing his words with a kiss. “There’s no roommate allergy keeping you apart anymore.”
“That is true.” I sniff. “We really were made for each other.”
“It’s almost like the universe conspired on your behalf. To be together at last.”
“You might be on to something, Carpenter.”
Jake’s chest rumbles against me with his laugh, and for a beat he simply holds me without saying another word or making another move.
When I lift my head to look at him, he kisses the tip of my nose and turns us towards the empty room. Standing on the threshold in his arms, with Bear wiggling on his back in the center of the space, it doesn’t feel like a gaping wound any longer. More like a dull ache.
“How are you doing?” he asks softly.
“Better now.”
He squeezes my shoulder.
“And maybe it’s weird but… it makes me want to take a step for myself too.”
Jake tilts his head to look down at me. “How so?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you asked—about what it is I want.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “And?”
“I think I’d like to take a chance on myself,” I admit on a shaky voice.
He turns me towards him again, his hand lifting and his knuckles gently flitting across my collarbone. When they reach the end, his hand curls upward so his fingers can brush up the side of my neck and bury themselves in my hair.
My core clutches in anticipation as he brings his mouth down near mine at an achingly slow pace. Then just before his lips finally claim me, he murmurs, “Sweetheart, I’d never bet against you.”