Chapter 38
Amelia
At seven thirty a.m., I step onto Adrian’s front porch. His house feels welcome in a way I didn’t expect. I grip my bag a little tighter, nerves bubbling beneath my skin. Today isn’t just another day; it’s my first day at my new job.
Before I even knock, the door swings open.
“Good morning, beautiful.” His gruff voice is still touched with sleep.
“Good morning.” I grin. “Ready for me to take over your house?”
He leans against the doorframe, his gaze sweeping over me like he’s memorizing every detail. “Beautiful, you’ve already completely won me over, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can take anything you want.”
As he steps aside, I walk in, the scent of his cologne wrapping around me. Sunlight spills through the kitchen windows, catching on the massive bouquet sitting on the counter.
“They’re for you. I wanted you to have a great first day.”
My heart stutters. “You didn’t have to—”
“Oh, I did. It’s your first day.” He grins. “Leila’s going to love me for keeping her in business with the most expensive flowers every time.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “She’s going to make you her favorite customer.”
He shrugs. “I don’t mind the title. I just want you to know how proud I am of you.”
His hands slip around my waist, fingers firm as they rest against my lower back. The way he looks at me makes my stomach do a somersault.
“Thank you. What time are you meeting Hazel?”
“Soon. We moved it up. I wanted you to have time to settle in without me hovering.” He nods toward the counter. “I grabbed you a coffee.”
A to-go cup from The Cozy Point sits there, and a flutter stirs in my chest at the sweet, but thoughtful gesture. He thought of me before I even got here. He reaches out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His gentle touch lingers for a second.
I smile, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind it.
Before I can say anything, he steps away and grabs something from the counter. One neatly wrapped gift. He turns back to me, his eyes flickering with something playful.
“I also got you this.”
I glance at the gift, then back at him. “The flowers are more than enough.” I’m already overwhelmed by how much effort he’s put into making today feel special.
His grin widens, full of mischief. “No, no, no.” He shakes his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “That wasn’t your actual gift.”
He hands me a wrapped package, and as I peel back the paper, I burst into laughter. The engraved pen from the fundraiser.
“Oh my God, I thought this was for Keith.”
“I made you think that. But it was always for you.”
I run my thumb over the engraving, my heart bursting in the best way. “The fundraiser is what brought us closer. It’s special to me,” he admits. “So, when you’re using this pen, just know I’m always with you.”
I glance up at him, my throat tight. “Look at you, being all sweet.”
He shrugs. “Well, it’s you. You bring out this side of me.”
I shake my head, still smiling. “I never thought I could feel like this. But I guess the right person brings out the right things.”
His eyes soften. “So, you’ve got time before you start. Want to sit outside and drink coffee with me?”
“I’d love that.”
We move to the deck, the morning sun stretching across the yard. I sink into the chair beside him, cradling my cup.
“I wonder what your first task will be?”
Excitement stirs in my stomach. “Not sure. Maybe another fashion piece, like my trial one. Or something completely different. I’m covering both fashion and lifestyle, so it could be anything.”
He nods, sipping his coffee. “You’ll be great either way.”
“They mentioned potentially traveling,” I add. “Short trips, events, Christmas parties. I’d be welcome, and they’d pay for my flights.”
“That’d be good for you to meet everyone, to feel more like part of the team.”
I nod slowly, turning the idea over in my mind.
A few months ago, the thought of leaving for even a night would’ve sent me spiraling with guilt.
But things have shifted. “My mom’s really found her rhythm again,” I say, almost like I’m convincing myself as much as him.
“She’s managing well, and Keith’s always around to help. ”
Adrian watches me carefully. “You sound more comfortable with it than before.”
“I am,” I admit. “I think I needed to see her handle things without me hovering. She’s stronger than I gave her credit for.” I take a breath. “And maybe I needed to prove to myself that I could step away without everything falling apart.”
He reaches over, squeezing my knee. “If you ever want to go, I’m happy to come with you.”
I smile. “That means a lot.”
His fingers drum lightly against my thigh. “Are you staying the night tonight?”
I hesitate, then sigh. “I’d love to, but I think my mom will want to hear about my first day.”
His face brightens. “Then invite her and the kids here. We can have dinner.”
“Really?”
“Why not?” He grins. “You’re always welcome here, and I’d love to have them over.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my heart swell. “Okay. I’ll ask her.”
He nods, satisfied. “I’ll figure out dinner. When I get home, we’ll have a big family meal.”
I sip my coffee, unable to stop smiling. “I can’t wait.”
When I finish my cup, I stand, ready to get moving, but before I can step away, he pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me, holding me to him.
He presses his lips to my temple. “This. Us. Sitting here in the mornings with coffee. This is what I dreamed of.”
My body warms all over at his sweetness.
“I feel so good here with you.”
He tilts my chin down, our eyes locking. “You and me. This house. It was always meant to be.”
I don’t know if I believe in fate, but in this moment, wrapped in him, I know he’s right.
We kiss and, eventually, I pull away, my lips tingling, and he smiles before grabbing his keys. With one last glance, he heads out the door, leaving me in his house.
I gather my presents and coffee, making my way to my new office. The space feels both unfamiliar and instantly mine, like stepping into a future I never dared to picture until now.
Sinking into my chair, my fingers curl around the engraved pen.
His house. His pen. His flowers. They surround me, wrapping me in security. A reminder that I’m not alone in this new adventure.
I blow out a breath, shaking off my nerves, and pick up my phone.
Me: Mom, bring the kids over to Adrian’s for dinner tonight. Let’s celebrate my first day.
A second later, she responds.
Mom: Wouldn’t miss it! Proud of you, sweetheart.
I smile, set the phone down, and open my laptop. Taking a deep breath, I hit the power button. And then, my first official workday begins.
The first few hours are a whirlwind of onboarding.
Digital paperwork to sign, training modules to complete, passwords setups, and introductory video calls with different department heads.
I’m assigned a buddy who walks me through the company’s editorial calendar and submission process.
By mid-morning, I finally feel orientated enough to tackle actual work.
Emails flood in, the subject lines filled with possibility. Deadlines. Features. Research links. My first task sits at the top:
Spring Collection: A Fresh Start for Your Home & Wardrobe
Excitement fills my chest. It’s a mix of home décor and wardrobe updates, blending two things I love—design and style. This is a total fresh start, inside and out.
Even though I don’t live in the city, diving into research makes me feel like I’m right there. The energy of fashion week. The shine of new fabrics. The transformation of spaces as winter fades into a brighter, lighter aesthetic.
I sip my coffee, ready to begin. The company group chat pings in the corner of my screen, filled with other writers and editors bouncing ideas off of each other.
It’s reassuring, knowing I can reach out if I hit a roadblock.
Which is kind, but I don’t feel stuck. Not today.
Because my trial article already proved I can do this.
They loved my voice. My perspective. And now, I get to do it again.
I press my fingers against the keyboard. The nervous flutter in my stomach shifts into determination.
And then, I start writing.