Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
PRESENT
Iplanned to meet Emma for coffee to discuss Serenity’s decision to sell the condo.
I hadn’t told Serenity because she needed to focus on the tough conversation with her mom.
I wanted Serenity to move in with me, but I knew her friendship with Emma was important to her, so I had to make sure Emma was on board before I asked Serenity.
“Good morning, thanks for meeting me,” I said as I approached the table where Emma sat.
“Anything for our girl. So, what’s up?” She took a sip of her coffee, leaning in to give me her full attention.
I nervously ran my fingers through my hair. “Did Serenity tell you about the conversation she’s having with her mom today?”
She gave a small nod. “Yes, it’s about damn time she has that conversation.”
I couldn’t agree more. “I wanted to talk to you about the possibility of Serenity moving in with me.”
Her mouth curved into a grin, eyes gleaming. “It’s about time,” she finally said.
I took a drink of my latte before responding. “Well, that was not what I was expecting you to say. You don’t mind me stealing your roommate?”
She smirked. “As long as you’re okay with me stealing yours.”
I scrunched my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“Gio and I talked about what we’d do once you finally took the plunge and moved in together.
We’ve become good friends, and we’ve decided to be roommates.
” I was surprised. I’d only seen them interact twice, but that didn’t mean they hadn’t talked or spent more time together.
I was too wrapped up in Serenity to really notice anyway.
A small chuckle escaped. “Everything I thought was going to be hard about this conversation had already been figured out before I even invited you to coffee, huh?” I teased.
Her laugh echoed. “It’s the thought that counts.”
We made small talk as we finished our coffees. We discussed how proud we both were of Serenity and how happy she was to witness Serenity being saved. Emma didn’t know how Serenity saved me the most.
I headed off to work but stayed consistently busy, so I didn’t worry too much about Serenity’s conversation with her mom.
“Why didn’t you tell me you have plans to move in with Emma?” I asked Gio while we ate our lunch in the break room.
He laughed. “We were just trying to get a head start on finding a new roommate when you inevitably asked her to move in. You’re going to ask her soon, right?” His eyebrows raised.
“If all goes well, I’m hoping to ask her tonight.”
“Hell yeah. It’s about time.” Why did both him and Emma say that? Serenity and I hadn’t been together that long. But we had moved at a snail’s pace, so it seemed like we had been together longer than we had. I guess it has been almost a year since we met in the waiting room.
The rest of the workday flew by in a blur, especially since I hadn’t heard from Serenity all day.
I was nervous to ask her to move in, and maybe that’s why it seemed like I’d been putting it off. I wanted her to feel as safe and comfortable as possible. She could do anything to the house to make it her own sanctuary; she deserved it.
As Serenity explained her plan for her bookstore after work, I couldn’t help the overwhelming sense of pride that came over me. The woman I loved would make her dreams come true and I’d do anything to help her along the way.
When I came back into the room after my shower, she was perched up on her bed, reading a book, and snuggling with the giant cow I won for her at the fair. I crawled into bed and cuddled up next to her.
“How was your shower?” she asked.
“Would’ve been a lot better with some company.” She placed her book on the side of the bed and put her arms around me.
“There’s plenty of time for that.” She anxiously played with her ring on her finger. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
I sat up, staring into her eyes. “I love you so much, do you know that?”
“Of course I do,” she said, tilting her head to the side.
“I want you to move in with me,” I spat out.
She looked taken aback in surprise. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.
I don’t like being away from you because then I’m counting down the minutes until I can be with you again.
I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep next to you every night.
I want your belongings to crowd our house and for you to have the office of your dreams. You looked so determined today at your computer, so I want you to make a room in our house completely yours to dream in.
I want to be by your side for every moment—good or bad.
What do you say?” I didn’t take my eyes off her.
I watched her thoughts race a mile a minute.
“I’d have to talk to Emma; I don’t want her to feel abandoned. I know all too well how that feels.” She shifted to stand up.
“Don’t be mad, but I already talked to her...”
She looked back at me with a puzzling expression. “What do you mean? How? When?”
“This morning, actually,” I admitted. “We met for coffee because I knew you would want to make sure she would be okay. She told me it was about time I asked you. She’s been talking to Gio about when we’d take the plunge.”
Her lips turned up in a small grin. “You did that for me?” I wish she didn’t sound so surprised. She had been burned so many times in the past, it was still hard for her to grasp people—me in particular—would do anything for her.
“I would burn the world down for you if it meant I could continue to see that pretty smile, my love.”
She tackled me back onto the bed and kissed me with all the love in her heart. Her tears dripped on my face. I pulled back from the kiss. “These are happy tears, I hope.”
She giggled lightly, wiping the tears from her face. “They are. I can’t wait to live with you. I feel like the life I was meant to live is finally starting, and there is no one else I would rather have by my side than you. If you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you forever—past forever.”
“And I’ll love you for just as long.” She kissed me gently. “Now that we’re moving into the next step of our relationship, can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course, my love. Anything.”
“Do you ever think about getting in touch with your sister?” She looked away shyly.
The truth was, I had kept tabs on her since she left.
I found her social media page where she posted about her travels and school—she studied social work.
The dread of reaching out only to realize she didn’t want me back in her life made me second-guess contacting her every time.
What if she had truly found happiness again, and seeing me affected her negatively?
She was dealt an unfair deck in life, so I hoped she found happiness and peace.
Was it selfish of me to want to be a part of it?
“I think about it all the time. She was everything to me, and I wish I could tell her how proud I am of her. I’ve kept track of her through the years on social media but haven’t reached out.” I looked away from her in shame.
“What’s stopping you?” Her tone was understanding. I knew my fallout with Luna was on me. She was heading into adulthood with zero guidance from her grieving brother. I should’ve explained more about what happened between Avery and me instead of blurting it out during an argument.
“We had a big argument before she packed up her stuff, and I never saw her again. I should have seen how much she was hurting and been there for her. I was stuck in my own grief. I’ve stayed away from Luna because I’m afraid my presence back in her life could bring back those dark memories of her grief.
Her two maternal figures died within five years of each other, and then she was left with a worthless brother.
Maybe she’s better off.” I looked up at the ceiling, holding back tears.
She clasped her hand in mine, squeezing three times with silent reassurance.
“I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.
It was a tough time for both of you, and maybe she made the rash decision to leave, but maybe she’s been thinking about you just as much as you’ve been thinking about her.
You’re doing a disservice to your healing by not connecting with her and being honest. I won’t push, of course, but I’d love to help you both reconnect.
I can act as a third party to ensure it goes okay. Would you let me do that for you?”
A single tear fell as I stared at the woman I loved, knowing I could do anything with her by my side. “You’re perfect, you know?” I kissed her forehead. “Okay, let’s get my baby sister back.”