Page 42 of We Can Forever

I sigh happily. “I feel like I should say something, but… I’m at a loss for words right now.”

“Me too,” he chuckles.

And so we just stay where we are, the minutes ticking by, the outside world not mattering one bit.

“You know…” He runs his palm up my leg. “Katie is going straight to school from her sleepover tomorrow, so I don’t need to go anywhere. Technically, I don’t need to go until you kick me out.”

My stomach dances with excitement. His staying over is exactly what I want, but I was trying not to make any assumptions. “You mean you can sleep over here?”

He studies me. “As long as you’d like that. I don’t want to impose?—”

I shake my head. “Michael. I…” Screw it. Why am I beating around the bush? “I want you to stay.”

“Good.” He tugs me closer. “Because, guess what?”

“What?” I breathe as I sink into him.

“I’m crazy about you,” he whispers into my ear.

And there it is. The happiest moment of my life so far.

Chapter Fifteen

HANNAH

“There she is!” Aunt Carol’s voice booms across Knit Happens, the shop door clanging shut behind her.

She leaves her suitcase by the door and walks across the store with open arms, bangles sliding on her wrists, and her curly gray hair in a high bun.

“Carol.” I open my arms and step into her hug, embracing the smells of home. Her lavender body lotion. The palo santo incense that faintly clings to her clothes.

“How are you?” She steps back and studies me. “There are bags under your eyes.”

“There are?” I touch my face. “Oh. I guess I’m a little tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”

She frowns. “Stress?”

“Yeah,” I lie, choosing not to share that it was actually the firefighter in my bed keeping me awake.

“Poor girl.” She whirls around, inspecting the shop. “It looks great in here. So colorful.”

“Thanks.” My chest swells with pride. Knit Happens has come a long way since it was just the empty storefront Carol came to check out while I was back in Portland having a killer flare.

“What can I do?” She claps her hands together.

“Nothing,” I laugh. “You just got here. Go to the house and take it easy. Unpack.”

She frowns slightly. “Well, what are you doing?”

“I’m about to set up for tonight’s crochet class.”

Her frown deepens. “Another class? Hannah, don’t you think that’s too much?”

“No.” I turn away from her and put up my laptop, which I was using for inventory, and try not to be annoyed.

The last week has been wonderfully good—my symptoms have been minimal, Michael and I have had lunch together every day during the week, and I have a new class, Beginner’s Crocheting, which starts tonight.

It’s been cloud nine for days, like almost nothing could bring me down at this point.

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