Page 139 of Revival

I shrug as my lips tip up. “Some things don’t change.”

Spencer looks at me with a face full of contentment. “Make it two, and I’ll cover it.”

Oliver pops his head around the corner. “Is he moving in?”

My body becomes so stiff a strong wind could topple me over. “Why are you asking that?”

Ollie strolls by on his way to his bedroom as if he didn’t just shock me stupid. “Just saying if he’s going to pay for pizza from here on out, that’s an arrangement I’m happy with.”

“Boys,” I mutter as I slowly relax. “The way to their hearts is through their bottomless stomach.”

The silence lingers for an elongated beat.

Spencer’s shoulders lower with a deep exhale. “Would you want that?”

“Would I want you to live with us? Do you even have to ask that?”

Spencer huffs a short laugh. “I have my rental, but I’m sure I can work something out. Find a subtenant.”

I loop my arms around his neck. “I might know someone who’s looking.”

“Do you now?” He runs his palms beneath my upper arms and trails leisurely kisses up my neck.

One by one, pieces fall back into their rightful place. “Mm-hmm. Whitney’s friend Alice has been looking. Her lease is up next month because her landlord is putting the house up for sale.”

“Get in touch with her. I’ll get on it first thing Monday morning.”

“In a hurry for something?” I tease as his teeth scrape across my collarbone.

He pulls back and looks me straight in the eyes. “Only to begin the rest of our life together.”

“Why wait until Monday?” I drag his mouth down to mine. Against his lips, I murmur, “I’m ready to start right now.”

EPILOGUE

Cortney

One year later…

A gentle breezeblows my hair across my face. I lean against the stained wooden gate and watch the summer sun begin to dip below the tall pines. The light orange sky gives way to lavender the farther I look to the east.

“Are you okay?”

The scent of pine and something mechanical reaches me at the same time as Spencer’s voice.

I straighten my chin and suppress a sigh, meeting his eyes. “I think so.”

“You’ve done well, Cortney. He’s going to be fine.”

I glance across the grassy meadow at the Sanctuary to the boys playing catch with their uncles. “It feels so far. It’s been the two of us for so long. I’m just not sure what a life looks like with Ollie not at home.”

“We can go visit him whenever you want. Minneapolis isn’t that far.”

“I know.”

“And there will be plenty of home games.”

Both Lincoln and Ollie beat the odds and were accepted to play D1 baseball at the state university. Move-in day is tomorrow, and I’m a wreck.

---