Page 94 of The Way We Fell

Oh. Yeah. That. Jay and I started making phone calls the morning after our conversation at the steakhouse, and we were able put my house on the market almost immediately. A man came round to affix the sign to the front gate, and there’s already been some interest, although we’re not making any firm commitments to anything yet. We’re just looking around, getting a feel for what’s out there.

“There’s afucking what?” Amie slams her wine glass down and stares at me from across the table. Beside her, Cam quirks an eyebrow, and I feel Jay shrug beside me.

“Tell me you’re not moving into Jay’s shoebox,” Ruth continues. She reaches for a tortilla chip from the enormous nacho platter in the middle of the table.

“God, no,” I laugh. Jay elbows me lightly.

“Don’t sound so disgusted at the idea, Princess,” he grumbles. Paloma’s eyes soften at the endearment, and I swear she almost melts into her seat.

“I’d have to kick him out just to make space for my books. I’m just… testing the market.”

“Testing the market,” Amie repeats. Like she’s testing the words in her mouth. Tasting them. I don’t think they taste good, based on the face she pulls.

“Yeah.”

“Are you moving in together?” Paloma squeezes her fingers into fists, like she’s trying not to clap with excitement.

“Like Katy said—we’re just testing the market. Seeing what happens—whether it’s likely to sell. Seeing what else is out there. And maybe we’ll look for somewhere together.”

“Gonna need a bigger house,” I grumble. I can’t wait to live with Jay, to start a new chapter with him. But I bought my house after I graduated from university, and I’m proud of it. It was perfect for me then, and I still love it just as much now—maybe even more, now I’ve turned it into my perfect home. But it’s just big enough for me. If Jay were to move in, we’d be tripping over one another constantly. And with a dog, too—well, it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

“A bigger house.” Amie repeats my words again, and then realisation dawns in her eyes. “Katy—wait—are you—”

My heart sinks for a split second. I know how much Amie wants another baby, and how desperately she and Cam have been trying to get pregnant. It almost hurts that she thinks I’d announce it like this—so publicly—if I were, knowing how difficult it would surely be for her to process that kind of news. But as quickly as the thought enters my mind, it leaves again, and I interrupt her line of questioning.

“Adopting a puppy? Yes!”

Amie’s face breaks into a half-smile, a mixture of relief and excitement. Curiosity, and a little concern. For Maisy, no doubt, as she’s been dodging the puppy question for weeks now.

“Well… he’s Jay’s puppy.” I pull my phone from my pocket and open Jay’s text thread, scrolling past the incredibly inappropriate messages he sent while he was working last night to find the most recent photos of Pup. I spin my phone on the table and Ruth cranes her neck to see.

Amie melts at Pup’s big brown eyes and puppy smile.

“What’s his name?” Cam asks.

Jay and I look at each other, and I nod.

“Pupperoni,” he says. Paloma snorts. “Pup. He’s a Hero Pup.”

“I’ve heard about them!” Ruth exclaims. “That’s a really good idea. I’m happy for you, bro. Both of you.” She beams at us, and under the table, I reach for her hand and squeeze it gently. She squeezes back.

“It was Katy’s idea,” Jay boasts. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the way this man talks about me like I achieved something incredible, like world peace. The way he looks at me like the most precious thing in the world. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his side.

“I went to find out more, and I met Pup,” he continues. “And Katy and I have met him a couple of times since then. And as of yesterday, we’re matched. He’s officially my Hero Pup. He’ll be moving in this week.”

I grin indulgently. That phone call will go down in history as one of the best moments of my life. The way a huge, unashamed grin broke out on Jay’s face. The relief in his expression. The hope in his eyes. The way he pulled me into his arms, swept me off my feet and spun me around the room, kissed me until I couldn’t even feel my lips anymore.

The way he not only told me, but showed me how much he loves me. And my god, do I love him right back.

The way I fell in love with Jay Bevan is the stuff fairytales are made of. Without fuss or fanfare, without invitation or hesitation, he burrowed deep into my heart and all the way into my soul. No romance novel I’ve ever read could’ve prepared me for this—this all-encompassing, all-consumingjoy, the peace I feel at just being near him. The way my heart swells and my belly swoops when he smiles at me. The way his warmth lingers, spreads throughout my whole body when he touches me.

No romance novel could’ve prepared me for what being in love with Jay Bevan feels like.

Epilogue

Katy

Threeweekslater.

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