Page 94 of Lovewell Lane

Scarlet wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Let’s eat cake!”

Everyone dove in for a slice. I wasn’t sure how anyone had room left to eat after spending all day at the Festival, but I wasn’t going to turn down a piece of raspberry lemon cake. Derek made sure I got my slice first before cutting a piece for everyone else.

We all made our way to the living room since no one wanted to stand any longer after working all day long. The couch was full as I made my way over, so Derek pulled me into his lap. I gasped a little and made eye contact to make sure he was okay with this. He just smirked and pulled me closer.

I smiled into my cake and tried to remember a time that I’d ever been this happy. We all shared stories of the day, laughed, drank a few beers, and when it was time for Tessa to go to bed, Derek asked if I wanted to join.

“Do you want Margo to do bedtime with us tonight?” I watched him ask Tessa.

She nodded sleepily. “Yes!”

The three of us made our way upstairs, the noise of our friends and family slowly fading the further away we got. Tessa walked to her dresser to get pajamas as I waited in the hall with Derek for her to get changed.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him. “For everything. I can’t believe you were able to plan a party while dealing with the Honey Festival.”

He shrugged. “It was important. I’ve decided that I make time for the things that are important now. Even if it takes away from work.”

I leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’d love to stay here. If that’s still okay with you.”

“Of course it is, baby.” He cupped my chin and rubbed his thumb against my cheek. “I’d love to have you here all the time. Tessa would too.”

“You think?”

He shot me a look. It was a stupid question, I’ll admit. “She’ll be stoked.” He took a deep breath in. “But you have to be sure, if you’re moving in here. I know you understand how serious it is, I just need to say it out loud.”

I did understand. There was no world in which I would ever leave Derek or Tessa. This wasn’t some new adventure or thrill. Living here with them was my dream. My life. I wanted to continue building it with the two of them alongside me.

“I’m sure.” I grabbed his hands in mine. “This is my home. I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

He nodded and his lips curved into a genuine smile before he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “Gross, Daddy,” Tessa said from the doorway.

We pulled back with a jerk. “Sorry, Tessa,” I breathed.

Derek cringed. “Sorry, honey. Should we do a bedtime story?”

“I want to read this one.” Tessa held out a book for Derek. He looked at it and snorted.

I looked over his shoulder to read the book’s title. ‘Love Makes a Family’. At least she could read the room.

The three of us sat side by side in her bed with Tessa in the middle. Derek read the book to us while Tessa scooted closer tosnuggle into my side. When he was done reading, Tessa moved to lay down in the bed. I wasn’t sure how the usual operations of bedtime worked, but Derek didn’t move from his spot, so neither did I.

“Any ques—” Derek started.

“Why were you guys kissing?” Tessa asked.

I let out a little chuckle while Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. I admired the lines next to his eyes before answering for him. “We care about each other.”

“Do you love each other?” Tessa asked.

I decided to let Derek take this one. He glanced at me before looking back at Tessa. “Yes, we do. And we love you very much, too. You know that, right?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said with exasperation. “You say it all the time.”

“Just making sure,” he muttered before smoothing down her hair. “Margo and I have been talking. How would you feel if she stayed in the house with us? For longer than just a few days.”

Tessa looked at me with a big smile. Her feet kicked under the blanket, and I laughed at her uncontained excitement. “Does that mean we can have dinner together? And breakfast? And Margo can braid my hair in the morning.”

I laughed and patted her hand. “We can do all of those things. I might not be here for every breakfast because I have to open the restaurant, but I can be home for every dinner if that would make you happy.”

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