Page 64 of Back to You
Chapter 21
Today was the day.
It had been two months since we’d returned home from our roadtrip. Two months since we’d painstakingly gone through Grandma Gin’s belongings. We had a huge auction and two different garage sales and, as it turned out, Gran had some pretty valuable stuff hidden amongst all of her “organized chaos”. Someone had even offered to buy Gran’s old white Civic.
Dane poked his head into my room, the accordion doors squeaking as he leaned against them. He cocked his head to one side, then tugged on his lip ring with his teeth. Good god, he was so handsome—and he was mine.
“Got everything?” he asked.
I gestured to the small stack of boxes sitting on the end of the bed. “Yep, this is the last of it.”
I looked around the small room that had been Gran’s craft area, once upon a time, before her kindly old heart had given me a place to live. Now it was time to move on.
Funny how things changed. One minute you’re on a roadtrip around the continental USA and the next, you’re moving into your boyfriend’s house, ready to take the next big step in this crazy thing called Life.
My stomach dipped, nerves pinging around like pinballs in an arcade game. I straightened my spine and breathed in deeply.You can do this. You got this.
Dane’s smile crinkled his eyes. “Are you ready, Hols?”
I smiled back. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I am. Wanna help me with these?” I chin-nodded at the cardboard boxes filled with the rest of my belongings. He chuckled and hoisted one stack into his arms. I gathered up the rest and we made our way downstairs.
Dane’s car was already loaded up, backed up nearly to the front door. Jogging down the front steps, we tossed the last of my stuff in the trunk. Dane clapped the lid shut, and together, we turned and looked up at the tall, skinny blue-roofed home that looked so out of place beside its ritzier neighbors. Gran loved this house...but Gran was gone, and her home deserved to be lived in and loved.
That’s why I’d sold the place to someone I knew would cherish it as much as Grandma Gin had. I smiled to myself, thinking of how astoundingly excited Abby had been when I told her I wanted her to buy the house.
“But boy, there’s only one problem,” she’d said. “I can’t afford a place like this.”
“Sure you can,” I replied, handing her the contract we’d had written up. I would sell Gran’s property to her for a single dollar, on the [contingence] that she’d keep taking care of the cats until we opened our cafe. Of course, she’d jumped on the chance. I could’ve sworn her squeals of delight could be heard the next state over. RIP my eardrums.
After saying goodbye to Abby and the cats, Dane and I headed back to his place.Ourplace. I held his hand all the way there, and I didn’t even bother hiding my grin. It was bigger and goofier than it’d ever been before, because this just feltright.
Custard welcomed us home, meowing loudly as he paced back and forth in front of the door. The minute Dane stepped foot into the house, Custard’s kinked tail began to wiggle. He rubbed himself against Dane’s legs, his back arched. Dane laughed and bent down to pick up the yowling feline, only to get poked in the eye by one of Custard’s whiskers.
“Hey, buddy. We’re home.”
“Home sweet home,” I agreed. “So, how are we gonna celebrate my first official night here? I was thinking pizza? Yay? Nay? We could even get extra cheese.” I waggled my brows, hoping to tempt him into sinning with me.Mmm. Pizza.
“Actually…” He bit his lip, sucking his lip ring into his mouth.
“Uh-oh. I know that look.”
He flushed. “Busted.”
“Okay, spill the beans.”
“I was hoping we could make the trip up to Newsbury tonight to see Mom? She invited us to dinner, although I don’t think she’s making pizza.” He made a face, so I stuck my tongue out at him. He leaned in and kissed me, quick. “However, a little birdie told me that she was making her famous chicken cordon bleu.” His voice softened, smoothing out. “She’d love to see you, Hols.”
“I know.” But I couldn’t help but think about the past, how I’d left them all alone in their time of need. Dane might’ve forgiven me, but…
As if he could read my mind, he drew me into a tight embrace. “Stop, baby. We talked about things and she understands. She does. I promise, she wants nothing more than for us to be happy. Youarehappy, right?”
I sighed softly. “Yeah, I’m happy. In fact, I can’t remember a time I’ve ever felt this happy. I love you, Dane Fisher, with every last ounce of my heart.”
“Good,” he said, stealing a kiss.
I pulled back and placed a fingertip on his lips, even as my heart gave an unsteadythump.“Can we…stop and see Mom first? I wanna take her some flowers.”
“Of course, baby. I think she’d love that.”
