Page 99 of Just Friends Forever
I look up at Troy beside me. His arm is around my waist, and he pulls me closer. “Congratulations, Stevie.” He presses his lips to mine, and I feel a flutter of anticipation. Looking at houses with him over the past few months has been more fun than it should have been. A big part of that was going into each house imagining sharing it with him.
“What do you say I take you home now?” he whispers in my ear.
My lips spread in a huge smile. “Yes, please.”
I could have brought my own car—a dazzling black Toyota Corolla I’ve fallen in love with almost as deeply as I love Troy—but Troy loves taking me to and from work, so he picked me up and brought me to the closing himself.
“How are the little furballs doing?” he asks, threading his fingers through mine once we’re out of the parking lot. His hair has grown back fully, making him as handsome as ever. I’ll always have a soft spot for his bald head, though.
“So good,” I say. “We got a new one today—Carla texted me after we left to let me know.”
“No way,” he says. “That’s amazing!”
“I’ll show you,” I say, pulling out my phone. I navigate to the app with the cameras that monitor the nine animals currently housed at Silverbook Animal Rescue.
After a few visits to Harmony Haven, I decided taking care of virtual pets hadn’t just been a way to pass time for me. It’s something I really love. Rather than spending millions of dollars on an enormous home I’d feel lost in, I’ve been putting money I got after the divorce into starting up my own animal sanctuary—soon (based on IRS definitions of “soon”) to gain official non-profit status.
We’re just small potatoes for now, and I kind of like it that way. Sixty-three virtual animals was a lot, and I love being able to give each animal the attention it deserves.
I use the remote controls to move the camera in the direction of our brand-new addition. It’s staring through its cage with wide, alert eyes, and I show the screen to Troy when we stop at a red light.
He narrows his eyes, then looks at me. “A guinea pig? I love guinea pigs.”
I tip my head to the side as I admire the critter. “I can’t wait to see him tomorrow. Carla says he’s very vocal.”
“I’m definitely coming in with you in the morning. You haven’t named him yet, right?”
I look at him with mock-offense. “I’d never take that step without you.”
“Whew! We were about to have our first fight. Knowing you, he’d end up with a name like Piggy or Big-Teeth.”
“You just wait until we’re on pet number sixty.Thenwe’ll see how creative you are.”
He laughs and brings my knuckles to his mouth for a kiss.
Troy’s flexible schedule means he spends a lot of time at Silverbrook, hanging out with me and the animals between calls and paperwork. I’m completely in love with the life we’re building.
I’m tempted to shift the camera to a different cage for a quick peek, but I suppress the urge. I haven’t told Troy yet, but I’m hoping to adopt one of the pets for my own—specifically, the mixed-breed dog we’ve had for weeks now, named Mochi. She’s not cute enough or young enough for the families that come through looking for pets. Yesterday, a mom and her toddler came, and I was on pins and needles thinking they might take her, but they didn’t. I didn’t feel like I could take in a pet when I was staying in Austin’s apartment, but now that I have a house of my own….
Fifteen minutes later, we turn onto my street, a quiet cul-de-sac in the hills. After months of looking, this place came on the market three weeks ago. Both of us knew it was perfect for me: away from the bustle, modest in size, and less than fifteen minutes from the animal rescue. It’s big enough for us to grow into and open enough to host a small group of friends, which is exactly what I hope our future will look like.
“Welcome home, Stevie,” Troy says as we pull up in front of the house.
My eyes are fixed on the lawn, where a bunch of people are standing. Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard, Siena and Jack, Tori, Maggie, and Evelyn are all smiling and clapping as we pull into the driveway.
I look over at Troy, who parks the car and looks at me. “We wanted to throw you a little housewarming party.”
“And make me cry, apparently.” I throw my arms around him. How is he so perfect?
We pull back, and he smiles at me, then puts his hand to his fake ear mic. “Monkey Lover is in the building.”
The car is accosted and our doors opened by Siena and Tori, and we step out to a very unsynchronized chorus of voices welcoming me home. Evelyn is holding a massive platter of cookies, from which Troy snags a handful immediately.
“Wow, Evelyn!” I exclaim. “How many dozen is that? Let’s get inside so you can set it down before your arms break.”
Everyone follows behind me to the front door, erupting in cheers once I’ve unlocked it and pulled it wide open.
“Let me get that for you,” Maggie says, taking my place to keep the door open. “You should be the first one to step inside your own new house.”
