Page 45 of My Trainer Neighbor
"That sounds ominous."
"It's not.I promise.Just come over after work?"
"I'll be there."
***
WHEN I GOT TO HER PLACEthat evening, she was wearing yoga pants and one of my old t-shirts that she'd stolen weeks ago.Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she had that slightly manic look she got when she'd been working on a campaign all day.
She was beautiful.
"So what did you want to talk about?"I asked, pulling her in for a kiss.
"Your lease is up next month."
"Yeah.I was going to start looking at places this weekend."
"What if you didn't have to look?"She bit her lip."What if we found a place together?Something bigger than your studio.Something that's actually ours."
The suggestion should have sent me running.Six months ago, it would have.But now, thinking about waking up next to Nicole every morning in a place we'd chosen together?
"Yeah," I said."Let's do it."
Her eyes widened."Really?Just like that?"
"Just like that."I lifted her up, and her legs wrapped around my waist automatically."You're surprised?"
"A little.I thought I'd have to convince you."
"Baby, you convinced me the night you showed up at my door and told me you'd quit your job.You convinced me when you chose yourself over what everyone else thought you should want."I carried her toward the bedroom."You convinced me when you let me see the real you and didn't run away."
"I did run away.Multiple times."
"But you came back.That's what matters."
I set her on the bed, and she pulled me down with her."I love you."
"I love you too."I kissed her, taking my time."Now let me show you how I feel about moving in together."
"Shawn, we should probably talk about it more."
"Later."I was already pulling her shirt over her head."Right now, I'm celebrating."
"Celebrating what?"
"The fact that the woman I love wants to build a life with me.That's worth celebrating."
She laughed, the sound bright and free, and pulled me down for another kiss.
Later, as we lay tangled together in her bed, she traced patterns on my chest.
"What are you thinking about?"she asked.
"How I ended up here.With you.In this life I didn't know I wanted."
"Regrets?"
"Not a single one."I kissed the top of her head."Best decision I ever made was not lowering that music."
