Page 74 of Living La Vida Mocha
“Maybe, but I already knew that.”
“So… I can stay?” Hope was a flower blooming at high speed. “In my shabby motel room, working whatever job I can find since I wasn’t able to secure a lease on the place beside Stanley’s.”
“You weren’t what?”
“Yeah. That’s what I was trying to tell you, before you know – the incidents. That’s the phone call I got before dinner. Amanda wasn’t lost, I lied.” Once again, my focus fell away. “I tried to secure a lease, but they want too much money, and I put an offer on a house, but they rejected it.”
“That was some bad news to get all at once.”
“Story of my life.” I laughed lightly. It never rained, it poured.
“You know, I was never a fan of that rundown motel room.”
“I know.”
“And I’d hate to see you pay too much for a rental, assuming you could find one.”
“They are pricey.” There were two, and each was asking more for rent than my place in Red Deer.
“Well… we’ll just keep looking. And fast. I’m sure we’ll be able to find you the perfect place to live. We can start as soon as we get released.”
“That could be the middle of the night. I know realtors work all kinds of hours, but I’m sure not they’d be super receptive to a 3 am phone call.”
He mock-sighed. “Fine. We can wait until after breakfast, but I’m not waiting until much past eight.”
“You’re really going all in on this aren’t you?”
“Of course, with you, I’m all in.”
“As I am with you. I’m sorry for my momentary lack of confidence, but it’s over. It’s gone. Thrown out like day-old garbage.”
“Ah, Cara Gallagher, I love you. I’m sorry I had to break your heart a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry too.”
“And?” His whole body moved with the laugh. “You can say it now so you’ll remember.”
I leaned in and brushed my lips across his. “I love you too. I always have. Being fired and dumped within minutes had the best outcome.”
“And we’ll make up for lost time. I promise. In the past with our relationship, you’re the first step-taker, and you always have been. But not anymore. I promise we’ll navigate the unchartered waters together.”
“No more secrets.” I squeezed him hard.
“Zero.”
I placed my hand on his chest and allowed a deep sigh to fill up my lungs. As I exhaled, my heartbeat slowed. “And with that, as much as it rubs me slightly the wrong way, I think I’ll take up your sister’s offer to move into the basement suite. It’ll be better than the motel, and maybe it’ll help mend the relationship. But I’m not taking a job at the Coffee Loft, sorry. I have plans to open a hardware store, and if it’s not beside Stanley’s, I’ll find another.”
“Together, we can move mountains.”
I kissed him again, pulled back, and winked. “Let’s just start by moving my stuff to Ridge Heights.”
“As you wish. I love you.”
“I love you too. Never stop telling me that.”
Epilogue
Valentine’s Day