"At what?"
"Making me believe you." She kisses me softly. "Thank you."
We finish eating and then it's mid-afternoon, the light outside that peculiar grey-gold of winter. We should probably check out, get to the airport, but neither of us moves.
"What happens when we get back?" Claire asks quietly.
"We figure it out." I pull her closer. "I'll talk to HR after the holiday. There will be paperwork, disclosures. It won't be a secret, but we'll be smart about it."
"And if people talk?"
"Let them talk. I've spent five years not caring what people think of me. I'm not going to start now just because they have opinions about my personal life."
"What about the power dynamic?"
"We're both adults who chose this. And you're good enough at your job that no one will accuse me of playing favorites—they already know you're the best." I tilt her face up to look at me. "But if it makes you uncomfortable, we can figure something else out. You could transfer to another department, or?"
"No." She's firm. "I like working for you. With you. I don't want that to change."
"Then it won't." I kiss her forehead. "We'll make it work."
She's quiet for a moment, then: "I love you."
The words are soft, almost shy, and they hit me right in the chest.
"I love you too," I tell her, and it's easier than I thought it would be. "I have for a long time."
She smiles and settles back against me. Outside, snow is still falling, blanketing everything in Christmas white. Inside, we're warm and tangled together, and for the first time in five years, I feel something other than numb.
I feel whole.
"Merry Christmas, Garth," she whispers.
"Merry Christmas, Claire."
And lying here with her, I think Lena was right. I had too much life left to spend it alone.
I'm glad I finally figured that out.
5
Claire
Iwake up to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. For a second, I'm disoriented—why am I so warm, why does everything smell like Garth—and then I remember.
Everything. All of it.
I'm tucked against his chest, his arm heavy across my waist, and we're both naked under the covers. Yesterday happened. Last night happened. This morning happened.
My phone buzzes again and I reach for it, trying not to wake him.
FLIGHT ALERT: Your flight AA2847 to Detroit has been rescheduled for 3:00 PM today, December 26th. Please confirm.
I stare at the screen.Today.We can leave today.
I should text my mom, let her know I'm coming. But all I can think about is that in a few hours, we have to leave this bubble we've created and face the real world.
"What is it?" Garth's voice is rough with sleep, his hand sliding up to my hip.
