“We’re changing lives,” Alyssa corrected.
“Fine. We’re changing lives. Together.”
“I like the sound of that.”
As the party wound down and people began to leave, Alyssa found herself standing by the window, looking out over the city. The lights were coming on, Christmas decorations twinkling in shop windows.
Evelyn joined her, slipping an arm around her waist. “What are you thinking?”
“That this is nice. That I could get used to this.”
“The partnership or the girlfriend?”
“Both.”
Evelyn laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Good, because I’m not planning on letting you go anytime soon.”
“Promises, promises.”
Below them, the city hummed with life. People heading home, heading out, heading somewhere. And up here, in this quiet moment, Alyssa felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Settled.
Bug wandered over, leaning against her leg with a heavy sigh. She reached down to scratch his ears.
“What do you think, Bug? Should we stick around?”
Bug’s response was to flop onto his side, apparently exhausted from his hosting duties.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Alyssa said.
Evelyn smiled. “Then it’s settled. I’ll present the proposal to the board next week. Once you’ve had a chance to review it properly.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Alyssa agreed. “But for now, let’s just enjoy this.”
And they did. Standing by the window, watching the city lights, with Bug snoring softly at their feet and the last remnants of the party humming in the background.
Epilogue
Five A.M. and Furry Extortion
“Alyssa,” Evelyn whisper-hissed. “Al!”
“What?” came a mumbled reply.
“He’s doing it again.”
“Just ignore him.”
“I can’t. His eyes are boring into me.”
The bed dipped as Alyssa rolled over to face Evelyn, who was staring wide-eyed at Bug. This was the scene that had greeted Alyssa every morning for the past three weeks—the time Evelyn had been living in the mobile home with her and Bug.
Bug, the master of manipulation and puppy eyes, had wrapped Evelyn further round his little paw in record time. Anything the pooch wanted, he got from Evelyn, much to Alyssa’s annoyance.
Annoyance because this, here and now, was the result of Evelyn pandering to Bug. A five a.m. wake-up call by the furry menace. He didn’t scratch or whine, oh no. He silently crept into the room, jumped on the bed like a ninja, and sat by Evelyn’s head, staring down at her until she woke up.
Alyssa knew from experience now that Evelyn was a light sleeper, especially when it came to Bug. The woman refused to close the door in case he needed something. Evelyn likened it to a mother hearing her baby cry. Alyssa had rolled her eyes until she strained them when that conversation took place. So, the result was a daily conversation at the arse crack of dawn about Bug creeping Evelyn out. Good job Alyssa was an early riser.
