Cory licked it with great passion.
Hayley leaned her head on Deb’s shoulder, sighing happily as they ate.
Life, indeed, was very, very good.
As the evening approached, Deb ordered the enchiladas and queso from Dos Locos, tidied the living room, lit one of Hayley’sfavorite candles, and changed into the soft navy lounge set that Hayley once said made her look “dangerously huggable.”
Cory supervised all preparations with a critical eye.
At exactly 6:42—Hayley’s very specific time of arrival—the door clicked.
Deb perked up like a puppy.
Hayley stepped inside, hair escaping her bun, cheeks rosy from the cold. She looked exhausted. And beautiful. And hers.
The moment Hayley saw Deb, her shoulders eased. Her whole expression softened.
“There’s my girl,” she breathed.
Deb walked over, took her bag, and kissed her slow and deep.
Hayley melted into her instantly.
“Food’s on the counter,” Deb murmured against her lips. “Cory already tried to break into the bag twice.”
“Sounds about right.” Hayley kissed her again. “I missed you.”
Something warm unfurled in Deb's chest. “I missed you, too.”
They ate curled up on the couch, sharing bites, trading stories about work. Hayley ranted about an attending with a God complex; Deb ranted about a patient who insisted Google knew more than she did. They laughed. They kissed between forkfuls.
After dinner, they showered together—lazy, warm, lingering touches, steam swirling around them. Hayley pressed Deb to the tiled wall at one point, but Deb swatted her hand away with a teasing grin.
“Uh-uh.TonightI get to take my time withyou.”
Hayley shivered. “I like that plan.”
Later, wrapped in blankets, Deb made good on her promise—slow kisses, soft hands, loving touch. Hayley came undone beautifully, whispering Deb’s name like a prayer.
Afterward, they lay tangled together, skin against skin, Cory wedged between their ankles like a sentient foot warmer.
Hayley brushed a thumb over Deb’s cheek. “Can you believe it’s been a year?”
“No,” Deb said honestly. “And also yes. Because it feels like I’ve known you forever.”
“We were such idiots,” Hayley whispered, laughing into Deb’s neck.
“Theworstidiots.”
“And now look at us.”
Deb did look. At their home. Their cat. Their bed. Their life.
And she loved every thread of it.
“I think we turned out okay,” she murmured.
Hayley kissed her forehead. “I think we turned out perfect.”
