I untie the sugar covered apron around her waist and step between her legs. “You were amazing today.”
Lola tilts her head, her fingers fiddling with the buttons on my shirt. “Think anyone will come back?”
I breathe in the rich scent of coffee and cinnamon. “I think you have the whole town addicted to apple fries.”
“Told you they were a thing.”
“Move in with me.”
Lola’s lips part and I want to trace my tongue over the soft pink skin. To trail kisses down to the hollow of her neck.
“What?” she whispers.
“Move in with me,” I say again. “Let me take you home.”
“I– I only just finished the apartment. We’ve only been dating for just over a month.”
I circle my hands around her hips, anchoring her to me. “I don’t care. I’ve waited six years to be with you, and I don’t want to wait a day longer. Rent the flat out, or give it to Skyler, but you, Lola Ford, are coming home with me.”
Amusement twitches her lip. “Oh yeah? You’ve just decided, have you?”
“Yep. Told you I’d be a caveman.”
Lola laughs then scratches her fingers through the hair at the back of my head. “I guess you better take me home then.”
My heart bursts. I throw Lola over my shoulder, her laughter showering down on me like sparklers. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before. I grin as I walk us towards the shop door and out onto Main Street.
It may have taken me a while to recognize it, but Lola is my family, and I’m bringing her home.
Epilogue
Lola
TWO MONTHS LATER
Not a fan of flowers?
Nah, fuck roses, when someone loves me, I want them to bring me coffee.
- Conversation between Roman, age 31, and Lola, age 24
My thighs burnas I follow Roman up the last stretch of the trail. It’s the two-month anniversary of the shop opening and Skyler insisted I take the day off.
My normal adventurous spirit is currently hibernating under the stress and strain of running a new business so I’d have been pretty content lazing about at home all day, but Roman’s beenwanting to climb Tiger Falls together for weeks and my lungs are finally up to the challenge.
I smile at the thought of home. I’d been a little worried about moving in with Roman so soon, but nothing has ever felt more natural than waking up in his indoor forest with Roman’s lips on mine.
I miss my little studio above the shop sometimes, but I get to visit whenever I want because Skyler’s staying there until she finds a new place. Her and Leda’s break up was a long time coming and I’ve spent many a night at the apartment with her, watching comfort movies and bingeing on left over apple fries and Beli’s ice cream.
Roman looks back at me, mischief in his eyes. “You know it was about here that I realized you were following us.”
I stop walking. “You knew?” The last time I climbed this trial I was eight years old, following Roman and my brother. I’d hid behind trees every time they looked back so they didn’t realize I was there until I reached the top. Or I thought they didn’t.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, holding the straps of the backpack on my shoulders. It's nearing the end of hiking season so we’re the only ones on the trail today and without the leaves crunching under my hiking boots, the rushing water of the falls fills the crisp morning air.
Roman shrugs, looking far too good than anyone has a right to after a one-hour trek in cargo pants and a hiking fleece. “We were so close to the top. I didn’t want to stop you before you made it.”
Sunshine unfurls behind my ribs, my heart basking in the knowledge that even at fifteen, Roman believed in me.
