“Of course there are chairs.You can’t have a table without chairs,” she teases, her tone playful, shaking her head as she comes over to give me a hug.“We wanted to do something special for you, but we also wanted it to be something for you to use when you have us all over.”
“I love it,” I tell Sage, pulling her in for another hug while Miles thanks Nate with a quick handshake and a hug.
Our little house is coming together so perfectly, better than I could have ever expected with the bed that Tanner made for us, and now a kitchen table for all our friends to gather at.We are certainly feeling the love today.
“And we brought you this,” Alana says, letting out a mock-annoyed huff.“Flynn insisted that we get you this complicated coffee maker, telling me that Americans don’t know good coffee.”
Flynn’s resting his elbow on a box wrapped in gold paper and tied with a pink ribbon, which is sitting on the counter in the kitchen.It’s still hard to believe this little rundown, unloved cottage has turned into mine and Miles’s first home.
“Way to give it away, babe,” Flynn says to Alana, tossing an arm around her shoulders.He pulls her closer, kissing her temple.
It feels so good to see all my friends happy and in relationships, with the exception of Kai, and I seriously don’t ever know if that’s going to happen.What he has going with Lisa and the random tourist here or there doesn’t seem promising.
Not that I would want that for Lisa.She deserves better than hookups with Kai.After her divorce, she swore off men but is clearly getting her needs met by doing some friends with benefits.
The guys head outside to bring in the chairs just as Sloane and Owen show up, and she squeals when she sees me.
We’ve been texting a ton lately, trying to come up with a day to meet so we can talk through the branding for the bakery.
She’s going to use working with me as part of her final project in one of her design classes, so while I won’t be paying her, she will get to use it for a final grade.Miles and I both agreed that we will find a way to repay her since her professor said she couldn’t charge for it.
“Oh my god, Daisy, the house looks so cute.Who would have thought in just a few short weeks you’d be able to get it here?But I totally understand the urgency and wanting a place to call your own.It feels so good, right?”
All Sloane ever wanted was a place to call her own after all her time in foster care, and I love that she found it with Owen.He would do anything for her, just like Miles would for me.This cottage and the soon-to-be bakery are proof of that.
“It feels so good,” I tell Sloane, going into the kitchen to unwrap the gift from Alana and Flynn, even though Alana gave it away.
Untying the pink satin ribbon, I tear away the gold paper to reveal a very fancy coffee maker that looks like it needs a manual, but I’ll take Flynn’s word on it that it’s amazing.
“Love these colors together,” I say, more to myself than anything, but Sloane catches it and takes the ribbon and swatch of paper.
“This would be a good start for your branding,” Sloane says, with Sage and Alana standing by to agree.“We could totally do a mix of pinks and some gold, bring in a daisy with a glittery gold center instead of yellow.”
“I love that so much.Pink could be the signature color,” I add, and Alana jumps in, sharing her thoughts.
“And your pink vanilla cupcake is so good.It’s perfect.”
It’s so amazing getting to experience this with them and getting to work with Sloane on the branding.While I know it’s going to be a while before the bakery is up and running, this whole planning process is going to be so much fun.
I don’t feel like my life could be more back on track than it is right now.With Miles here, our relationship in the best place it’s ever been, and now the bakery coming together.
The night with all our friends in our new house is a blast.Lots of food and drinks and laughs, bringing us all together the way we always are.
So when Miles and I climb into bed well after midnight, we’re both exhausted, especially since we have to be up early tomorrow for work.
He has lessons at sunrise, and I’m working the lunch shift at the bar.I’m also meeting with a couple of contractors to discuss the renovations on the bakery.Miles and I have narrowed it down to two, and it all comes down to pricing now.
“First night in our house together,” Miles whispers, the stillness of the room blanketing us.
He pulls the sheets down, exposing my bare skin to the cool night air, his fingers trailing over my sensitive flesh.Goosebumps rise up with the gentle caress of his calloused fingertips, reminding me of all the time he’s spent playing guitar.
His touch will always be home to me, sparking memories of all our time together but also of the time we spent apart.I missed the way his body moved against mine, the way his fingers memorized every curve of my body.
“Where are your other guitars?”I ask him, knowing the one that sits in the corner of the room isn’t his only one.
Of all the videos and pictures on the band’s social media, it seemed like Miles had a different guitar every night.When he left for the tour, he had at least four.
“I sold them,” he replies quickly and casually.
