“And sustainable development. You can’t forget about that.”
“Oh god.” Miller draped her arm over her eyes. “What did I get myself into?”
Astoria’s laugh rang out, and Miller lowered her arm just to witness it. She’d heard Astoria laugh before, but not like this. Not with her whole body or checking herself halfway through.
“I’m just teasing. You don’t have to come,” Astoria said, still smiling. “I wouldn’t subject you to?—”
“I’m coming.” Miller reached up, tucking an errant strand of hair behind Astoria’s ear. “I told you. I’m in, for all of it.”
Something loosened in Astoria’s expression. “You mean that?”
“I do.” Miller let her hand rest against Astoria’s cheek. “I also want you to meet my moms. Properly, I mean, not just as the opposing party or whatever they think you are.”
“Whatdothey think I am?”
“The woman who’s been making me lose my mind for about six months now.” Miller looked at her. “What? They’ve been curious.”
“Curious,” Astoria repeated. “That sounds terrifying.”
“They’ll love you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, actually.” Miller smiled. “Sunday dinners are sacred in my family. And I want you there.”
Astoria was quiet for a moment, her gaze roaming Miller’s face like she was searching for something. “I’ve never done anything like that. The casual warmth over family dinners thing—I’ve never had that. My family wasn’t… And Valerie’s parents were—” She shook her head. “I might be terrible at it.”
“You won’t be.”
Astoria looked at her, solemn. “I don’t know how to make small talk over pot roast without sounding like I’m running a board meeting.”
Miller grinned. “My mom Harper would actually love that. She finds corporate jargon hilarious.”
Astoria huffed. “That’s comforting.”
“Hey.” Miller’s finger traced Astoria’s cheekbone. “We’ll figure it out. No more hiding, right? That means my world too. Terrible pot roast and all.”
“The pot roast is terrible?”
“Well, Nadia tries, and Harper handles the grill. It’s a whole system.” Miller pulled her down for a soft kiss. “You’ll see.”
Astoria settled back against her with her head on Miller’s chest. “I’m done hiding,” she said quietly. “I spent so long keeping everything locked away, and I don’t want to do that anymore.”
Miller planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Then don’t.”
They lay there, tangled in the too-big bed in the too-empty house, but it felt less empty now.
“Stay tonight,” Astoria murmured against her skin.
“I was planning on it.”
“Good.” Astoria’s arm tightened around her waist.
Miller closed her eyes, letting everything sink in. For the first time, finally, she got to stay, and it was exactly where she was supposed to be.
EPILOGUE
“Willow, that’s my sock.”
