"Good. It means I did my job."
That gets a laugh out of her, breathless and a little punchy from the comedown. I brush her hair back from her face, gentler now that the initial frenzy has passed, and bend to scoop her up.
Emily makes a surprised sound but doesn't protest as I carry her to the bed and lay her down carefully. Croissant is perched on the dresser, looking thoroughly disgusted. And inconvenienced— again.
"Your cat's staring at me," I say as I slide in beside her.
"He stares at everyone. He stares at me like that when I'm taking too long to feed him." She curls against me, one leg thrown over mine, her head on my chest. "Will you stay tonight? I know it sounds stupid after all this, but I really don't want to wake up alone."
I tighten my arm around her and press a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Em. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. You're stuck with me forever."
EPILOGUE
EMILY
Iwake to the familiar feeling of being watched. Warm sunlight bathes the bedroom, and before I even open my eyes, I know Alex is there, propped on one elbow, studying my face.
"You're doing it again," I murmur, blinking sleep away.
"Doing what?" His voice is morning-rough, that deep rumble that makes my stomach flutter.
"Watching me sleep. It's creepy." I smile to soften the words.
"Been doing it for a year. You haven't complained yet."
I stretch, feeling Croissant's weight across our feet. My apartment looks different now—Alex's running shoes by the door, his clothes hanging next to mine, his reading chair beside my couch.
It has been ours for six months now. He claimed my place was cozier than his and said he liked the idea of having a pet to 'guard' our home. Croissant has warmed up to him, but they still have staring contests every now and then.
Something catches my eye on the nightstand. An envelope with my name written in his precise handwriting.
"Alex, what's this? This month's bills?"
Alex just snorts. "Open it."
I sit up, sliding my finger under the seal. The card is simple—no hearts or cupids, just a black-and-white photograph of two coffee cups on a balcony rail. Inside is a single blush pink rose and a short note that says:
Emily,
You make mornings worth waking up for … even if you still refuse to run with me unless it's with the promise of pastries.
This year has been the best of my life.
You're everything I didn't know I needed. Happy Valentine's Day. I love you so damn much.
Yours, Alex
Tears well up before I can stop them.
I laugh, wiping my eyes. "This is so different from the card I gave you last year."
His mouth quirks in that almost-smile. "Yours was more ... direct."
"I basically propositioned you with detailed instructions."
"Best card I ever got."
We laugh, reminiscing about croissants and running, about Roberta who still gives us knowing looks in the hallway, and herpomeranian, who hated Alex before but now hates me too by association.
