"That was beautiful," Lucy whispered. "And incredibly vague about who 'the people who matter most' are."
"Everyone in this room knows I was talking about you."
"Still. You could have been more specific."
"I'll make a more specific speech when you get back from Paris and we're announcing other things."
Lucy's eyes went wide. "Other things?"
"Hypothetical other things. Future other things. Don't panic."
But Lucy was smiling. "I'm not panicking. I'm... intrigued."
At midnight, the whole bar counted down together. When the clock struck twelve, Jake kissed Lucy like he'd been waiting all year to do it.
"Happy New Year," she whispered against his lips.
"Happy New Year. To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," Lucy agreed.
They stayed at the party until 2 AM, celebrating with friends, soaking up the community that had been home their entire lives.
Walking back to their building through the snow, Lucy said, "Five more weeks."
"I know."
"I'm ready. I think. Are you ready?"
"No. But I'll get there."
They climbed the stairs together, and for the first time in three years, Jake didn't feel like he was waiting for his life to start.
He was living it.
And even though Lucy was leaving in five weeks, even though everything was about to change again—Jake wasn't scared.
He was just grateful.
For pork buns and Wednesday mornings and a woman who'd taught him how to show up.
For second chances and new beginnings and love that was worth fighting for.
For choosing. And being chosen in return.
It was enough.
More than enough.
It was everything.
Chapter 13
January disappeared in a blur of paperwork, training sessions, and trying to pretend that February fifth wasn't getting closer every single day.
Lucy spent her mornings at The Bread Basket, teaching Sarah and the new staff every detail of her grandmother's recipes. Every measurement, every technique, every little trick that made the difference between good and perfect.
"You're being really thorough," Sarah said one morning, watching Lucy demonstrate the pork bun folding technique for the third time.
