We both laugh, and Angel struts in. “Let’s do this! I’ve been dying to try out this yoga thing for years. Tried convincing my ol’ man to come with me. Told him it would chill him the fuck out, but he gave methelook.” Angel sets her jacket and bag down, her long side braid falling to her front.
“Oh my god. I’d seriously pay to see Venom in a yoga class.” Tequila snorts.
“I think we all would,” I agree, leading all three of us in a hysterical laughing fit.
It’s as if time slows down and I’m taking in their pure joy and laughter. I am forever grateful for their friendships.
“You ready?” Tequila wraps her arms around my waist, and I return the embrace, laying my head on her shoulder.
“Hell yeah.”
Six months later
They say being in love is like when the sun shines and you feel the warmth on your skin. It’s like waking up with a smile on your face every day. The pure jubilation pouring out from you. It’s crazy how so much of that is true. It’s a love you’ll only get to appreciate if you experience it for yourself.
Liem catches me, lifting me up off the driveway and into his arms. My car is still parked with the door wide open as he spins me, then kisses me hungrily. “I missed you.”
I get goosebumps just hearing his voice. The deep gruffness of it makes my body hum. “It’s only been a couple of hours.”
He smiles, not letting me go. “How was the studio?”
“Great. Laura’s taking over for me while we spontaneously take this road trip you won’t tell me anything about.”
We touch foreheads and his breath teases my cheek. “I thought it’s been long enough, and that we’d go home.”
I grin ear to ear and let out the loudest squeal. Liem laughs.
Sure. A few months don’t seem too long, but I miss Tequila, Angel, Mags. Chloe and her big hugs. The guys. I miss them all and I know Liem does too.
I rented out a dance studio in Oregon and teach yoga five days a week. Laura helps and teaches hip hop and free style. I loved teaching back at the Steel Valley Chain’s, but something, for the both of us, told us to come back to Oregon.
Liem decided to continue painting and he runs his own shop now. While this is where we live, Ohio will always be home.
Where our family is.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
EPILOGUE
Fifteen years later
Danika
“Mom. You okay?” My twenty-one-year-old son places a hand on my right shoulder, and I place my hand on his. I smile, having to look up to meet his eyes. Sometimes I forget how tall he is. We adopted Beckett when he was only five. I remember meeting him for the first time with his dark curls surrounding his face. He had the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. So full of life despite having been in and out of foster care. Ours included. But we couldn’t give him up. Couldn’t let him go. So, after a year of providing him with a safe place to be cared for, we decided we wanted him to be our son. Me and Liem knew in our hearts he was ours. Maybe not by blood but by bond.
The way he’d run to me when I picked him up from kindergarten. Or how he’d kiss me goodnight and wrap his much smaller arms around my neck. He was the light of our lives. The joy making us fully complete. We gave him the best childhood we could, and he made us happier than we’ve ever had been.
After graduation we had to watch him drive off to college and it about broke our hearts, but we were so proud of him and the man he’d become.
Liem is the best father. Taught him how to respect women. How to be proud and confident. How to really love with all your being.
I pull my son closer as he hugs me back, letting my head rest on his chest. “Yeah. I’m good, honey.”
We watch Liem have his moment, and then we meet him at Gracie’s headstone.
Some women may find it odd, sharing my husband with another. But it’s not, we owe so much to her, and she’ll always be important to our lives.
I kiss my two fingers then touch the marble of Gracie’s headstone, setting the lilies down in the vase.
