“Thank you,” he said quietly.
I waited, bracing myself for something lovely and heartfelt.
“For what?”
“For the socks,” he said.
I laughed, the sound echoing softly down the hall, and took his hand.
Back in our room, we curled together under the covers, the day finally catching up to us. Outside, snow continued to fall, blanketing everything in quiet.
I rested my head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat, steady and real.
This was not the life I had planned.
It was better.
Epilogue
(One year later)
Claire
“Claire.”
I pretended not to hear him.
Lily bursts into the room moments later, hair wild, socks mismatched, already talking about something that happened in a dream that clearly matters a great deal.
“Claire,” Ethan tried again, louder this time. “Do you know where Lily’s lunchbox is?”
I rolled onto my side and cracked one eye open. “Have you checked the counter?”
“Yes.”
“The fridge?”
“Yes.”
“The backpack?”
“Yes.”
“The freezer?”
There was a pause. “Why would it be in the freezer?”
“Just checking,” I said sweetly, pulling the covers up to my chin.
“It’s in my room,” she announced. “Where I put it. Obviously.”
Ethan appeared behind her, holding the lunchbox triumphantly. “Found it.”
“In the exact place she said it would be,” I added.
He ignored me and crouched to Lily’s level. “Okay. Backpack?”
“Packed.”
