"Well, damn," Dime says, sounding surprised. He starts petting her, and she immediately starts purring again, rubbing her face against his hand. "I guess she missed me too."
I watch them together, this big, tough biker with a motorcycle club patch on his back, gently stroking my cat like she's made of glass. And the happiness inside my chest grows warmer.
"Even Whiskers knows she can trust you," I say softly.
Dime looks up at me, and there's something in his eyes that makes my breath catch. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I reach out and touch his face, running my thumb along his jaw. "She's a good judge of character."
He turns his head and kisses my palm, never stopping his gentle stroking of Whiskers. "I'm glad she's here. Makes this place feel more like home."
"It does," I agree. And I realize as I say it that I mean it in more ways than one. This place, with Dime and now Whiskers, feels more like home than my apartment ever did. More like home than anywhere I've lived in years.
Maybe that's what home is. Not a place, but the people and the pets and the feeling of safety that wraps around you when you're there.
Dime shifts, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the couch, Whiskers still purring in his lap. I slide down next to him, tucking myself against his side. His arm comes around me automatically, and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Thank you," I murmur.
"For what?"
"For letting me bring my life into yours. For not making me feel like I'm intruding."
"Baby, you're not intruding." His hand runs up and down my arm. "You're exactly where you're supposed to be."
Whiskers stretches out across both our laps, clearly deciding that this setup is acceptable. We sit there on the floor, the three of us, and I let myself believe that maybe Dime's right. Maybe this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.
"Principal Harrison said the school is excited for me to come back when I'm ready," I tell him after a while.
"That's good. Are you ready?"
"Not yet. But maybe soon." I pause. "Is that okay? That I'm here, not working, just existing in your space?"
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "It's more than okay. Stay as long as you need. Hell, stay forever if you want."
"Forever's a long time."
"I'm aware." He's quiet for a moment, then adds, "But I meant what I said before. You're it for me, Allison. So if forever is what you want, I'm here for it."
My eyes sting with tears, but they're good tears. Happy tears. "I think I might want that."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Whiskers purrs louder, like she's giving her approval, and Dime laughs. "Well, I guess that settles it. Whiskers has spoken."
I laugh too, and it feels good. It feels normal. It feels like maybe, despite everything that's happened, things are going to be okay.
Because I'm here with a man who loves me, a cat who missed me, and a home that's starting to feel real. And that's more than I've had in a very long time.
That's everything.
Ten
Dime
"Are y'all gonna be okay here?" I ask Allison and Dani as Devil and I stand in the doorway of my house.
