This is what I want. Every morning. Every day.
"You know," Steph says, leaning against the counter with a piece of toast in hand, "you're basically moved in at this point."
I glance at her. "Is that okay?"
"More than okay." She smiles. "I enjoy having you here."
"Good." I flip the eggs, then turn to face her. "Because you're moving in with me."
She blinks. "What?"
"You're moving in with me," I repeat, more certain this time. "My place. The family home."
"Kevin, I can't just—"
"Rachel and Levi got their own house last year," I interrupt. "It's just been me rattling around in there ever since. Three bedrooms, a real chef’s kitchen, a yard. Space for both of us." I cross to her, taking her hands. "I want you there, Steph. I wantyou to come home to me every day and to wake up with you every morning. In our house."
Her eyes are bright with emotion. "Our house?"
"Our house," I confirm. "If you want it."
"I—" she swallows hard. "Are you sure? This is a big step."
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." I squeeze her hands. "I love you. I want to build a life with you. And that starts with us having a home together. A proper home."
A tear slips down her cheek, and she's smiling so wide it makes my chest ache.
"Yes," she whispers. "Yes, I'll move in with you."
Relief and joy flood through me in equal measure. I pull her into my arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her once before setting her down to kiss her properly.
"We're doing this," she says against my mouth, laughing. "We're really doing this."
"Yeah, sweetheart. We are."
We finish eating and cleaning up breakfast, but now there's excitement in the air. We're talking logistics—when to pack, what furniture to keep, which bedroom will be the office and which will be the guest room.
"I can't believe I'm moving in with you," Steph says, shaking her head. "A week ago we were friends, then fake dating, and now."
"A week ago you were lying to yourself about how you felt," I correct, grinning.
She throws the dishcloth at me, but smiles.
I catch it and lay it out on the counter to dry before wrapping my arms around her and kissing the daylights out of her. “So, do you want to check out our house or go back to bed?”
She rolls her eyes and says, “Seriously? What kind of question is that?” She steps back. “Bed, of course.” Then she runs offtoward the bedroom, and I chase her, excited for the life I’m going to have with the woman of my heart. My person.
Epilogue
Steph
Six months later
The Lucky Tap is packed on a Friday night, but I'm not drowning in it anymore. I'm smiling as I pour drinks, laughing at Tony's horrible jokes, and feeling lighter than I have in years.
Six months of living with Kevin in our house has changed everything. The tiny apartment with thin walls and terrible memories is long behind me. Now I wake up every morning in an actual bedroom with a yard outside and Kevin's arms around me, and it feels like the life I’m meant to have.
"Earth to Steph!" Ainsley calls, grinning as she passes by with a tray. "You're doing that dreamy thing again."
