Clematis is perched in the window like a tiny, skeptical queen. Her mismatched eyes are locked on the newcomer below, tiny ears twitching. But she doesn’t seem alarmed. Just curious.
Please, pleeeease like each other.
This is the final hurdle to our future together, and I’m a bit anxious about how it’s going to go.
Jordan scoops Clematis up from the windowsill, giving me a look ofhere we go, then gestures for me to come in.
I carry Lily up the steps, still in her harness, and Jordan crouches down between us. “Clematis, this is Lily. She has strong opinions and gets the zoomies at three in the morning. Lily, this is Clematis. She thinks my chest is her personal bed and has never missed a meal.”
I chuckle, but my stomach is in knots.
He edges them closer.
Clematis’ ears flatten before she hisses. When Lily reaches forward for a sniff, Clematis smacks her with one perfectly aimed paw before vaulting out of Jordan’s arms and disappearing under the kitchen table.
Jordan starts to go after her, but I reach for his arm. “Let her be. They need to do it on their own.”
We both fall still, crouched awkwardly near the door as we watch our babies do their thing. The tension thrums through the space.
Lily’s tail sways as she inches closer, not defensive but curious. Clematis watches from behind a chair, her body low and eyessharp. Slowly, Clematis comes out and begins circling Lily, ears still pinned to her head. Lily turns with her, their gazes locked. I can’t help but think how poetic they are, one all white cat circling a nearly all black one.
One more step, then another, and another. No hissing. Just… strange, feline calculation. I wonder what they’re thinking or saying to each other in their subtle cat language.
Then, as if bored of the entire ordeal, Lily leans forward and boops Clematis on the nose.
Clematis is too stunned to react. After a moment, she sits down, tail wrapped around her paws and looks away, like she’s decided this dramatic stranger is beneath her notice now. Lily takes that as her cue of acceptance and begins sniffing around.
Jordan and I exhale, and when our gazes meet, we both grin—goofy, relieved, exhausted grins that come from somewhere deep within.
He reaches for my hand and squeezes. “Well, that’s that, I guess.”
“Way less drama than I expected,” I agree, heart thudding in my chest like I just defused a bomb.
But inside, joy spreads warm and fast. We did it. This moment was the final test of making everything real, and we passed. Our furbabies are okay. We’re okay. Everything is finally okay.
I step into Jordan’s arms. “Home sweet home.”
He grins. “Ready for our first meal?”
“And later, dessert.”
25
JORDAN
Iwake up with Miles wrapped around me like we’re molded for each other. His nose is buried against my shoulder, one leg slung over mine, hand curled just under my ribs. It’s still early. Soft morning light seeps through the cracked curtain, but my body is already humming, blood stirring with slow, addicting heat.
I wonder if I’ll ever get used to the easy arousal. It was always such a fight for me, and now it’s just there. A steady energy in my veins.
I don’t move at first. Just breathe and smile against his head. I feel… good. Not just okay, not just better. Butgood.Really good. Like there’s a fire in me now that I can’t put out. I hadn’t believed this was possible, and the truth is, without Miles, I wouldn’t have ever known. I never would have considered going back to the doctor for a script change. I would’ve just kept surviving,thinking that’s how it was supposed to be. But now, I’m doing so much more. I’ve broken out of my cell and am actuallyfree.
I’m living.
There’s this quiet, full feeling running through me every day. Like everything in me is lit with happiness. And I want to stay in it for as long as I can. Medicine is an amazing thing. I hope to never take it for granted.
Miles shifts a little, his breath warm on my skin. The way he grinds against my hip in his sleep is incredible, like he’s making love to me in his dreams.
Well, good morning.
