“You will?”
“Well, I've got this girlfriend now. A very serious, very accomplished lawyer with two kids I'm dying to meet. Seems like I should probably stick around for that.”
Celeste laughed, the sound bright and free. “Girlfriend?”
“Unless you prefer something else? Partner? Significant other? The love of my life who I'm absolutely not going to shut up about?”
“Girlfriend works.” Celeste leaned in for another kiss, this one slower. “Though I'm also partial to ‘the love of my life.’”
“Noted for future reference.”
Sparkle chirped from her cage, and both women looked down at the bird who'd been forgotten during their reunion.
“I should probably explain why I'm still here,” Ruby said, picking up the bird cage. “They won't let me take Sparkle on the plane. I didn't book her transport in advance—airline policy requires early notice.”
“So you’ll rebook?”
“Yes. Tuesday’s the next best date. I was trying to figure out what to do for two more days when you showed up.”
“Stay with me,” Celeste said immediately. “With us. The twins will be thrilled.”
“Are you sure? That's a big step, meeting the kids.”
“I'm sure. I'm done being scared. I want you in my life, Ruby. All the way in, if that's what you want too.”
“That's exactly what I want.”
They drew closer to the airline representative, who was standing off to the side, and Ruby noticed the way Celeste held her hand openly, like she had every right to. There were no furtive glances to see if anyone was watching.
Ruby confirmed the Tuesday booking for herself and Sparkle, and Celeste insisted on carrying her duffel bag as they walked towards the exit.
“Fair warning,” Celeste said. “We’ll stop by my parents’ to pick up the twins before heading to my house. They’re a friendly bunch, but more prone to chatter than the average family. “I can handle that,” Ruby said. “Although I might be nervous. Meeting the family is a big deal.”
“They're going to love you. My grandmother told me to go be brave and fight for my happiness, which means she knows you make me happy and that's all that matters to her.”
“That’s quite admirable.”
“Come on,” Celeste said, loading the duffel bag into her trunk. “Let's go home.”
Home. The word settled over Ruby like a promise.
They climbed into the car, Sparkle's cage secured carefully in the back seat. As Celeste started the engine, Ruby reached over to draw her attention.
“I'm overwhelmingly, stupidly happy. I needed you to know that.”
Celeste's smile was brilliant, transforming her entire face. “Me too. Happier than I've been in, possibly ever.”
They pulled out of the airport parking lot, heading toward Celeste's house and to the future they were going to build together. Ruby watched the town pass by outside the window. The same town that had felt suffocating just hours ago now looked different. Brighter somehow and full of possibility.
Because this time, she wasn't running through it alone. This time, she had Celeste beside her, choosing her.
Choosing them.
She knew with absolute certainty that she'd finally found what she'd been searching for all along.
She'd found Celeste, who represented love and safety.
And she was never letting go.
