“All done,” she announced.
“OK,” I said. “That’s it?”
“Well, until we get home, yeah, and then I need a few minutes. You’ll have to go in your room.” She smiled. “You’ll see, don’t worry.”
I did as she asked when we got home. While I waited in my room, I used the time to study. But I struggled to focus on anything other than the sounds I heard coming from out front.
Finally, I heard her footsteps. My door was open so I met her in the hall, my curiosity piqued at this point.
“Ready?” she asked.
I followed her downstairs, and instead of turning toward the living room or kitchen, she opened the front door. She gestured for me to go outside, which I did. I looked around, unsure of what I was supposed to do next. She guided me down the path a few steps, then spun me around.
That was when I saw it.
Rather, saw them.
Next to Howie was another frog statue. A female frog statue, complete with a bow on her head.
Surrounding them were tons of flowers, beautiful flowers Ava planted around them in their own little garden. There were daisies, poppies, marigolds, and a bunch I didn’t recognize.
She came up next to me and wrapped her arms around my middle.
“You like it?” she asked.
I didn’t want to cry, and I felt on the verge, so all I could do was nod as I squeezed her against me.
“Everyone deserves their other half, so I wanted to give Howie his,” she said. “Just like you gave me mine.”
Logan - Epilogue
As I sat in my truck, staring at the townhouse in front of me, I reflected on the past few months. The first time pulling up to this building, my anxiety roiled inside me, for so many reasons. Throughout the semester, I had my ups and downs. I now found myself in a much better place.
One of the reasons was the cute, green-eyed brunette who bounded down the front steps coming right for my side of the truck. I knew it was never good for your happiness to be dependent on another. Yet I didn’t think that’s what this was.
I think I just happened upon her once I was ready to be happy.
“I didn’t expect you back this early,” Ava said as I got out. “How did it go?”
Before answering her, I reached down, took her face in my hands, and planted a huge kiss on her luscious lips.
“Well, a girl could get used to a greeting like that.” Her eyes sparkled as she stared up at me.
“You should get used to it,” I told her. “And the meeting went well. Of course, it was full of locals, and no one really my age. But I think that’s better, to be honest.” We strolled toward the house together. “And I found a sponsor. I figured since we’re stayinghere for the summer, it made sense for me to have one here instead of at home.”
In AA, you typically have a sponsor who helped you maintain your sobriety. Even though I was over the year mark with mine, the challenging environment I lived in led me to decide getting one was a good idea.
“That’s great, babe.” Ava’s smile was genuine.
Once inside, I realized how quiet it was.
“Are the others home?” It was rare for us to be alone, but it would be happening more and more as the semester came to an end. Both Macie and Becca would be going home for the summer, leaving us here in the townhouse together until the lease ended in August.
“They’re both upstairs studying.”
We wound up in Ava’s room, most likely because it was cleaner than mine, cuddling on her bed. We’d finally gotten used to showing affection toward each other with Becca and Macie home. Even with our bedroom door open when doing something as simple as lying in bed together.
It was nice.
