“Y-yeah?” Billie knew she had it in her, but she sometimes had a hard time showing someone that she was capable of loving and being loved. To know that Debra already felt happier with her was quite the surprise. “You really mean that?”
“I do.” Debra smiled. “And you don’t need to proveanythingto me.”
Billie shook her head, stubborn even through the emotion. “I do.”
Billie leaned in and kissed Debra. It was a kiss that said ‘I’m here, I’m staying, and I’m never running again.’
When they finally pulled apart, Debra touched her forehead to Billie’s. “Stay over tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Glad we cleared that up, now come here.” Debra pulled Billie back in against her and hummed lightly. “Takeout it is tonight. In a while…when I’m done snuggling with you.”
“Whatever that beautiful heart desires.” Billie grinned and closed her eyes when Debra tucked her head under her chin.
For the first time since she’d left Janet, perhaps even before then, too, Billie didn’t feel like she was waiting for the good part to end. Now, she was basking in everything that Debra Allen was.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Six weeks later…
Billie stepped backand smiled at her latest masterpiece. Her client stood in front of the mirror, turning slowly, admiration written plainly across her face as she took in her own reflection. She would never tire of her job, it had been her constant for so long, but she did enjoy leaving at the end of the day. Especially when she knew she would see Debra.
“It’s perfect,” Mrs Wainwright said, turning again. “I’ve never worn anything that feels like this.”
“That’s the point.” Billie nodded as she smoothed the sleeve of the jacket. “It should feel like it belongs to you.”
Mrs Wainwright gave another nod of approval. “Well, it does. Completely.”
By the time Billie escorted her back onto the shop floor and watched her leave—promising to return for further fittings before the end of the year—there was that familiar, satisfying ache in Billie’s chest. That pride of work done well.
She checked the clock out of habit.
12:11 p.m.
She had plenty to do, more work than ever coming through the door each day, but she should probably head out and pick up some lunch. Debra would ask later, Billie would try to fob her off with something that satisfied her, and then she would promise to pick up ‘real food’ the next day.
She sends lunch in with you when you stay over at her place.
Billie smiled and turned for her office. Life had really flourished with Debra lately. Since the evening when Billie had promised her she was worth it, everything had come together. She didn’t have episodes of wondering if she was doing the right thing anymore, and now Billieknewshe was right for Debra, deserving of that happiness with her.
As she strolled down the corridor, she felt that subtle shift in the air. Once again, her body reacted to the knowledge that a particular someone was in the same space as her.
That presence…
Billie stopped and turned around, gazing across the shop.
“Hi,” Debra said with a smile.
She stood just inside the shop, a light jacket draped over one arm, her sunglasses perched on her head. There was a softness to her these days that Billie never tired of seeing, but the mischief was still there.
“W-what are you doing here?”
Debra crossed the space between them and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Billie’s cheek. “Taking you to lunch.”
“Oh, um…I can’t do lunch today. I need to be around for any walk-ins.” Billie had only recently started to accept walk-ins, but so far, she’d picked up extra trade from doing so. Most days, she preferred to stick to her usual way of doing things, by appointment only, but Nina had really stepped up and had more of a role outside of being her assistant now.
“Yes, you can.”
