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Jess chuckled and broke apart. “If you keep doing this, we’re never going to get things done.”

He grinned. “Are we in a hurry?”

“Today? Yes.”

He smiled at that, cupping her face and kissing her nose. “Are you still up for it?”

She closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes. I need to do this.”

“Do we need to do our breathing exercise?”

Jess smiled, really smiled. At the boy who knew her so deeply. It didn’t take nine years to get here. Time didn’t seem to matter when it came to true love.

“No,” she answered honestly. “I’m going to be okay, as long as you’re with me.”

He hummed as he curled his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug. “With you is the only place I want to be.”

Jess bumped the car door closed with her hip, balancing a tray of tomato mozzarella focaccia in her hand. Kevin reached for her as she made her way from the passenger side, and she interlaced her fingers through his. The tags on Honey’s collar clinked against the metal clasp on her leash as she jumped up and down, exploring her very new surroundings as the three of them ambled up the steps of the porch.

Kevin squeezed her hand, released it to knock on the door, then threaded his fingers back through hers. She squeezed back, her heart pattering in her chest as she heard soft footsteps pad toward the door.

Dakota swung it open, rubbing her belly. “Sissy! You guys are here!”

Jess smiled. “We did say we were coming.”

“Yes, but I almost didn’t believe you when you said we.” Dakota flicked her gaze down to their interlaced hands then back up to her sister. She winked.

Jess rolled her eyes as Dakota made room for them to step into the house.

“You look radiant, Dakota,” Kevin said as she closed the door.

“I look like a whale.”

“No you don’t, stop that,” Jess said. “Piglet would be offended.”

Kevin made a Did I just hear that correctly? face. Dakota’s bright laughter filled the hallway.

Jess grinned at her sister. “He’s right, sissy. You are glowing with happiness.”

“There’s a lot of things to be happy about right now.”

Dakota gave her a watery smile, and to Jess’s surprise, she pulled her into a hug.

“Do I smell oregano?!” boomed a voice from the kitchen.

Kevin snatched the tray in Jess’s hands and made his way to the kitchen. “What you smell is actually the best thing you’re about to eat in your entire life.”

“Kevin! My boy!”

Jess sucked in a breath, listening to her father and Kevin greet one another with cheers, hugs, slaps on shoulders, and all things focaccia.

Dakota gathered up Jess’s hair and twisted it out of her face, letting the strands fall softly to her back. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I think so.” She nodded. “Taking one day at a time.”

Dakota grinned. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here,” she admitted. “I’m sorry we never spoke and I missed so much.”