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“Ah, yes. I know exactly what you’re talking about. But wait…does that mean you’re all alone in his house right now?”

I let out a sigh. “Yeah, and I’m bored and lonely.”

Elodie chuckles. “It sounds like you miss your husband.”

“I—I do, El. I think it’s finally hit me that I don’t want this marriage to end.”

She screams through the line. “Oh my god! I knew it! I knew this was going to happen. And thank god, because if I had to watch the boy pine for you any longer, I was going to lock you both in that house until you admitted you belonged together.”

“Prom makes so much more sense now, El. I can’t believe you never told me though.”

“It wasn’t my story to tell. Plus, Easton asked me not to the next day. And I know it sucked to find out about it the way you did, but I’m glad you know now, Lennon. Easton loves you. He always has.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him too.” Hearing myself admit it aloud makes my heart rate climb, but I can’t deny it any longer.

Easton Buckley is the man I want a future with.

He’s the man I want beside me through all the ups and downs, the questionable decisions, and the monumental achievements.

I want to build a life with him and our baby girl.

I want to come home to him and let him make me grilled cheese sandwiches until I don’t have teeth to eat them anymore.

I just want him.

“Then tell him, Lennon. Life is too short not to live in the moment. You two belong together.”

“I’m just scared, El. I’m terrified that I’m going to fuck this up, or something else will...”

“The fact that you care so much tells me that you won’t, that you’re willing to fight for him, for both of you. That’s all you can really do in love—promise to keep choosing the other person and every version of them that they grow into. That’s what makes the difference between couples that don’t last, and those that do, in my opinion. And if you need anything from me to help support you in this new choice of yours, you know I’m here to help.”

Something about her words hit me harder than I anticipated.

Maybe that’s why none of my other relationships lasted—none of those men were willing to fight for me.

But Easton?

I know without a shadow of a doubt he will fight for me and with me.

I never thought our ability to argue would ever be comforting, but boy, was I wrong about that.

Hell, I’ve been wrong about a lot of things.

And I’m grateful that I’m finally starting to be able to admit it.

***

“Hey, baby.” The second Easton’s voice comes through the line, my shoulders sag with relief. It’s amazing how easily his voice comforts me—a detail I should have recognized much sooner.

For the entirety of our friendship, Easton’s voice has always calmed me.

Funny how I can accept that truth only now, years after the fact.

“Hey. How was your day?”

His sigh is heavy. “Long. We had an issue with running one of the wires underground. And then the fiber wasn’t firing, and…” He trails off. “You probably don’t want to hear about this crap, do you?”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear you talk.”