Page 29 of Forever, Finally

“So are you.”

“Where did you go?” he asked. “I was getting worried.”

“I went by the house. The hardwood is all refinished. I think it’s dry but they still have tape up. I’m guessing the carpet will go in Monday or Tuesday, then we can move back in. If you still want to.”

“Of course I do. I have a real estate agent coming here next week to look at this place.”

She swallowed. “You’re really going to sell the house?”

“Isn’t that what we talked about?”

“Sure, but after what happened…”

He stared into her eyes. “You think I’m going to disappear from your life after one fight? You should know me better than that.”

She knew him better than anyone, but the rules had changed. She flung herself into his arms.

“I don’t want to lose you. Not ever.”

“You can’t, Lil. You’re stuck with me.”

She hoped that was true. She needed him desperately. She also wanted him and her body reminded her of the fact as he tightened his hold on her. She could feel the heat of his body, the pressure of each finger on her back.

But she’d already been down that path and she wasn’t going to risk it again.

“Why were you banging on the stove?” she asked when he’d stepped back.

“It wasn’t getting hot very fast. How is the lasagna supposed to cook in an hour if it takes fifteen minutes for the stove to heat up?”

She sighed. “Did you preheat the oven?”

“What?”

“You know—turn it on a few minutes early so it has time to come to temperature.”

He turned to the stove and sighed. “Well, hell.”

She giggled. “We’ll just add a few minutes to the cooking time.”

“My mom could have written that on the recipe card.”

“She probably figured anyone using it would know.”

“She was wrong.”

Lily patted his arm. “I won’t say a word.”

He returned his attention to her and pretended to frown. “You’d better not. And while we’re making up rules, don’t you dare tell her that I was cooking. I have a reputation to think of.”

“Mr. Macho?”

“Something like that.”

Then they were laughing and Lily felt her pain and tension drain away. If they could just stay like this, she thought wistfully, it would be enough.

* * *

“I called Rachel,” Lily said as she speared a piece of lettuce from her salad.

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