Page 193 of The Snowball Effect

Five months ago, she’dneverhave imagined she’d feel this way. If someone told Emma that the idea of not seeing Regan every day, of giving up this shared existence they’d created, would make her throat feel tight with emotion…

Well, she’d have laughed in their face.

“It’s a great apartment,” Regan’s tone was so obviously glum, even as she tried to interject some levity into it.

Emma turned to look at Regan, who was worrying her teeth into that full bottom lip. “It’s a great person in the apartment,” she corrected. “A person I love.”

Regan’s smile was immediate, as she reached out and traced her fingers over Emma’s cheekbone, all the way back to tuck hair behind her ear.

Then she froze, brown eyes widening, as she shook her head. “Why do you have to go?”

“What?” Emma frowned. “It’s – that was the deal.”

She could feel the energy vibrating through Regan, as she shook her head and refuted Emma’s statement. “Deals change.Youdon’t want to leave.Idefinitely don’t want you to go. So – just, don’t.”

Emma couldn’t help the exasperated laugh that bubbled up, even as she rubbed at her temples. God help her, she loved this woman.

“It’s not just about what you and I want,” she reminded her. “Sutton’s going toprobablywant her room back–”

“Move into mine!” Regan excitedly cut her off, gesturing widely around the room. “It’s bigger than Sutton’s. You barely have that much stuff; we can fit your bookshelves over there.” She pointed to the other side of her room, to her empty wall space. “And you can put your obsessive schedule on the wall in front of the desk! Clothing is the biggest issue, but I’ll make you the space!”

Emma still frowned, shaking her head in disbelief.

Regan wasn’t having it. “You basically already live in here, anyway, hot stuff.”

“It’s not up tome,” she stressed, again. “It’s – even if I moved into this room, we can’t unilaterally just…”

Regan already had her phone in her hands, thumbs flying over the screen. “Asking Sutton now!” She needlessly informed Emma.

Sitting up, Emma scrubbed her hands over her face, trying desperately to wrap her mind around the turn this conversation had rapidly taken.

“Aha!” Regan’s cry was triumphant, and she held her phone out for Emma to read it.

Regan – 9:58AM

SUTTON, MY DARLING LADYBUG, I HAVE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING

What do you think about Emma… not moving out? Like, if you move back and you get your room back and everything. But what if Emma moved into my room? And we all were living here????

Sutton, the One and Only – 9:59AM

You mean, another person in our home that thinks rationally and can help me corral you? Someone that has housebroken you and trained you to use a shared calendar? Sounds amazing, actually

“It sounds amazing!” Regan practically bounced where she sat.

Emma continued to stare down at the phone for several beats, as this rapidly forming reality started to set in. The weight of the dread and trepidation she’d started feeling in the last few days over the idea of having to move started lifting from her shoulders, and she turned to look at Regan.

Who was staring at her, questioningly, the bright smile on her face dimming ever-so-slightly. “I mean… I’m not trying to strong arm you into this,” she quickly added, shaking her head vehemently. “Just, if you really meant that you didn’t want to go, this is an option, and–”

“I think Sutton might be sorely disappointed,” Emma interjected, softly but firmly. “Because I don’t think that I think all that rationally around you, anymore. Somehow, you’ve made me think that me moving into your room is completely rational and makes the most sense, in a matter of minutes.”

No, when it came to Regan, Emma didn’t think logically; she’d been completely sucked in.

The wondrous grin that slid across Regan’s face was absolutely gorgeous. “If you give me long enough, I’ll grow on you. I should have warned you that from the beginning.”

“The ultimate snowball effect,” she agreed, leaning in to press her lips to Regan’s and revel in the insanity.

epilogue

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