Page 86 of Beauty and the Beard

My keys clatter extra loud as I set them on the counter like the landlord instructed. From my laptop bag, I pull out the thank-you card for them. They were such great people when I first moved here and needed some adult guidance.

Sometimes you find the right people at the right time in your life and the Becks were that for me. I’ve left my forwarding address and I know I’ll keep in touch with them.

With one final glance around the place I called home for the last eight years, I close the door behind me and I don’t go down the stairs with tears, but with a smile. Bursting through the back door, Zane and Roman stand waiting for me.

“You ready for the next step, Sasha?”

Zane twirls the keys to the truck around his finger as Roman leans on his car.

“To new starts and new lives. Let’s rock and roll boys!”

Zane grins and pulls me into a hug.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get to spend much time together, but I understand why you’re in a hurry. I’m so happy for you, Sasha.”

“Thanks, Z. You’ll have to bring Alec back for a visit. I’d love for you to meet Leaf. I miss you.”

He laughs as he steps towards the truck.

“I bet I can get Alec back there again. You know how he loves nature and the outdoors. Let me know when you get there.”

Zane starts the truck with all the furniture I own inside. I donated it all to the LGBTQ youth shelter in his town. It seemedlike the right thing to do. A kid there might need a fresh start, just like I did before and like I’m doing again right now.

He pulls out, waving out the window as he drives away, leaving me and Roman in the driveway.

“Ready for the airport?” Roman opens the driver’s door and I walk to the passenger side.

“I was ready a month ago.”

Roman snorts. “Lovesick sap. What happened to my friend?”

“Nothing, Ro. He’s still here. I just learned that sometimes in life we need to accept the gifts given.”

He tilts his head with a small smile.

“Leaf gets the best one.”

“Now who’s the sap?”

Laughing, he puts the car in drive. “Don’t you dare tell anyone I have a soft side.”

With the windows down and the cool crisp fall air blowing our hair around, I grin at my best friend.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Chapter 25

Leaf

The busy summer lodge season has ended, and fall has arrived.

So much has changed. Including me.

While I missed Sasha being away for the rest of the summer, I also looked forward to our nightly calls. We talked about everything and once Perry showed me how to useFaceTime, I got to see him every night.

I made those calls a priority.

The first thing I did when it was official that he’d move here was rearrange my schedule and assign duties to the staff to free up my time. I should have done it years ago, but work allowed me to forget what I lost. The distraction soon became a habit, and it was hard to change. With a second chance at living and love, I wanted Sasha to know he would always come first in my life. There was no better time to begin my own new way of life right along with Sasha.

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