Page 84 of Finally Loved

Even the fact that they’d ended up at the same party, somehow ended up in worlds that were destined to collide again, didn’t matter. All that mattered was Alba. And, when Neve really thought about it, there was a little bit of truth in the fact that, without Roxanne, Neve might never have met Alba, and she couldn’t imagine that life. She didn’t want to.

Maybe fate had been at work bringing her and Alba together after all.

Life lately had been filled with plenty of difficult things, but, as she walked back up the beach, her arm wrapped around Alba’s waist, Neve had never been happier. That was all that really mattered. The difficult times were going to happen and you couldn’t postpone the good until they passed. You just had to find the person who loved and understood you in all of the moments and work together to build the best life you could.

She paused as they reached the boundary where the beach petered out into the garden.

Alba held Neve’s face in her hands. “Are you sure about this?”

“About you? Absolutely certain.”

Alba melted a little, a blush coloring her cheeks. It brought out the green of her eyes so beautifully. “Not what I meant, but good to know.”

“I’m glad.” Neve pushed herself up onto her tiptoes—the gesture taking some extra effort in the sand—and pressed a kiss to Alba’s lips. Even after how many times she’d already kissed them today, they were still perfect.

Alba met her and deepened the kiss, moaning slightly. She pulled back with a grimace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay,” Neve assured her with a smile. “I know you’re not going to… So it’s okay.”

“I’m glad,” Alba said, leaning back in.

Neve met her happily. It was true. She felt perfectly safe kissing Alba. It didn’t matter how clear it was that Alba was into it, it didn’t matter if part of her enthusiasm was sexual, because Neve trusted her. She’d always felt nervous kissing people, especially when they got too into it, but not with Alba. She simply felt safe, loved, and respected.

Alba laughed softly and pulled back. “I actually meant, are you sure about going back in with Roxanne there?”

Neve took a bracing breath as she nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready. That’s long over. I’m not interested in her. It is what it is and I have no interest in hiding.”

Alba beamed. “I’m proud of you.”

Neve laughed, laced their fingers together, and pulled Alba back into the garden. “I’m proud of you too.”

“Well, you should be. I am pretty awesome.”

“You are.”

“You’re a little insufferable is what you are,” Handel said, appearing at their side almost immediately.

“Hey,” Alba protested, pulling Neve in front of her and wrapping her arms around Neve’s waist. “What have I ever done to you?”

“Well, when we were five—”

“I wasn’t actually looking for a list,” Alba said, interrupting.

“Then why ask?”

“It was rhetorical.”

“Alba,” a warm voice said, interrupting the sparring that felt more like siblings than cousins.

Neve twisted slightly in Alba’s arms to look at the newcomer. An older woman with short hair and a sleeve of tattoos approached them. Neve’s eyes caught on the progress pride flag by her elbow.

Without letting go of Neve, Alba reached out one arm to hug the women, effectively squashing Neve into the hug with them.

“Nonnie,” Alba said happily. “Long time no see. How’ve you been?”

Nonnie stepped back and beamed at Neve. “Long time, indeed. Have you finally gotten yourself a girlfriend?”

Alba laughed. “Direct as ever, Non.”

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