Page 88 of Finally Loved

Neve clambered off of Alba and the bed, taking Alba’s free hand and pulling her up too.

Alba shook her head. “We’re heading out the door right now. We’re not even going to be late.”

“It takes seventeen minutes to get from Neve’s place to the bar. You’re definitely going to be late.”

“We’ve still got twenty minutes… Seventeen is less than twenty, you know?”

“Yes, thank you. I did actually pass elementary school math.”

Alba laughed as they both grabbed their coats. “So, what’s the problem?”

“The problem is I know you and there’s no way you’re out the door yet. Then it will take you ten minutes to get to the car because you’ll keep stopping to kiss your girlfriend, and then you’ll be late.”

Alba smirked. “You’re only this bothered today because it’s Kai’s first big friend event as your partner. Calm down. I’m not going to ruin it for you. Even if I am a few minutes late because I’m kissing my girlfriend, that’s just clear messaging that the two of you can stop to make out any time you like.”

“Alba.”

“Zainab.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“I know.”

“Get here now.”

Alba laughed and slipped her phone into her pocket, making it clear Zainab had hung up on her. She pulled Neve in for a quick kiss. “She says we have to get there now.”

“I heard.” Neve reached up to brush a hair out of Alba’s face. “Right now, though? Do you think we should teleport, then?”

“Nah, she can wait.” Alba kissed her again before releasing her and they set about gathering up their gifts and heading to the car.

The weather outside was freezing cold, a biting wind blowing through. It wasn’t snowing, but Neve wouldn’t be surprised if it started while they were out. When she was younger, snow had been her favorite kind of weather. These days, she found she was partial to a thunderstorm. Though,in the middle of December, she found she didn’t mind an impending snowstorm, especially not if it meant days spent snuggling up inside with Alba. And, if they stayed at Alba’s place, they’d get to laugh and chat and play board games with Zainab and Kai, too.

Life looked a lot different this year than it had last December. Neve was really enjoying it. She finally felt like she fit into the world. Thanks to Alba, she had the friend group she’d always wanted, at work she’d gotten more open, taken Alba to numerous work events, and even stuck up a little asexual pin Robin had gotten her by her desk. But, best of all, she had Alba. Even in the moments where she felt insecure or inadequate, Alba was there by her side. Maybe Neve still wasn’t what most people considered normal, but she no longer felt as bothered by it. She’d found her place and her person. She loved more than she’d ever known possible, and she got to spend every day building the exact life she’d told Olive she wanted, all with Alba.

Life felt miraculous.

“Do you want to drive or shall I?” Alba asked as they approached Neve’s car.

“You can,” Neve replied, shooting her a sweet smile. She still hadn’t gotten over the pleasure of having Alba drive her car. It was an odd thing to be sentimental about, but it felt intimate and wonderful to her, and, after everything, she was holding tight to every tiny, precious, invigorating piece of intimacy she got to experience with Alba.

They climbed into the car and Alba whipped an envelope out from the passenger seat before Neve could sit on it. “What’s this?”

Neve looked at it. She’d forgotten about it, honestly, even though she’d only gotten it yesterday. “Oh. It was sent to work.”

“Christmas card?”

“Mm. Check the return address.”

Alba flipped it over, stared at it for a minute, and looked back at Neve. “Charlie sent you a Christmas card to work?”

“Seems like it.”

“Well, I suppose that’s the benefit of her not knowing either of your addresses, but so much for leaving you alone.”

Neve shrugged. She was honestly relieved it had only been a birthday card and a Christmas card since she’d made it clear she wanted space from Charlie and Alice. “It’s whatever. I just thought I shouldn’t dispose of it at work in case someone else opened and read it. I don’t know what it says, but you can never be too careful.”

“Indeed.” She tossed the envelope onto the back seat and started the car. She’d made it more than clear how she felt about Charlie and Alice—Charlie especially—but she’d also made it clear that she’d support whatever decisions Neve made about them moving forward. The whole thing had made it a million times easier for Neve to actually make her own decision and officially cut off contact with the two.

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