Page 89 of Petals and Plot Twists
He leans forward and kisses me. “You stole my line,” he whispers against my lips.
Later when we’re snuggled on his couch watchingTed Lasso, I look up at Peter and press a kiss to his jaw. “Hey,” I say. “We’ve been in your apartment for hours, and your lights haven’t flickered one single time.”
“I guess Steve was right,” Peter says. “It really wasn’t a wiring problem. It was a relationship problem.”
I breathe out a chuckle. “And here I thought my flower would lead me to true love. But your apartment did all the heavy lifting.”
“I feel kinda bad for how much money Archer spent rewiring the place.”
“If anyone can afford it, Archer can,” I say through a yawn. “I should call Willa. She’ll be happy to know we finally figured ourselves out.”
“Yeah. Archer will be too,” Peter says. “Have you told Willa about the move?”
“Ish?” I say. “She knows it was on the table, but I haven’t told her we’ve decided anything for sure. I should though.Weshould.”
“We will,” he says, brushing a kiss across my temple. “But only if you’re sure it’s what you want.”
“At some point, you’re going to have to stop asking me that. I’m sure. Please trust me.”
“I do,” he says. “Of course I do. It just seems too good to be true. I’ve been wishing for this on every birthday cake since the tenth grade.”
I tilt my face up and press a long kiss to his lips, my hand lifting to brush along his jaw line. “Was it really every single birthday wish?”
“Every single one,” he says.
“Peter, that’s a lot of wishes.”
“It is a lot of wishes,” he says, love and warmth in his gaze. “Thanks for making them all come true.”
I smile, then I kiss him again. Because making his wishes come true is exactly what a main character would do.
Epilogue
Sophie
Six months later
The late Octoberair in Serendipity Springs is crisp and cool, but not so uncomfortable that it’s unpleasant to be outside. My rooftop garden still looks beautiful, despite my absence the past few months, which eases the slight ache that squeezes my heart over being here, over recognizing that The Serendipity isn’t my home anymore.
Reggie, of all people, the college coed who lived next door and scared me into forcing Peter to sleep in my bed, apparently has a green thumb and happily took over care of the garden when I moved. He’s done an amazing job. He even convinced Archer to install a gas fire pit in one corner, surrounded by several comfortable outdoor chairs and couches.
Peter steps up beside me, two large pizza boxes in hand. “Where are we sitting?” he says, looking around the garden.
“Over by the fire pit,” I say, gesturing to where Willa and Archer are already waiting for us.
It’s the only reason we’re on the roof together. If Willa and Archer are on the rooftop too, we’ll know the flower—which seems completely impervious to the cooling temperatures—is blooming for them no matter what it would or wouldn’t do for us.
It’s good to be back with Willa and Archer again, though it hasn’t been all that long since we actually moved. It took us a long time to both get to Charlotte permanently. Time for leases to run out and jobs to become available. Our relationship was partially long-distance at first, but we got really good at traveling back and forth, taking advantage of long weekends and working remotely as much as our jobs allowed. But now, we’re both in Charlotte full-time. I’m working with Gregory and loving every minute of it, and Peter is thriving in his new job.
We’re only back in Massachusetts to celebrate my mom’s birthday, who is, believe it or not, in a relationship that has lasted longer than all the others. His name is John, he isnotwealthy, and I think he just might be perfect for her.
I follow Peter over to the fire pit where Willa stands and gives me an enormous hug. I hug Archer next, then we all dig into the pizza.
“Hey, Archer,” Peter says, in between bites. “Why don’t you tell us who won our racquetball game this morning.”
Archer frowns. “One game, Peter. You wonone game.How many times have I won?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Peter says. “You can’t ruin this victory for me. It tastes too sweet.”
