Page 115 of Broken on the Mountain
Chase trips over one, swears, and I dissolve into exhausted giggles.
"Careful," I manage between laughs. "That one has my good china."
"You havegood china?"
"Of course. My mother insisted." I kick off the hiking boots I wore all day and collapse onto the couch. "I've never used it. But apparently every proper young woman needs a full set of china."
Chase drops down beside me, pulling my feet into his lap. "We're keeping it."
"We are?"
"Hell yeah. We'll use it for mac and cheese and canned soup and every other un-fancy thing we can think of."
I love him so much it hurts.
"So. No more weekends only," he says quietly, his thumb rubbing circles on my ankle. "Just us. Every day."
"Every day," I echo, and the promise settles warm in my chest.
"I got you something."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out something small and brass—a key, I realize, with a tag attached.
He leans over and kisses my cheek as I take it, squinting at the engraving on the tag:Forever Friday.
"It's official," Chase says, and there's vulnerability in his voice that makes my heart clench. "You live here now. With me. No more flying back and forth, no more counting down hours until you leave. Just... me and you. Home."
"Home," I whisper, smiling at the word.
It fits.
"Fair warning," he continues, a smile tugging at his lips. "The key comes with a lifetime supply of cold mornings, walk-of-shame breakfasts at Bear Paw, and nothing but flannels for fashion."
"Sounds perfect."
"And terrible karaoke nights at Timber. And Etta and Mabel knowing our business before we do. And—"
I kiss him to shut him up, soft and slow and full of every feeling I can't quite put into words.
When we break apart, I press my forehead to his.
"You know what everyone keeps saying?" I murmur. "About Stone River's charm? About how it's this magical place that heals people and brings them home?"
"Yeah?"
"They're wrong." I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. "Stone River's charm isn't the town, Chase. It's you."
His breath hitches, and for a moment he just stares at me like I've given him something precious. Then he's kissing me again, deeper this time, his hands cupping my face like I'm something worth holding onto.
"I love you," he says against my lips. "I love you so damn much, Piper Whitman."
"I love you too." I thread my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. "My Forever Friday."
Outside, Stone River sleeps beneath a blanket of stars. Tomorrow, I'll start unpacking. I'll finalize festival plans and probably field a dozen angry calls from my mother. I'll figure out what comes next.
But tonight?
Tonight I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
