Page 196 of Never Say Never
“Hey, Avie, come to the kitchen,” I hear him yell out.
As I approach the back of the house, Grover comes up to greet me, tail wagging.
“He won’t stray too far from the kitchen when I’m cooking,” Rawley jokes. “But he’s happy to see you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” I say down to Grover.
I walk in and lean against the island. “What are you making?”
He gives a grin of pride. “Your fave. Seafood fra diavolo. Lots of spice.”
“Oh my god, I can’t wait.” I’m a lucky woman. In many ways.
Forty-five minutes later, we’re enjoying the food on his deck, the Florida temperature in October perfect for an outdoor meal.
“So, the papers came through today. The townhouse is sublet. Officially.” I’d kept it for a couple of extra months, not wanting to deal during the season. But finally, I let it go. “And I told the real estate agent to start looking for a place I can buy.”
“Awesome. That must be liberating.”
It is. That independence I first tasted when I moved here, it’s tangibly in sight. Thanks to our fake dating scheme, I can afford to purchase my first home, and I can’t wait.
“Yes, though Sarah’s a real one for letting me stay so long.”
“Ah, you both love it.”
“True.” It’s really great having each other to lean on. Now that I have my bearings, I feel like I can pull my end of the friendship equally too. “How’d it go with your ‘housemate’?”
“Grover?” His eyes glimmer with humor. “He’s bad about stealing my food, but…”
Eye roll cued. “Your brother. Did you get to talk to him while I was in the ‘playoff bubble’?”
Rawley being mid-season, he isn’t in a rush to relocate. But he started getting uncomfortable with Landon paying for all of their living expenses and planned to offer to contribute.
“Yeah, I did, and he’s cool with whatever I want. So I’ll pay some for rent and utilities. Act like a real adult.”
“That’s great. But why do I think we’ll both be complaining about all this adulting in a matter of months?”
He lets out a laugh. “You’re probably right.”
We fall into a comfortable silence as we finish our meals. It’s become so easy between us, our trust in the relationship rock solid.
After I’m done, I notice the sunset has broken out into streaks of yellows, blues, and purples.
“It’s such a beautiful night.”
“It is,” he agrees, only when I glance over at him, it isn’t the sky he’s looking at.
It’s me.
He rests his hand on my leg, tenderly stroking it with his fingers.
“I love you, Avie.”
My heart squeezes at the transparent affection in his eyes. I had a feeling the moment when we said the “three little words” to each other was going to come soon, and he picked the perfect night.
This man deserves so much, and I’m determined to give it to him.
“I love you, too. I’ve never…I never thought I would find this. Find ‘my person.’”
