Page 68 of The Linebacker

This condo, which had both of their names on the deed, was a huge step up from the tiny one she had just sold. For one thing, it was more than three times the square footage. And had a gorgeous view of the river and the mountains beyond downtown Portland.

And it was exactly what she and Amil both wanted.

They’d been together, officially, for two months now, and the only argument they’d had was whether to install a clawfoot tub in this new place.

Which really hadn’t been an argument. She hadn’t cared what sort of bathing facility was in their new bathroom, so long as she could get clean when she needed to.

Amil, however, had grown quite attached to the clawfoot tub in their previous condo. Or, more accurately, he was quite fond of the things they did together in that tub.

So a new clawfoot tub was getting installed after the holidays.

Okay, yes, Diana couldn’t wait.

Another knock on the door sent her hurrying through the kitchen.

“Housewarming gift,” Emma practically shouted when Diana opened the door. She held a giant rectangular object in her hands. It was covered with a drop cloth.

Before she could step inside, the door across the hall swung open and Callahan came into view. His hair stuck up every which way—more than usual—his perpetual five o’clock shadow had turned into two days’ worth of growth, and his eyes were bloodshot.

And he wasn’t wearing a shirt, which Diana simply appreciated from an aesthetic point of view, whereas Emma’s mouth had fallen open and she was gawking.

“Can you keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep,” he snapped before yawning so widely his jaw creaked. He rubbed his eye and then reached up to grab the doorframe, his biceps standing out in stark relief.

“It’s one o’clock in the afternoon,” Emma pointed out. Her gaze was glued to his bulging arm. “Even at my most hungover, I don’t sleep that late.”

“Yeah, well, some of us don’t party as hard as you do on the regular,” Callahan snipped back.

“Touché,” Emma replied. “Do you want to see the housewarming gift I got for Diana and Amil?”

“No. I want to go back to sleep.” With that, he retreated into his condo and slammed the door.

Emma blinked at Diana. “What was that about?”

Diana ushered her inside and closed the door. “He’s trying to dump his girlfriend, and it isn’t going well.”

“How is it not going well? You just tell them you don’t want to be with them anymore. End of story.”

Amil stepped into the kitchen and gave Diana a peck on the cheek before taking the bulky gift from Emma. “Hopefully, Diana will never know what that’s like.”

She beamed, not even remotely frightened by the prospect that she would never, ever again have to join the dating pool. Not that she ever did in the first place. She’d gone from one-and-done to this-is-definitely-forever.

And she was so happy, she could hardly stop smiling about it.

“Ugh, you two are so disgusting,” Emma said, although there was no heat in her words. “Here, let me unwrap it and show you what I think you should hang right over there.” She pointed at the wide expanse of blank wall directly across from the fireplace.

And then she tugged off the canvas cover, revealing a black-and-white thirty-by-sixty inch photograph of Diana and Amil.

She’d taken it after the Patriots game. Amil had tweaked his ankle and ended up sitting out for the fourth quarter. When the game ended, Diana headed down to greet him, to check on him, to give him a hug. He’d been sitting on the bench at the time, and she stepped between his legs, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and rested her cheek on top of his curly hair. He had laid his head against her chest and closed his eyes.

He looked utterly at peace.

“It’s stunning,” Diana said, her voice breathy, her eyes, weirdly, watery.

“Isn’t it?” Emma agreed.

Amil chuckled. “Thank you, Emma. It’s a great gift.”

Another knock on the door revealed Dante and Allison, carrying a stack of pizza boxes, a food group that was normally off-limits during the season, but today they were making exceptions.