Page 130 of Her Sloth

“Yeah?”

“I canceled my management; no more filming, ever.”

“Oookay,” she says. “I thought that was already settled.”

I just grin and let her in the belief that’s all.

“Let’s get home,” I say as I sit down in the Hellcat in the passenger seat.

We don’t talk much on our way back to the garage; she eyes me here and there, but I just pretend I’m not seeing it.

When we turn into the driveway of the garage on Reed Street, the family is already waiting for us; they've set up a barbecue, and the big table is filled with beer and food in the middle of the yard.

There is hugging, and I just watch Cass's eyes light up as she’s back here, knowing I made the right decision.

“Listen, you won’t believe how crazy things are there,” says Cass as she tells Nikki. “You have to go, especially you. I got the number of a girl, Sora; she’s a free climber, too. She took us places—” Cass says and takes her phone to show Nikki when we snuck into the Tokyo Tower with Sora and climbed it.

“Oh, we heard,” says Nikki. “We were wondering if they even let you out.”

“Yeah,” I say, joining the conversation, “But we’re not allowed in for the next five years.”

We laugh together.

I wander with my hands over Cass's back; she leans into me. Her scent. Her touch. And I know I belong here.

A smile steals onto my face.

Because I found a family in the one place I’d never believed I would.

We eat.

Laugh.

Drink beer.

Share stories until it’s late night and Cass and I lie on the empty table alone, looking at the stars with our heads next to each other.

I roll to my side and prop my head on my hand.

“What?” she asks.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you, too,” she says and turns to me, pulling me close and kissing me.

And then she starts grinning against my lips.

“What?” I ask now.

“I have a surprise for you,” she says, stealing my line.

“I’m the one who surprises you,” I say. “I don’t want you to⁠—“

“Shut up,” she says and sits up, slides from the table, and holds out a hand for me to take.

I get up, too, and take it.

She steers me to the other two rolling gates to the garage part where they do custom work with their business.