"I hope the little brindle got adopted,” he said out of nowhere, reaching for another fry. “The one who licked my shoe and walked off like I was beneath her.”
I laughed into my soda, nodding. “Yeah, she’s got standards. She went home yesterday.”
I narrowed my eyes as he reached for another fry. “And no more stealing my fries without a kiss.”
He grinned, “Gladly” and reached in for one more quick kiss.
Time slid by—too fast.
Eventually, I could see he was getting tired. I guess I would be, too, if I had just scored the game-winning goal in my first game back and eaten half my fries. “Colton, you look beat. You should head home—I’m only two blocks from here.”
He got out of the booth and reached for my hand, "Let me walk you there.”
The air was crisp, cool enough to make me glad I’d brought my jacket. We walked in comfortable silence, fingers laced between us, letting the quiet hum of the city fill in the blanks.
A block from my hotel, we passed a small park tucked between two buildings. There was a fountain in the middle—one of those old stone ones with lion heads and a plaque too weathered to read. A warm light glowed over it, softening the edges.
Colton tugged me gently to a stop.
“You okay?” I asked, looking up.
He smiled, not answering right away. Just looking at me like he couldn’t quite believe I was real.
I squeezed his hand. “I’m excited to wake up tomorrow in your city.”
He leaned closer, voice low. “You mean our city.”
I paused, heart thudding once. Then I smiled. “Our city.”
He dipped his head, and we kissed. All I could think waswe earned this.
Suddenly, two dogs came barreling down the sidewalk, their leashes zigzagging like live wires. One circled me, the other Colton. We were instantly tangled.
“Sorry!” the woman at the other end of the leashes gasped, jogging to catch up.
Colton and I laughed, trying to unravel ourselves as the dogs sniffed everything in reach.
“No worries,” I said, grinning. “We are used to dog chaos.”
She waved and hustled her dogs away.
Colton pulled me into one of his signature hugs—tight and warm, like a full-body exhale. Then he pulled back, kissed me gently one more time.
“Goodnight, Riley.”
“Goodnight, Colton.”
Maybe this is what starting over looks like. Messy. Unexpected. Perfect anyway.
Chapter twenty-five
Epilogue: 14 months later
The email came in while I was brushing my hair, trying to make myself look at least slightly put together before dinner. I wasn’t expecting it. I thought decisions were being made next week.
Congratulations. You've been accepted to the Ol Pejeta Elephant Sanctuary program.
My brush froze mid-air.
