He’d only had to go in for one cremation shortly after I came home from my hospital visit. Some work was sent in from the college, which was weird because I hadn’t had anything on my schedule.
Other than that, he hadn’t left my side.
I was back in the office, calling him because I needed to play catch up on some paperwork and I couldn’t seem to find anything on the work he’d done while I was away.
He answered on the second ring. “Hey, baby.” His gorgeous face appeared on the screen as he seemed to be walking to his car.
“I can’t seem to find any of the paperwork to file from when you filled in for me a few days ago.”
His smile faltered. “Oh. I’ve already turned everything back over to the college. It must have slipped my mind to do any of the intake digitally. I was distracted worrying about you and eager to get back to you. Don’t worry about it. I’ll have them fax it over and put everything in for you.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. He was always so eager to help, to take things off my plate.
I couldn’t believe there was ever a time I thought I couldn’t commit to being with this man. Or that I worried things might not work out between us.
He was perfect in every way.
“I’m coming to steal you away for lunch, so finish up what you’re doing and I’ll be there in ten.”
Everything with Mark made me realize even more so than before that Kiernan is a forever kind of person; the kind of man who will always drop everything when life is back on its bullshit. He’d reassured me over and over that I would never have to deal with the kind of bullshit that Mark had to offer ever again, and I trusted him that that was true.
“Great,” I said, then hesitated. “Love you.”
My heart skipped a beat. I was still getting used to saying it.
“Love youuu.” He grinned, winking as he clicked his seatbelt into place.
But I couldn’t get enough of hearing him say it.
EPILOGUE
Indie
ONE YEAR LATER…
The bar at L'Ultima Cena was busy for a weeknight, and the buzz around me would have been overwhelming any other time, but it all faded into the background when Kiernan looked at me the way he was looking at me right now.
Like it wasmehe wanted for dinner.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” he said. Those words were loaded, but only he and I knew that.
Grinning, he slid off his worn barstool and stepped away, dodging stumbling patrons and weaving through tables cluttered with half-empty glasses.
I pulled my eyes from his retreating back and took a long drink of my rum and coke, emptying the glass.
My phone buzzed on the bartop.
Kiernan
Empty.
My pussy clenched.
Owen would be here any minute for our weekly dinner date, but I was sure he wouldn’t have to waittoolong if we were quick—which we would have to be anyway. I was super thankful that we’d made a point to see one another often after I moved out several months ago. Being with Kiernan 24/7 now that we lived together was a literal fucking dream come true, and I was glad that my excitement about it hadn’t been diminished by the fact that I would no longer be living with Owen. We were as close as ever, and so were he and Kiernan.
I hopped down and made a beeline toward the back hall where the restrooms were. And I had apparently not been paying close attention to where I was going, because I smacked face-first into the back of a pretty redhead and sent her stumbling.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry. Are you okay?” I was mortified.
