Page 181 of Lucky
“Of what?”
I smile at the window, watching the city blur into streaks of gold and blue.
“Of all the things I never thought I’d get back,” I say. “Music. Safety. Peace. Love. A home.”
“And?” he asks, voice dipping.
“And you,” I whisper.
He reaches for my hand, weaving his fingers through mine. Warm. Solid. Unshakable.
We fall into a quiet that doesn’t hurt anymore.
A quiet that feels like healing.
By the time we reach the lake house hours later, Lily is fast asleep, her head tipped against the car door. Ethan lifts her from the car without waking her, and I follow them up the steps, watching the porch light glow like it knows us—really knows us now.
I go to unlock the door, but the lock sticks, just like always.
I grin.
“Locks still hate me,” I whisper.
He turns his head, eyes catching the moonlight. “Good thing I don’t.”
My heart does a whole somersault.
When he finally gets the door open, I step inside first, breathing in the soft scent of cedar and home.
And as he follows me in, locking the door behind us, I think:
This time, I’m not running.
This time, I’m staying—locks, lake, love, and all.
The End
