“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it, either. Trust me, I’m fully aware of how moving in together after only a few weeks is crazy. But please, leave the lecturing to my dad. You know me, Mark. I would never do something like this unless I was sure. I don’t know what the future holds for us. But I’m sure about Bowen.”
“Jesus,” he breathed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re so damn stubborn. There’s nothing I can say to change your mind, is there?”
“Why would you want to?”
His gaze returned to mine, a new intensity brewing within sending a chill down my spine. “Because I love you.”
“I love you too. You and Aaron will always be my best friends. No man will ever change that.”
Mark scoffed. “But I’m going to lose you to him anyway, huh?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know dramatics are usually more of Aaron’s forte.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. So when are you leaving? I guess, as your best friends, we should plan a party or some shit.”
“Dear God, don’t do that. I’m moving fifteen minutes away, not to a different country.” I sat back down at the table, hoping my abandoned Frosted Flakes weren’t too soggy. “Besides, I haven’t told Bowen yes yet. I have his key though. I figured I’d surprise him when he gets home from work.”
“You’re leaving today?” Mark seethed, all of his previous outrage returning in a flash.
“Sure. Why wait?” I winked, pretending not to notice his annoyance. Hoping to keep the mood light, I added, “It will take me a while to move all my stuff. But I won’t need much more than a few scraps of clothes at Bowen’s house. Well, our place, I guess.”
His mouth fell open. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
I stirred my cereal. Thankfully the top was still crunchy. “Relax, Grandpa Prude. It’s a joke.”
“So, this is it?” he said, planting his hands on his hips. “Tonight you’re just gone?”
“You make it sound like I’m skipping out in the middle of the night. I’ll still pay my part of the bills until our lease runs out.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the money, Remi.”
Curling my lip, I looked up at him. “Then what do you give a fuck about? Because quite honestly, I can’t keep up right now.”
He stared deep into my eyes, a desperation I’d never seen before painting his face. “You. That’s all I’ve ever cared about.”
“Good,” I breathed. “Then please hear me when I say this: I am happy. I’m in love. And for the first time in forever, I feel like my life finally makes sense.” I smiled despite the tension around me. “Bowen has this romantic theory about fate and how our lives are predestined from the start. I’m not sure I buy into it, but I honestly don’t have another explanation for our relationship.”
“Fate,” he mumbled. “Right.”
“Don’t make me feel guilty for wanting that.”
He scoffed. “I’m not making you feel anything, Remi. Clearly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shook his head and sank into the chair beside me. “Nothing. I’m gonna really miss you.”
I covered his hand with mine. “I’m going to miss you too. How about this? You’re welcome to come raid my cereal stash any day of the week. Just be careful what you grab. Bowen eats Raisin Bran.”
He smiled.
I smiled.
And just like that, Mark and I were okay again.
Emotions were hard for him. They always had been. But deep down, he was happy for me. I had no doubt he would follow through on the going-away party as well as the cereal raid. We’d build a new normal where we talked and texted more, even if we saw each other less. It would be a new phase in life, and while change could be scary, it always worked out in the end.
“So, what are your plans for the day?” he asked, right back to our regularly scheduled small talk.
I polished off the rest of my breakfast before replying, “I don’t know. I still might go for a run out at Grove Hill. Gotta keep in shape if I plan to go sans clothes for a while.”
He faked a gag and it made me laugh, but he thankfully didn’t give me any more shit as I carried my bowl to the sink.
“You want to go with me?” I asked.
“Nah. I need to hop in the shower and get back to the bar.” He stood up, leaving his bowl on the table. “Come here, Remi.”
I didn’t so much as move as he came to me, wrapping me in a huge bear hug.
“Can you do me a huge favor?” he asked.
“Anything.”
He gave me a tight squeeze. “When you’re running today, clear your head and just think about this moving decision before you pull the trigger. Is this guy really who you see yourself with in ten years? Is he truly who you want?”
