“A bit. Every Sunday, always warm, like clockwork. Wait, you made me waffles?”
“Well, Luce made them for you. When I was there, I showed her how I made them and paid her…a lot…to make them for you every Sunday, with farmers’ market strawberries and extra crispy bacon, and then she had to deliver it.”
“Tiny little Asian woman, big hair? Looks kind of mean?”
“That’s Luce. The evilest and most selfless friend I’ve got.”
“I saw her creep away from my door through the peephole one morning, and I just assumed she was an UberEats driver. I’ll have to tell her to thank you when I meet her.”
“Good, you can come and meet her now. She’s getting my new place in order, and I want you to see it.”
Everly looks at me quizzically. “You’re not staying at Kathryn’s anymore?”
I shake my head.
“Strutt’s Peak is home for me now.” I pull her close again and wrap my arms around her body. She pulls me closer, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, her fingers running up the back of my neck, through my hair. She kisses me, and it feels so good. Relief and worthiness flood through my veins. Hearing that she can forgive me, after everything, stupid mistakes, bad choices, time, distance. I’ve never had anyone choose me. And that’s what she’s doing, and I’m not sure how I’m worthy of it, but I’ll work at trying to prove it to her every day. If she’ll let me.