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Walking over with the picture, Luke noticed an etching in the mantel’s corner. He leaned in for a closer look and saw the initials “A + L” carved inside a heart.
“Hmm...”
He smiled as he set the picture down next to it. The carving reminded him of Kate, and how he had gotten her name tattooed on his left pec the night of their high school graduation. She had laughed when she first saw it and told him he was ridiculous.
Luke had been in love with her since middle school, but they didn’t get together until their junior year. That’s when Kate finally broke down and said “yes” to being his date to the homecoming dance. Over the years, they’d weathered many storms together, including a long-distance relationship when he left for Harvard and she was at NYU, or when his father unexpectedly passed before their wedding.
The ache in Luke’s heart was a constant reminder of what he had lost in Kate. He longed to feel the warmth of her smile or hear her infectious laughter once again. Sometimes he’d play a particular voicemail she had left for him while he was away on business. Then he’d replay it a few more times, absorbing every word. He knew deep down that he had made mistakes, that he had taken their love for granted. If only he could go back, he told himself, he would do things differently.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Luke glanced out the side window, then called up the stairs. “Jeremiah, pizza’s here!”
5
Emma
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Emma shifted her gaze from her desk to the front door. She had gotten caught up in doing some bookkeeping for Barking Orders and hadn’t been watching the time. She closed her laptop and stood up, doing a quick scan of the room to make sure everything looked tidy. Deeming it presentable, she answered the door to find Kara holding shopping bags and a houseplant.
“Happy housewarming!” Kara said, handing Emma the plant.
“Oh Kara, you didn’t have to get me anything! But I appreciate it. This is beautiful.”
“It’s a succulent. They’re easy to care for—minimal water and lots of sun.”
“Perfect. This room gets a flood of light during the day.” Emma set it by the window, then hugged Kara. “Thanks for coming. I’ve been looking forward to this night ever since you called.”
Kara placed the bags on the coffee table. “Brought ice cream and some vegan treats. Now, get some spoons and we’ll find something good to watch.”
“Well, I’ve only got a few more receipts to reconcile. It won’t take too long.”
Kara waved her hand dismissively. “You deserve a break, Em. It’s time to relax!”
Emma chuckled. “I guess it can wait until morning. Let me grab those spoons.”
Once she returned, she plopped onto the couch and picked up the remote. Below her, Riley lounged at her feet, eyeing the ice cream on the table.
“You know what’s crazy? I haven’t watched anything since I moved in. I guess I’ve been too busy with unpacking. I haven’t taken any time to myself.”
Kara grabbed a spoon from the table and moved the ice cream tub between them. “Well, keeping busy is good. It can be a distraction from other things.”
“Yeah, it can be. So, what are we gonna watch?”
After scrolling through a couple dozen movies, they finally settled on The Wedding Singer. Emma had forgotten how funny the movie was, and soon she and Kara were roaring in laughter. As they tore into the ice cream, Emma savored each bite, feeling its creaminess and the crunchiness of the peanut butter chips mingling in her mouth. The sweetness of the chocolate and the saltiness of the chips were perfectly balanced, making it nearly impossible to stop eating.
Realizing he’d get none, Riley gave them a pleading look before retreating to his bed.
Emma reached for another spoonful and heard it hit the bottom with a hollow thunk. “We really ate that whole thing, didn’t we?” She looked down at the empty tub.
“It was so good! I’ll throw this away so we can start on the other snacks.”
“Do you want me to pause it?”
“No, no, that’s okay. I’ll just be a minute.”
As the conversation faded, Emma’s attention was drawn back to the screen, where a scene unfolded.
