Page 118 of Lovetown, USA

Anya and I hug, then Shayla pulls me aside. “So, my parents are here.”

“Oh, good! I get to meet them finally.”

“Yeah, but listen.” She smiles like she’s bursting with happiness. “My parents sat down with her the other night.”

“Oh God, what did they say?”

“No, it’s good. Girl, my dad asked her where this was going, and my mom said she’s sick of me hopping from girl to girl and she’s ready for me to settle down and get married.”

I grab her in a hug, knowing how much that means to her. And she deserves it. She’s such a beautiful person with a beautiful spirit. I love her…which isn’t lost on me.

It’s ironic. I came to Lovetown absolutely dead set against love and all of its various adjacencies. But I messed around and fell in love twice…with a lover, and with a friend. And nobody had to run any data on me. We just found each other.

There’s something beautiful in that.

“So, uh, whenisthe wedding?" I tease as we pull away.

“You first,” she says.

“Yeah, we’re going slow.Vervehas me humming right now.”

Managing editors never get a moment’s peace. But I love it.

That word again.

“I see Mayor Daphne is a no-show.”

I snicker at that. “Yeah, that’s no surprise. After Affinity moved out, she holed up in City Hall. She’s licking her wounds, I’m sure. Trying to figure out what to do next. But people are still moving here.”

Shayla nods. “More than before.”

“Exactly. The bitch needs to be thanking me,” I say, and we laugh at that before Cal steps up to the podium.

The chatter slowly dies as everyone turns toward him. Nadia eases through the crowd and slips in beside me.

“Thank you all for being here today. This clinic isn’t just a building. It’s a place where people can come and be cared for, no matter who they are. I want to dedicate this night, and this building, to my grandfather Joe. He inspired me. I want to thank my parents, Joe Jr. And Dina. Your support means everything to me. Pop, thank you for teaching me to fight for what I want.”

Trey’s eyes find mine. “My son, where’s he at. Yeah, my little knucklehead over there. I love you. Thank you for being such a good kid. And to my fiancée. Thank you for being my soft place to land. You inspire me every day. Everything I do is to impress you. I hope I succeeded.”

Applause breaks out, filling the room. Trey steps down from the podium, his hands reaching for mine, then he pulls me into a kiss that’s tender and full of the love I spent the last few years running from.