“I know I made mistakes. We both made mistakes, some bigger than others, and I’m not going to deny that. But I’m willing to do this. I’m willing to grovel and pray to all your gods and goddesses, if that is what you want from me, so long as I never have to leave this tiny town of yours, where the only bar is named Bar and I get to wake up next to you every day. I’ve been manifesting it every day we have been apart since last summer, just like you told me to. It’s like making a wish, right? The small house with vines running up the trellis. The dog that doesn’t know how to bark right. You. Do you remember it?”
“ I’ve been wishing for you my whole life.”
“I remember.”
“Good. Because I’m going to make it happen.” Dom’s speech started to ramble and repeat as he tried to be sure he got everything he wanted to say before coming to a close. “If you let me. If you give me one last chance.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t understand. How could he be here? Today, of all days, it made no sense.
Slowly, Dom pushed back the curved rattan chair. One knee at a time, Dom fell onto his. Now, a few people were definitely looking over at us, but my eyes remained solely on the man in front of me.
He put his hands out to either side. “Please, Ana?”
I couldn’t help myself. Air bursting through my lips, I laughed, leaning forward so that I was staring him straight in the eyes. I let myself so often fall far into the darkness of them, into love with him.
And I knew better than anyone that it was hard to fall back out of love with someone you saw so clearly. It was especially hard when he was willing to get on his knees in a crowded room for you.
It looked like there was more than one closet romantic here.
“You want to be here?” I asked. “With me?”
“More than anything. I missed you the second I walked out the door.”
“What about Piper’s mother? Her family? Is she going to be okay with this arrangement?”With me?
Dom dipped his head. “We’ll work it out.”
“Because I am not going to be the thing that comes between a happy family or her being able to spend time with a caring father who actually loves and wants to be there for her.”
Dom’s eyes softened. “It’ll be worked out. It’s me and you, Ana. It’s been me and you since the moment I first saw you.”
I swallowed hard emotion in my throat. It was all I’d ever wanted to hear, no matter how unsure I would always be. Love wasn’t a fairy tale—Celeste had me there. But it was my own sort.
Dark, painful, full of heartbreak and joy. Sparkling with magic.
Leaning back in my chair, I took in the moment with Dom in front of me, yet to get up. I let him squirm for another second.
“Care for a reading?” I swept my arm out in front of me over the table. “Opening day special.”
A sharp intake of breath was audible as Dom started to nod. He came back up to stand and sat back down in the seat across from me. Others continued to mill through the store, sipping on sweet juice and cold tea. The show was over for them, but for us, it was just beginning.
I shuffled the cards and let him pick before I flipped them over.
The Lovers.
The Page of Pentacles.
The Four of Wands.
Celebration.
A happy ending.
“Seems like we’re stuck together,” I told him. “In good luck and bad.”
He grinned, dark eyes shining right back. “Sounds just fine with me.”
EPILOGUE
