Natalie giggled. “You do realize you’re proud of yourself for beating a ten-year-old at a game. Right?”
“Damn straight I am. The kid’s a shark. He’s swindled me out of more money than I’m proud to admit.”
Beth plugged her ears. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that you’re teaching my child to gamble.”
“So we good?” I said directly to Beth.
“Yeah, we’re good.” She stood and walked toward me. “Sorry I was such a bitch.”
“I’m used to you.” I twisted her into a headlock and noogied the top of her head.
Beth squealed and slapped her hand on top of her head. “My hair.”
I snorted. The thing had been in a wild, messy rat’s nest on top of her head when we arrived. I’d say this was an improvement. I caught Nat’s eye and laughed at the “don’t you dare say it” look on her face. She knew me so well.
Beth released me and wrapped her arms around Natalie. I smiled as I watched them. I couldn’t hear what they said to each other but the resilience of lifelong friendship was evident in the warm embrace.
Finally, they released each other.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” Nat told her.
“I probably would have behaved just as badly no matter when you told me,” Beth said. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Natalie. “I’m sorry I was so awful. I didn’t mean most of what I said. You know me, I lash out when I’m hurt.”
Nat nodded. “I’ve just never had it directed at me before.”
“I know.” Beth winced. “You deserve to be happy, Nat.” My sister’s eyes met mine. “You both do.”
“You do too, sis.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” The words had barely made it out of her mouth before a piercing yell for Mom echoed from inside the house.
“Duty calls.” Beth sighed, then padded across the deck toward the house.
Turning to Natalie, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against me. “What do you say we go home and celebrate that we are officially all in love and shit?”
“Are we in love?” she teased.
“I know I am.” I looked into her gorgeous hazel eyes, enjoying the way the sun shimmered off the different colors. I was most definitely in love with this woman.
“Me too.” She stood up on her tiptoes and quickly kissed my lips. “I love you, Ash.”
I tried to pull her back for another kiss. Unfortunately, she pressed her hand against my chest. “Now, what do you say we swing by that house I was telling you about, and you can tell me if it could be made into a studio?”
I groaned. Not exactly what I had in mind. “Fine, but only because once you sign a lease for a studio, there’s no backing out of moving here.”
“Trust me. I won’t back out. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than with you.”
“Ditto.” I clasped her hand in mine. Enjoying the way my palm engulfed her tiny hand. “Let’s go get you a studio.”
Epilogue
Natalie
One year later
Icouldn’t believe this day had finally come. A year ago, Heart & Sole Dance Studio had just been a dream, and now I was standing in my own studio. How was it possible that this was my life?
Ash had coordinated all the work on the studio. He and Caleb had drawn up blueprints, and we’d gone over them, of course. I’d sent him pictures and a dream board, but honestly, over the past few months in New York I’d barely had time to sleep, let alone anything else. I never dreamed he’d be able to do all this. He’d taken every dream and throwaway comment I’d made over the past year and somehow managed to implement them all. The result was more than I’d ever dreamed.
