“You want me to travel with you?” For the first time since I dropped him off at his apartment, he gives me a small smile.
“I guess I should ask if you’re into that, but that was my plan. I’ve got a job to do farther south, and then we can go wherever we want. I even know someone who can get you a passport.”
I pull him close, ignoring the people wandering around us as I nuzzle his throat. “It took thinking I’d lose you for good to realize how stupid I was being. I’m sorry. I know you’ve been single for all of five minutes, so if you’re not ready for more, I understand.You still need to lie low until things are closed out with Tucker. I can get you money, enough to get you by until it’s safe to come back. And when that happens, I’ll be back too. And I’ll just keep coming until you decide you’re ready to love me back.”
“You love me?” Rowan’s perpetually crinkled forehead smooths out. His lips form a slight smile. At least he’s not horrified. Good sign.
I shrug. “Seems messed up, right? A few days together and I’m ready to buy a house in the suburbs.”
“Really?”
“Fuck no. Metaphorically though.”
“Right.” He bites his lip. Now I want to bite him too.
“The point is, I’m not letting you get away again. And you know I’m good at tracking people down.”
Instead of looking as alarmed as he probably should, Rowan’s smile widens. “I would like to travel. I want to go someplace with snow. And mountains. First, though, I’d really like to see my family. It’s been a long time.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Might even be fun. Mothers love me.”
“Really?”
“I’m a damn hit with the ladies. Why is that such a surprise?”
He shakes his head, but his chest is shaking with silent laughter. Yeah. He’ll be okay.
I turn to go inside the station, but Rowan grabs my hand and pulls me back to him. He dips his head and presses the sweetest kiss I think I’ve ever had to my lips, tucking a strand of my shaggy hair behind my ear. “Thank you. For coming to get me. For everything.”
“I’ll always come back for you.”
“Good. And, Milo? I love you too.”
Epilogue
Notes:
Sorry this chapter is late. I accidentally fed a Mogwai after midnight.
Rowan
“Baby, you gotta try this pastry. It’s amazing.”
Milo’s on the balcony of our hotel room in Antalya, Türkiye, busy tearing into coffee and bread. It’s pretty much all he’s eaten since we got here. Me, I’m really into the freshly squeezed juice. I don’t know exactly how much Milo paid for this place, but it’s even nicer than the hotel where we met. We had a very long talk before I agreed to let him book it. “Everything here’s amazing.”
Spread out below is a gorgeous beach with crystal clear turquoise water. Farther in the distance, snowy mountains. I told him I loved snow but not the cold, so he brought me here.
“Mm-hmm.” He pulls me in for a kiss when I sit down at the little table to join him. “Especially the company.”
I laugh, but the intensity in his eyes draws me in. “One of these days you’ll get tired of me.” He knows I’m joking. It’s a game we play.
He always answers right away, like he’s worried even joking about it might make it true.
“Fuck no. You take that back.” He jumps up and climbs into my lap, tickling me until I can’t breathe. When we both finally catch our breath, he puts his hands on either side of my face. “I love you more every single fucking day.”
Pressing my lips to his, I murmur, “I love you too.”
“Did you get signed up for classes already?”
