The older woman sighed wistfully. “That was great. If it couldn’t be Benny Jr., at least it was his tin can.”
Benny Jr., for all his oozing charm, had a change of heart and let Owen quit without fuss when he realized he wasn’t as all-powerful as he thought. Neither of us was aware of how much the coward had been hiding behind empty threats made, unbeknownst to Owen. It explained why so much of the town had feared him. I set Benny Jr. straight after a few guinea pigs and I cornered him behind The Tipsy one night. He has stopped hiding behind my boyfriend’s size and stopped spreading untrue rumors about his violence.
Rumors of my violence had increased tenfold, according to Deckard.
“I just want to spend the new year with the people I love,” Ivy said.
“Cheers to that,” I said.
Owen snuggled me closer. “Really? No big plans to change?” he asked.
“Nah. Why mess with perfection?” I said. “Though I might organize more classes.”
The cat visit days had been a huge success at the home, and soon, Whisker Wonderland, the local no-kill animal shelter, had volunteered a worker to come once a week to visit with a different little pet for adoption. (Though the guinea pig population remained unchecked and hardy as ever.) Because I had started a sign-up sheet for all of Ivy’s alum to regularly visit the home, which was most of the town, there were always people coming through, and pets were constantly being adopted. The home had been through many improvements and renovations, thanks to a rise in donations. Ivy and the other residents had a steady stream of visitors and activities to partake in, and I was happier than ever. I didn’t need to do some grand gesture to be seen. I just had to be me. And being involved in the local community outside the cats in the café had been infinitely rewarding.
Owen bent to kiss my forehead. “No resolutions here either. Just finish my degree and continue working here. Other than that, my life is perfect.”
“You are very lucky,” I said.
“I love you,” Owen whispered, sending shivers down my back.
“I love you too.”
We stared at each other until Ivy threw a decorative pillow at us, and the countdown began in earnest.
Owen told me he loved me on our second official date, which was great because I had been attempting to get the wordsout, and he did it for me. We’d spent pretty much every night together since that first night on the tram. I kept waiting for him to get sick of me or to want some space, but all he did was ask to move in after his lease was up in March. He was already over all the time anyway, so it was a smooth transition. Occasionally, an old fear would creep in, but then he would look at me with sincerity to tell me he loved me, and every fear melted from my shoulders.
We’d also come up with a system where I changed out of my work clothes the second I got home and dropped them into the washer, so the cat hair never became an issue.
The silver lining was that it was an excuse to get naked for him every day. Between his classes and the work at the home, he was busy a lot, but I’d taken the time to hang out with Ivy and the other residents and make little upgrades to Golden Sunsets. Turned out, I had a knack for mural painting and interior design—so long as they liked their murals Jackson Pollock-esque and their room design “cozy eclectic chic.”
“Three … two … one. Happy New Year!”
The three of us clinked our glasses and sang a terrible rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” By the time we left, Ivy was falling asleep into her glass of champagne.
Owen and I had a full night of plans ahead of us.
Later…
The Hookup Hut had gone through some renovations of its own. Most notably, an online sign-up sheet for a more organized usage allotment. Owen and I claimed New Year’s Eve in perpetuity. Why mess with tradition?
We used a snowmobile to get here and planned to snowmobile up to the peak for the second half of our plans in the morning. But for now, we had a night of reminiscing and sweet, sweet lovemaking ahead of us.
“I’ve missed this place,” I said as I threw my overnight bag in the corner.
“I’ll get the sheets out and change them,” he said.
“I’ll unload the snacks.” I hid an extra pack of Pop-Tarts for the special occasion. If Owen played his cards right, I might be inclined to share.
Owen always played his cards right.
And by that, I meant he was very good in bed.
“I never thought I’d choose to come back here,” he said. “Let alone actually really want to.”
He still hadn’t ridden the new tram. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
“Happiest memories,” I said and then noticed a small sign above a drawer in the kitchen. “‘Take a condom/leave a condom, bro,’” I read out loud.
