Page 85 of Call It Serendipity

She bites the inside of her cheek, considering. After a beat, she admits, “I don’t remember the last time I loved my own work like this. It was a joy to paint again.”

“That’s what matters, sweetheart.”

Leaning forward, I brush a soft kiss against her lips. She doesn’t hesitate to open for me, deepening it and pressing her body against me once more. I want more, need more.

Rolling us over, I settle atop her when the muted thud of a door closing sounds. It’s quickly followed by Claire’s voice calling out. “Lucy, are you home? We had a fun idea!”

“Hey Lucy,” Levi shouts next. Must be the we she was referring to.

“Be right down,” she shouts back.

With a groan, I drop my forehead against the back rest of the sofa, and she turns to press a kiss to my cheek. “We can come back. Pick up where we left off,” she says. Her hands slip along my shoulders, up my neck, and into my hair.

Another groan escapes me, this time more strangled as her fingernails track across my scalp. “If you keep that up⁠—”

“Are you in your studio? We can come to you.” Claire’s voice is louder, like she’s moving through the house.

We exchange a wide-eyed look before quickly scrambling up. My jeans are on in a flash, and I’m tugging my T-shirt over my head as Lucy grabs my flannel and skillfully buttons it up her body.

“Obvious?” she asks with a laugh, her hands drifting down her torso.

“Painfully. I love it.”

She smiles as the unmistakable sound of footsteps climb the stairs. We tumble out the studio door just as Claire and Levi crest the stairs on the opposite end of the hallway.

We all freeze, the length of the hall between us like an old western standoff. Until Claire’s mouth curls into an amused smirk, her eyes boring into the woman at my side. “Are we interrupting?” she asks.

Yes.

“Not at all,” Lucy replies with a flit of her hand. “You wanted to meet in the studio?”

“Can Levi see the finished paintings?”

“Of course.”

The four of us head back in, Claire and Levi approaching the easels and Lucy and I collapsing back on the sofa. She curls herself under my arm naturally.

“Gorgeous, right?” Her roommate motions to the paintings.

Levi nods in agreement. “Seriously cool. I’d say your best yet.”

“Thank you,” she replies before quickly changing the subject. “You had a fun idea?”

Claire snaps her fingers. “Mm, yes. I told Levi that we talked last night. And I was thinking, what if we have a kind of… Friendsgiving before I move out?”

I can’t help it, my mouth falls open in surprise as I turn to Lucy. Her roommate is leaving her? And I’m going on about wanting to celebrate today?

She squeezes my knee and gives me a soft look, as if to say it’s okay. “That sounds fun, let’s do it.”

“I’m thinking us four, and maybe Jenny and Mack?” Claire drops down to sit on the other side of Lucy as she continues. “And Taylor is a given, Jake.”

“She’d love that,” I reply, making a mental note to give my sister a call later.

“Great! We’ll head downstairs to check the calendar. Meet you there in a bit.” She winks at Lucy before standing once more and grabbing Levi’s arm.

Once they’ve disappeared into the hall, I turn my attention back to Lucy. “She’s moving out? I’m sorry, I would have been more sensitive today if⁠—”

“No, today has been perfect.” She shakes her head, and I’m acutely aware of how her hand has slowly worked higher up my leg. “I didn’t tell you because I just wanted to celebrate today.”