Page 176 of Where Roads Lead

“Elsie, I don’t even pay rent. My grandfather built the cabin.”

“But property taxes, and whatnot, right? We’ll have to pay for that stuff.”

“Not sure if you’re aware,” I said, running a hand down her arm. “But we happen to have a café in town that does decently well, last time I checked.”

“I guess I better learn to use that espresso machine after all.” She looked up at me with all the hope in her eyes that I felt for our future. “Because I was hoping that maybe you’d let me have a job.”

I thought about telling her that I’d pay her to just sit in the café so I could spend all of my days staring at and talking to and being near her, but thought she might already know that, anyway.

“I’m sure we can figure something out.” I landed on instead. “But what about what you want to do for you? Something you love?”

“Glad you asked, because I spent a long time thinking about that tonight,” she said smugly. “I love writing. Always have, always will. But I decided that I don’t need some arbitrary, self-imposed timeline to prove to myself I deserve to follow my passion.”

“Agreed.” I nodded.

“So, I figured, I could take my time, write a story I’m proud of when it comes to me, but in the meantime…I think a slow, quiet life of finding things I love in each day might be exactly what I need.”

“Colbridge is perfect for someone looking for a slow way of life.” My lip turned upward.

“My thoughts exactly,” she said, grinning. “And maybe, just maybe, I could build a life here, as well as anywhere else?”

“Better than anywhere else,” I promised.

“You might get sick of me,” she teased.

“Don’t hold your breath.” I huffed.

“I won’t.” She grinned. “So, what do we do now?”

“I guess we start living the rest of our lives.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what it would look like, but as long as she was there with me for it, I realized I didn’t really care.

She smiled. “I like the sound of that.”

I sighed into her hair. “I do, too.”

“Will?” she asked, voice small and hopeful.

“Yeah, Els?”

“Before we start the rest of our lives, can we get coffee?”

“Yeah, Els.” I laughed. “I think we can arrange that.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Elsie

No one really cared about the fact that I decided to stay, I guess because no one ever really knew I’d been planning on leaving.

I gave up Mr. Briggs’s house, which was sort of sad because it felt like the first place I’d really come into myself, but also kind of a relief because there was way too much home improvement on that place to ever be worth the rent.

But I had to admit, it was nice waking up to the smell of coffee before my eyes even opened. That was definitely a perk of my new living situation. And certainly not the only one.

I don’t think Will had many complaints either, save for Creamsicle, but I knew they’d grow on each other. Eventually.

Other than that, life was quiet, easy, and completely and utterly blissful. I had shifts at the café, days off where I’d still be at the café, but to write. And night after night spent with Will. Or Ava, Theo, and Will. Or all of the Hughes at Friday night dinners.