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Breck lifted his bottle, his mouth splitting into a grin. “Congratulations, man,” he said, and turned to Ember, kissing her on the cheek. “You guys are going to make the best parents.”
Ember grinned. “Thank you.”
Lucas caught his eye, and Breck realized that his friend was nervous. Afraid. And no wonder. Becoming a parent wasn’t something you took lightly. It was both a blessing and a burden, Breck realized. It changed you completely from the inside out. It pushed you down the priority list, below the partner you loved and the child you made together.
Weird how he couldn’t wait for that to happen for him and Caitie.
“We should open that champagne,” Caitie said, sliding her arm around Breck’s waist. “There’s so much to celebrate.”
There really was. And as she leaned into him, her eyes soft, her smile softer, he knew that everything he’d ever wanted was right here. His heart felt full with the knowledge of it. He didn’t care about Christmas, didn’t care about the ocean, they were just hills they had to climb. And now that they’d reached the peak – together – it was time to breathe and enjoy what they had.
And the view from here was beautiful.
* * *
“Are you sure these are okay?” Harper asked, as she hooked the final curtain to the rail. She’d made every single one of them by hand – buying the fabric from a market in L.A., matching them to Caitie’s décor plans, measuring up each window to ensure the perfect fit. Though Caitie had tried to pay her friend for them, Harper had refused, reminding her they were a moving in gift.
“They’re wonderful,” Caitie said, hugging her friend. “Thank you so much. They make the room look so much better than those blinds. I can’t believe how talented you are.” She bit her lip. “I’m going to miss you.”
Harper’s eyes filled with tears, making Caitie’s heart ache. One of the reasons it had taken her six months to move in with Breck was the thought of leaving her best friend and roommate in L.A. They’d lived together since college, longer than some marriages lasted.
“Not as much as I’m going to miss you,” Harper said, her voice wobbling. She wiped the back of her hand across her cheek, ridding herself of her tears. “And I’m so happy for you. You deserve this, all of it. The guy, the apartment, the future together.”
“I’ll be coming to L.A. all the time for work,” Caitie said quickly. “We can meet up whenever I do, if you can spare the time.”
“Of course I can spare the time, dummy.” Harper made a silly face. “I’ve always got time for you.”
“Come with me, I have something to show you,” Caitie said, taking her friend’s hand, and leading her into the hallway. On the other side from Caitie’s bedroom was a doorway. She pushed it open, and light flooded out.
There was a bed and a desk in there, along with a huge box. Caitie knelt down and opened it, beckoning Harper over. “This is for you,” she said, her voice full of emotion.
“What is it?” Harper asked, a confused smile on her face. She knelt next to Caitie and stared into the box. “A sewing machine?” she asked, turning her face to look at Caitie. “Is that for me?”
Caitie nodded. “It’s like a reverse moving in gift from Breck and me. We thought that whenever you get tired of L.A. you can come here and design things. Take a break from the big city and soak up the ocean air. Let it refill your creative tank.” She smiled at Harper’s wide eyes. “This is your room. Come and visit whenever you like.”
“Won’t Breck mind?” Harper asked, biting her lip.
“It was his idea.” Caitie grinned. “He loves you almost as much as I do. You’re like his sister.” She lowered her voice. “And I know that because I heard him telling Jack that you’re off limits. It’s the bro code.” Caitie rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.
Harper laughed. “Look where that stupid code got him.” She reached into the box and ran the tip of her finger along the sewing machine, her eyes still shiny with tears. “This is beautiful,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
“I meant it. There’s no way I can go long without seeing you, not after all these years. So if you don’t come here, I’ll be hunting you down in L.A. and dragging you back for some well earned rest.”
“That doesn’t sound like a hardship,” Harper confessed. “I love this place. The town, the people, the lifestyle.” She sighed. “I can see why you’ve decided to come back.”
Caitie looked around the room and sighed. It was strange, coming home after so long. Especially to a town she’d hated spending time in. But she saw it differently now, thanks to Breck and her therapist. This town was never the problem, it was her. Her fears, her avoidance, her unwillingness to show her vulnerabilities. It had taken an act of will to finally face them. To let herself be pulled apart, so she could rebuild all over again.
“I think I might have fallen for it, too,” she told Harper.
Her friend grinned. “I think it’s a certain Angel Sands guy you’ve fallen for. And I can see why.” She took Caitie’s hand in her own. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, I am,” Caitie said, her chest tight with emotion. “So happy. I almost can’t believe it’s real.” And as she smiled, she could feel the truth of her words. Once she’d wondered if it was possible to have it all.
Now she knew it was.
* * *
It was evening by the time everybody left the apartment, and Caitie and Breck were alone in their new home. She was sliding the last plate into the dishwasher when Breck walked into the kitchen, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around.
