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“What is this?” she asks, opening it. “Are you crazy?” she yells, making me laugh.
I see the smile she’s trying to fight as she wars with her emotions. The deed and title of ownership is now in Olive Marie Adams’s name. She is the new owner of Black Soul Books.
“This is too much. How? No, I can’t,” she says with more worry.
“You may not appreciate my jingles, babe, but millions of people do. This is an easy and much deserved gift, with no strings attached. I want to make you happy. No isn’t an option.”
She stutters for words, so I decide to kiss her, make her forget about her silly worries, and as she melts into me, I know I’ve won.
I used to think no woman would be able to come into my life and fit. That it would be constant work to please someone who would have to share me with three other women, mesh with my complicated baggage, but Olive did it seamlessly, and behind my back, no less. She’s the one woman I’ve been waiting for without realizing I needed her. She came in and set my world right, made a bridge for me and my daughter to be able to talk on common ground again. She didn’t blink at my complicated relationship with my best friend, who’s the mother of my child, and her wife, with whom we all have to co-exist in harmony…for Penelope.
It’s all easy with Olive. The love of my life.
EPILOGUE
Five years later
Olive
“Cheers!”
Glasses clink in unison as we gather to celebrate Penelope’s twenty-first birthday. We’re at the bar across town from our house with a few of Pen’s friends and even her favorite author bestie, Blair Honeycutt, who is up on stage, belting out the lyrics of “Friends in Low Places” as we all laugh along.
Stephanie and Whitney left hours ago, but we decided to try and hang for a few songs. Leo had to sing a few, while I rolled my eyes and refused to sing a single note with a microphone. I’m a great chorus singer. Just let me blend in to the background. It’s better for everyone’s ears.
As the champagne kicks in, though, I’m feeling restless in my chair. Leo’s hand, which is currently climbing up the apex of my thigh, is not helping my rising temperature. I try to be discreet as I look at him like he’s crazy, but he only grins at me, those dark eyes full of mischief.
“Mom!”
My attention snaps to the adult woman I barely recognize anymore. Penelope has grown into the daughter I never thought I’d have, and she actually calls me mom on a regular basis, even though I still worry that I don’t deserve the title.
“We’re going to Bake Love To Me next. They’re hosting another glow night. Are you guys in?”
I look to Leo, even though I know the answer. His brows furrow, never wanting to disappoint his girl, no matter how big she gets, but we’re old and would rather be curled up in bed, rather than bar hop. Or exhibit hop, I guess, if she’s going to the bakery for their monthly neon night event.
“I think we’re going to call it a night, babe, but I hope you have the best time.”
“Ok, no problem,” she says, coming to hug us both.
Leo holds on a little longer. It’s been this way since she turned eighteen. He cried like a baby.
The two of us are happy with her and decided our family was complete. My age didn’t give us much of a choice, but we’re happy, and in my heart, I don’t feel like anything is missing. Leo makes me fall in love with him more every single day, and for a man who was never calledboyfriend, he sure was in a hurry to be calledhusband.
We were married by Fitzy three months later at the local historical cemetery. He planned the entire wedding as a surprise and embraced my dark side, even though he’s upbeat sunshine wrapped in tan muscle. The definition of opposites, we not only make it look good, but we thrive together. I still laugh at the reactions we get when new friends come over and see our photos on display.
“So morbid.”
“Twisted.”
“Super fucking hot.”
We even went back last year for another photoshoot, but that one is for our eyes only.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“You read my mind,” I reply.
But when he pulls me out of my seat, we don’t head for the door behind the girls. Instead, we pivot and climb a dark staircase. When we reach the top, he pushes into the door, and to my surprise, it leads us outside onto a deserted rooftop over-looking the glowing city.
