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I do now.“You’re really staying?”
“Of course.I thought that was obvious.”She strokes her thumbs over the backs of my hands.“I’m staying here and I want to be part of your life because I love you.”
Ridiculous, unreliable me.That’s who she’s choosing.I’m about to give it my best to kiss all the breath from her lungs when she stands to grab the gift she carried in.
“Here.Maybe this’ll convince you.”
I’m a lot less careful with the shiny green paper than she was, and I rip it open to reveal...
“Lions!”I turn to her in delight, then immediately focus on the painting again.
It’s a scaled-down version ofThe Lion Fucks Tonight.Except it’s better.
Of course it’s better.It’s a Liv Fielding original.
She took every flaw she pointed out in the mural at the restaurant, and she fixed them.She exaggerated the flat proportions, making it bold and in-your-face and intriguingly off-kilter.When I look even closer, the lions themselves have familiar faces.
“Is thisus?”I hold the canvas even closer, and sure enough, the lion in front has Liv’s round brown eyes and curving cheeks, while the lion in back sports a mane that mimics my hair at its wildest and a smirk I see in the mirror every morning.
I look at her open-mouthed.“Oh my god, I love it.How long…”
“Since the night we decorated,” she says a little shyly.“At first I told myself it was to keep my skills sharp, but then it became about making something you’d love.”
“Livvie,” I murmur, carefully leaning the painting against the side of the couch so I can pull her into my arms and rest my chin on her head.
Her lips seek out my throat.“Holly.”Her tongue’s next, sweeping up my neck to my jawline.“Do you want to do things to me on this couch that make it so we’re basically obligated to sign that lease?”
My shirt’s off before she’s even done talking.
“Yes.Let’s do something naughty.”
Epilogue
A year later
Liv
It’s Christmas night, and Hollis and I are exhausted.
“Are they always so energetic?”he groans as we collapse onto our bed.
“Who, your Mom and Phil?”I ask.“I hope so for their sake.”
He rolls on top of me, doing his best impression of a weighted blanket.“I meant the sibs, woman!”
I wrap my arms and legs around him, doingmybest impression of an octopus.In the year since he quit the restaurant and stopped dancing, he’s developed an amazing tan from landscaping with Gabe and a tiny bit more squish around his middle from cutting back on his diet and exercise routines.He says he’s never been happier.I say the feeling’s mutual, and not just because my freelance work’s officially become Liv Fielding Creative, the in-demand boutique ad agency.
“Four hours in the car tomorrow,” he says with a groan.“What time do you want to get started, and did you remember to buy snacks for the road?”
Now that we’ve done the holiday thing with his family, we’re headed to my parents’ for Christmas part two.And yes, going straight to bed and getting an early start would be the wisest course of action.
But I have a plan to put in motion.
“I’m not sure,” I say, sounding as nonchalant as possible.“I left my phone on the side table in the living room.Could you grab it so I can check what time they said?”
“Sure.”He presses a flurry of kisses to my face and then rolls off me and heads down the hall as I start counting.Five… four… three…
“Livvie?Could you come in here, please?”His voice sounds strangled, and I grin as I leap off the bed.
