or a card or anything.”
Her eyes widened, and he wanted to lose himself in her so badly, but this wasn’t the place.
Jo swallowed and squared her shoulders. “Well, you have me. Next best thing?”
“You’re the very best thing.”
It had been a long time since Elias thought he might settle down with someone. He’d thought that chapter was over after his accident. Instead, he’d been waiting for Jo all along and now she was here. She might never have had the happy, healthy home life he had, but he had decades to show her what it could be like. What they could be like. Together.
Epilogue.
Saturday. Elias’ Home, Seattle, Washington.
Jo followed Elias up the stairs to his Seattle apartment. It was still out of this world to think that a day ago they’d been in Jersey, and now she was here. Not that she knew what here implied, but all of her worldly possessions were in the suitcase Elias had taken from her.
She climbed the stairs slower. Anxiety and excitement swirled in her chest.
Last night she’d listened to Elias try to fend off this Merida character. She sounded like a force of nature. Jo was glad the woman was engaged and seemed more like a sister to him. It would seriously put things on a bad start if Jo’s first act of visiting Elias was to put his friend in her place.
God, even thinking that was strange.
And yet, when she looked at Elias she knew she’d go to some pretty extreme lengths to remove whatever came between her and that man. He made her want to be better, for herself and him.
She smiled and climbed to the landing, joining Elias at his door.
“Okay, I don’t know what to expect,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry in advance.”
Jo chuckled and peered over his shoulder.
Elias pushed the front door open and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders.
“Holy shit,” he muttered.
Jo sputtered a laugh.
The space was nice, much bigger than her postage stamp sized apartment. The furniture was oversized, comfortable, very manly. The twinkling lights hanging off everything weren’t.
“Welcome home,” Elias said with a touch of dread.
Jo stepped over the threshold, taking in the Christmas cheer. There was a seven foot tree partially blocking the view of the TV from the door. It dripped with tinsel, red lights and wooden ornaments. Two pairs of red and black plaid slippers waited just on the carpet.
She couldn’t help chuckling at that either and toed off her shoes, sliding her feet into the fuzzy house slippers.
“Merida did all this in a few hours?” she asked.
“Yeah. That’s Merida.” He sighed. “I’ll put your stuff in the bedroom.”
She smirked at his backside. “Presumptuous.”
He was smiling. She didn’t have to see his face to know he was.
Jo ambled after him, still soaking it all in.
There was a decidedly lived in and home-like feel to the place her apartment never had.
She peered into a small bonus room that served as an office and bicycle stash before exploring the bedroom.
Elias placed her suitcase on the bed, then proceeded to open almost half the drawers on the long, low dresser.
They were empty.
She paused, looking from the drawers to him.
He gestured at the space. “I asked Merida if she’d toss out some old stuff. I figured you’d be more comfortable not living in a suitcase while you’re here.”
Jo froze. He was making space for her. In his life. In his home. It seemed like ever since they met, he’d shown her all along where she belonged.
“If you want a different drawer, I can move things,” he said quickly.
“Shut up.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks and let go of her reservations. “It’s perfect.”
He took a step toward her, closing the distance, and gently pulled her to him.
“You’re perfect,” he muttered.
She wrinkled her nose. “Too cheesy.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Fine.”
He bent his head and kissed her briefly.
All of this felt like a dream. A wonderful, beautiful dream she didn’t want to wake up from.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She shivered and buried her face against his chest.
Love was new and scary, but with Elias at her side, she was finally excited about what the future held for them.
SATURDAY. ELIAS’ HOME, Seattle, Washington.
Elias placed the photograph from the day of the soccer game on the dresser in a black frame Merida had left for him. Seriously, he didn’t know what he’d do without a friend like her. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to what it would be like when Jo and Merida finished feeling each other out.