Page 84 of Hearts on the Mend

She’s still laughing as she leaves, and the house falls silent. I’m almost done making breakfast when I hear the key in the door.

“Did you forget something?” I ask.

She tosses her bag onto the floor and pads down the hallway before she throws herself into my arms. “Only thing I forgot was to tell you I have today off. Traded shifts with Brianna last week. You have me all to yourself. Most of the day anyway. Your mom is picking up Ruby to take her to a turtle show at the library after school.”

“Can’t imagine what we’ll do,” I say in between kissing her. I walk us backward, setting her onto the edge of the dining room table.

“Figure out this kitchen? Feels like we’re behind on the timeline, and I really want a big farm sink even though that messes with everything.”

“How?”

“A new sink means figuring out the counters. Originally, we were going to keep them, but a butcher block would look nice, especially with white cabinets. And I want the old hardware switched out, maybe the light above the sink. The walls need a coat of paint, but I was thinking of painting them. Wouldn’t they look nice in yellow? Especially with the light coming through the windows.” She twists around, reaching for the color deck on the table. She fans it open to a soft wheat color. “This one.”

“Is that all?”

She taps it against my chest with a sassy smirk. “Smartass.”

“You want it, I’ll give it to you.”

“That easy, huh?”

“It’s like you haven’t been paying attention.” I trail my mouth down the column of her neck, and her legs fall open for me, but she’s right; it’s going to take some long days to wrap up this kitchen in time.

“It’s hard when you always look like this.” She waves her hands at me. “I swear, that dumb mustache…”

“Works for you, does it?”

“You’re so annoying,” she laughs, slipping off the table. She sweeps her arms over the kitchen sink. “A shelf for plants here would be great, and a wide windowsill to grow herbs on. It’ll be a good spot for the mini vase I have of all the treasures Ruby brings me.”

A cardinal flies up and lands on the bird feeder she stuck outside on the window, but a blue jay swoops in, hogging the birdseed.

She taps the window. “They’re such bullies. Anyway… wait, what is it?”

The chuckle I tried biting back shakes my shoulders, and finally, I laugh. A full belly laugh. The force of it only makes me smile more. I trace my fingers over my mouth, surprised. I can’t remember laughing like this in a long time.

Cassie arches a brow. “What’s so funny?”

I’m not sure anymore. All I know is that I started this winter sneaking beers into the shower, trying my best to hold myself together after the worst year of my life, and now I’m dreaming up kitchen plans with the woman I’ve accidentally fallen in love with.

“Well, they are. And the finches all get so upset. Watch. See? They flutter around, and I’m afraid they’re going to fly into the window and break their little necks.”

“I love that you love birds.”

“Great.” She spins, pulling her phone from her back pocket. “Because I found this video online. I’m not sure when I’d have the time, but I could hand-paint that bird pattern on the walls. It would be so cute.”

I can’t think about birds with that cute furrow between her brow.

“Hmm, it would look great.”

“Are you even listening? You have that funny smile on your face. Never know what to do with you when you’re happy.”

“Kiss me, Hellcat.”

“What about when you’re sad or mad? What should I do then?”

“Kiss me. Always.”

Cassie tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “Anyway, I might be able to get some chairs secondhand off Marketplace that fit the table better. And I know it’s extra, but I really think a ceiling medallion in the living room would be nice.”