Somewhere Along The Line

26. Epilogue James

Two Years Later

“Hey, what time are the folks coming to deliver the new chairs?” I’m trying to get Piper’s attention, but she’s lost in her phone, texting with Sami about something more important than the logistics of our furniture delivery.

I nudge her knee with mine, the cold plastic of the train’s seat squeaking as I move. It snaps her to attention.

“Sorry, what?”

I can’t be mad with the face she gives me—not the expression but her actual face—wild hair framing her brown eyes and full lips. It’s a consistent problem for me.

Aren’t husbands supposed to be angry at their wives occasionally? I wouldn’t know.

“The new chairs—are you able to be home during the delivery window?” We’ve had this conversation seven times over, ever since Piper moved in and made it her mission to make my sad, blank house into a home—our home. The only downside has been coordinating the painters and builders and delivery folks.

“Yes! I should be free. I’ll ask my boss about working from home on Friday.” Piper says this with a glint in her eye, still thrilled she has free rein to make the house livable. “It’ll be nice to have the chairs before your dad comes over on Sunday.”

We get together with Dad every weekend, alternating between his apartment, local restaurants, and our place. While I want to think we do this because Dad needs me, the truth is he loves Piper so much he can’t be away from her for more than six days.

I’d be offended if I didn’t share the sentiment.

Piper laughs, her gaze still glued to her phone, and a twinge of jealousy runs through me that someone else made her chuckle.

“What’s so funny with Sami this morning?” I prod, using my arm around her shoulder to pull her in tighter so I can see the screen.

“She’s making a list of what she needs to do before her artist-in-residence program starts. One is to schedule a bikini wax. You know, in case she decides to take an Italian lover during her first week there.” Piper giggles again and the sound tickles my ears. I lean my head against hers and breathe her in.

The fact that Sami will be in Florence for the next six months is bittersweet. Piper is going to miss her like crazy, and it will mean more days like this one—having to share my favorite girl with her favorite girl.

Even so, it’s not all bad; I was able to reconnect with the host family from my gap year, and they’re letting Sami stay with them. In exchange, I made her listen intently to my suggestions of all the things she should eat, see, and do while she’s there.

An Italian man wasn’t on my list.

The train slows to a stop as we approach downtown. I stand, gathering myself to head to work. Piper doesn’t make a move, so I step around her to the aisle, extending my hand for her to take.

“You coming?” I ask, knowing Piper will be anxious if we’re the last ones off the train.

A mischievous smile graces that pretty face of hers as she takes my hand and presses it to my chest.

“Are you asking me if I want to get off , James? Because the answer is yes. You know asking me to come always makes me come.”

Heat creeps up my neck as Piper stretches onto her toes to kiss me, sliding her tongue to tangle with mine just briefly. Not briefly enough, apparently. I move our joined hands to cover myself while we approach the doors, willing my body to remember it’s a fucking workday.

You would think after a few years that a kiss and some innuendo would no longer be novel. You’d be wrong.

We step onto the platform like we have hundreds of times now, still dreading the moment we have to split directions. I wrap her into me tight and kiss her lightly, careful not to make my pants any tighter than they already are.

“I’ll meet you later at Hope First?” I ask, knowing it’s silly. Of course she’ll be there. She’s the one who arranged the financial literacy class I teach every week. It feels good to have a legitimate excuse to leave work early and even better to empower Hope First’s clients with economic know-how. Seeing Piper in her element is the cherry on top.

She pulls away, her hand lingering in mine until the very last second as she walks backward in the direction of her office.

“Wouldn’t miss it!” Piper replies with a grin and a wave. “I’ll see you then, hubby !”

I walk toward the stairs before turning back to look at her one last time.

“Can’t wait, Mrs. Newhouse .”