Livvy turned to face him, her lips puckered and her hands on her hips after taping up the last of her boxes. Her apartment was officially packed. “This is crazy, right? I mean, what we’re doing is ludicrous, isn’t it?”

He moved forward and pulled her into his arms. They’d been through this a million times. “It’s not the sanest thing we’ve ever done.”

Her worry melted and he was rewarded with a sweet smile. “But it’s the right decision?” When he didn’t answer immediately she smacked his arm. “Come on, reassure me just once more.”

He refused to tell her one more time that she’d made the right call. “Would you rather move to Louisiana for law school?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course not.” Shortly after they’d returned to NYC after the wedding they didn’t attend, Livvy had informed her parents that she wouldn’t be attending law school in the fall. They weren’t happy about it and they were even less pleased with her new plan.

Her eyes grew big as she took a deep, steadying breath. “But Japan? For a year?” Her expression was a mix of excitement and terror at the idea. “I think this might be the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

He grinned. Packing up and moving to Japan for a year while she taught English and he worked on his music was absolutely the craziest thing he’d ever done but right now one of them needed to keep it together and it looked like it was his turn. “We got this,” he said, squeezing her shoulders like a coach. “I’ll be there with you the whole time, remember?”

She nodded. “And you’re sure?”

It was his turn to roll his eyes. They’d been over this a million times. After his drummer quit, their bassist had informed them that he was moving for his wife’s job. Half his band was gone, so that wasn’t keeping him here anymore. And while he liked his job, it was almost too comfortable. He could see himself being there years from now, in the same position, playing for the same crowd. “I can write music anywhere, remember? And traveling the world sounds like pretty great inspiration.”

She let out a long breath and her shoulders relaxed under his touch. “It does, doesn’t it?”

After many long discussions about what she would do with her future, it became clear that the only thing Livvy was certain she wanted—aside from him, of course—was to see the world. So they’d started looking into ways they could feasibly do that while also making money. She’d gotten a job as an English teacher and that had settled it. He could find freelance gigs working remotely—he’d been doing that on the side anyway—so they could make this work.

The plan was to save up their money and once her year contract was up, they would travel around Southeast Asia. Avery was even toying with the idea of meeting up with them during their travels next summer. She’d finally come out to Kimmie, but sadly her love story hadn’t ended so happily. She’d dealt with Kimmie’s rejection better than he’d expected, saying that knowing was better than living in limbo. Now she could move on.

Apparently Kimmie had offered to be her wingwoman at gay bars and Avery had taken her up on it. Maybe Avery would succeed where he had failed and be able to maintain her friendship while getting over her crush.

If not, he and Livvy would be there for moral support if she needed to get some distance.

Livvy smiled up at him in his arms. “We’re really doing this,” she said.

He was happy to hear more excitement than terror in her tone this time.

“We’re really doing this,” he confirmed. “Oh, and I got you a going-away present.”

Her nose crinkled up as she laughed. “A present? But I didn’t get you anything and—”

He shoved the poorly wrapped box into her hand before she could protest any further. “Just open.”

When she saw the used, but good quality camera, inside her eyes filled up with tears. “I love it.”

He smiled as she wrapped her arms around him so tight it was hard to breathe. “You should have seen the way your eyes lit up when you first told me you wanted to be a travel photographer.”

“And you remembered,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

“Of course.”

She lifted her head and grinned at him. “Of course you did. That’s why you’re the best best friend in the world.”

He raised one brow teasingly. “And?”

She laughed, giving his jaw a quick kiss. “And the best boyfriend.”

He grinned. “Damn straight.”

Thank you for reading The Plus One! If you enjoyed it, reviews are always greatly appreciated. If you’d like to stay up to date on Maggie’s new releases, sign up for her monthly newsletter and receive a FREE novella:

Want more of the Starting from Zero series? Click on the links below for two more romantic comedies about fresh starts and new beginnings.

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