“IS THIS BOX READY TO be sealed, Kyra?”
I paused in mid-motion as I bent to place another armful of books into the huge carton in front of me. “Yeah, it should be good to go. Thanks, Shel.”
“Phew.” She fell onto the couch with a sigh. “When you told me that you were moving to England, I had a mental image. It included uniformed men coming in to pack up your shit to be magically transported across the Atlantic Ocean. It did not include the two of us, sweaty and nasty-smelling, figuring out how to fit all the aforementioned shit into boxes.”
“Sorry. Nicky offered some help from professionals, but I thought it would be more fun for us to do it together.”
“Fun. Yeah.” Shelby rolled her eyes at me. “I still can’t believe that you’re moving over there. If you had told me when we started grad school that you’d end up deserting me after graduation to go off and be a princess, I would have said you were insane. Yet, here we are.”
“Uh, no. Don’t jump the gun. I’m not going to be a princess. I’m just moving over there so that Nicky and I can have a real relationship. So we can explore all the . . . possibilities.” I stood up and brushed my hands over my thighs. “Okay. The books are done, too.”
“What time are the movers coming tomorrow?” Shelby turned her head to watch as I flopped into a chair and rested my feet on the coffee table next to hers.
“About noon.” I reached for the beer I’d gotten out of the fridge earlier and took a swig.
“And then you leave the next day.” Shelby sniffled a little. “I think I’ve been in denial. I keep telling myself it’s not going to be a big deal. That you’re not going to be so far away. But shit, Kyra. I’m never going to see you. You’re going to be over there, working for Honey Bee Juices and helping Nicky with his food sustainability projects, and I’ll be in New Mexico, where I don’t know a single soul.”
“Shel, I promise, we’ll still see each other.” I nudged her foot with mine. “I couldn’t lose you. You’ll fly over to see me, and I’ll do the same.”
“Hmmmm.” She didn’t look convinced. “Will I get the first invitation to the wedding?”
“If there is a wedding, of course you will,” I assured her. “And you heard Nicky the other day. He says you need to come to England and make some waffles for him. He’s tired of hearing about me eating them all the time.”
“Glad to see you ladies are working hard.” The man himself strolled into the living room, and I stifled a deep sigh of appreciation. Nicky was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and damn, my man looked good. I smiled a little; there was something satisfying on a primitive level about knowing that I was the only woman allowed to touch that ass or see him without the shorts and shirt. It might not have been official yet, but I didn’t have any more doubts that Nicky and I were it for each other.
“We did work hard.” I craned my neck back to gaze at him upside down. “Everything is boxed.”
“Hmmmm.” Nicky leaned over and touched his lips to mine, sending a thrill of pure need through me. “Then I guess you need a reward.”
“I think that’s probably my cue to get out of here.” Shelby stood up. “We’re meeting back at Honey and Handsome’s, right? Pool time and pizza?” My grandparents had graciously offered all three of us a place to stay, now that our cottage was packed up.
“Absolutely.” I grinned at my friend. “We’ll be right behind you.”
“Suuuuure you will.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I’ll just remind you that the beds are already taken down, so any horizontal hootchie cootchie will have to take place on the floor.”
I grabbed Nicky’s hands in both mine and tugged him down again. “Shel, you’re forgetting the sofa and the chairs.”
She wrinkled her forehead. “I think you’re forgetting that I’m taking the sofa and chairs with me to New Mexico. Please don’t violate them.”
“I make no promises.” I winked at her, laughing as she pretended to gag on her way out.
“So.” Nicky came around and sat down next to me, draping an arm over my shoulder. “Any second thoughts?”
“About moving? Not one. I loved this place, and I’ll always remember it fondly. But it’s served its purpose, and now . . . it’s time for new adventures.”
“As long as those new adventures include me.” He wound a lock of my hair around his finger. “I can’t wait to live with you, Ky. To wake up every morning, with you in my bed, knowing that we’ll end the day in each other’s arms. That sounds like the best adventure ever.”
“Our very own happily-ever-after,” I agreed, snuggling closer.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Nicky tapped my chin and kissed me until every part of my body was humming for him. “This isn’t an ending. This is just the beginning of the rest of our lives.” His eyes gleamed with something secret. “And trust me, I still have a few surprises up my sleeve.”
I frowned. “Like what?”
He only shook his head. “Surprises, Ky, by their very nature, are not to be told ahead of time. Trust me, love. I promise, you’ll like what I have planned.”
“But—” I began to protest, but Nicky stopped me by scooping me into his lap and covering my mouth with his.
And that was the most perfect happy ending ever.
Kyra and Nicky’s story continues . . .
The Anti-Cinderella Takes London
and
The Anti-Cinderella Takes On The World