“There has to be an expiration date on this thing,” I protest, flipping it over.
“Nope.” He grins.
My heart hammers wildly. I shouldn’t say yes. But my mouth doesn’t get the memo either. “OK,” I whisper. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
We say a quick goodbye to Mom, who looks like she’s trying not to smile. Then I climb into Chase’s truck. Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up outside his house at Oakwood. And it takes me a moment to see beyond the beauty of the lake and the pines and the snow on the ground. To see what’s different. Surrounding the house is a neat, white-painted picket fence.
“Fence looks pretty,” I say, wishing there wasn’t a quiver to my voice. “You did that?”
Chase makes a face. “Me with a hammer and wood? No way. It was all Dylan. And I owe him big because he wasn’t too happy about it considering the frozen ground.”
“Why did he do it, then?” I ask. I don’t know why, but I hold my breath as I wait for the answer.
Chase looks at me and says only, “Come inside.” Then he jumps out of the truck and jogs around to open my door. He looks like he might take my hand and even though I want him to, the memories of him walking away from the diner are still raw in my mind, so I hug my arms around myself, drawing back.
A minute later, Chase opens the front door of his house with a lavish movement. Unlike the fence, I see the changes instantly. Throw pillows in forest green and deep grays. Pictures on the walls. Candles on the side. Ornaments. Color and life.
“Wow,” I say, turning slowly to take it in.
“I chose everything myself,” he says, giving me a shy smile. “With some guidance from Izzy, Harper, and Mad,” he adds as I pick up a wooden sign that reads:
This house is built on love and coffee.
He smiles. “Apparently giant inflatable pineapples don’t scream ‘home’.”
I laugh. Of course, Chase would want inflatable pineapples.
“There’s more,” he says quietly. His hand reaches out, hovering in the air, asking me to take it.
I fight the pull that feels like it’s tugging at me from deep in my soul. Because however much I want to take Chase’s hand and be swept up in his excitement, I have to be the one to think about the future. “Chase, I’m happy you’ve got all this stuff, but I’m not sure why I’m here or why you’re showing me.”
“You said I needed to choose a home. And I have.” He takes a step forward, his eyes locked on mine. My breath hitches, pulse hammering. “And that home is with you. Here, I hope, but it can be anywhere. My home is with you. I love you, Serena.”
He moves suddenly, like he’s just remembered something. A second later, he opens the door into the study at the front of the house. The walls are pale blue and there’s a gorgeous print of Colorado etched in silver on the wall. There’s a beautiful dark-blue armchair, and candlesticks by the window.
“I didn’t know what to do with this room when I first moved in, but then I realized what it would be perfect for.” He points to three stenciled words on the wall above the map I didn’t notice before.
Weather with Serena
“You can record your daily weather forecast in here. And?—”
“Chase, I love you too,” I cut in, fear pushing to the surface, cracking my voice. “You’re my soul mate. You’re my person. You always have been. But I’m not going to force you into a life you don’t want.”
Chase is quiet. Tears swim in his eyes. I think he’ll turn away, but then he reaches for my hand. I let him take it this time, his grip warm and strong and right.
“Can I show you one more thing,” he says, voice choked as he leads me upstairs and opens a door.
I gasp.
Inside is a nursery. Soft yellow walls. A white crib. A rocking chair. Baby elephant teddies on the floor. The room smells faintly of fresh paint and lavender.
“My home is wherever you are,” he says again. “I love you. I’ve loved you since third grade, and I’ve been too chicken to admit it. I thought pushing you away was protecting us, but all it did was break both our hearts. I want to be the man you need. I can’t promise that I’ll be perfect or that I’ll ever be good enough for you, but I can promise to show up for you and our baby every single day.” He draws me into his arms and the steady strength of his body. “You make me whole.”
Tears spill onto my cheeks as Chase tilts my chin up, his eyes searching mine. His expression is hope and love and everything I feel pushing to the surface inside me. I thought love was supposed to look like a fairy tale. But standing here in a room filled with stuffed elephants and hope, I know love is about choosing someone. Fighting for them. Being brave enough to believe in a future together.
I throw my arms around him. When his lips find mine, fireworks explode behind my ribs, and my stomach makes the wild dip of a rollercoaster. But underneath it all is something deeper. It’s connection. It’s home. It’s him.