The door opened behind me, and warm arms wrapped around my waist.
"You're up early." Knox's voice was rough with sleep, his chin resting on my shoulder.
"Couldn't sleep." I leaned back into him. "Too excited."
"The party's not until this afternoon."
"I know." I turned in his arms, looking up at him. His hair was messy, his jaw shadowed with stubble, his eyes still soft from sleep. "I'm just happy. Is that allowed?"
"More than allowed." He kissed my forehead.
I laughed and pressed my face into his chest. He smelled like warm skin and laundry detergent and home.
Six months. Six months since that storm, since the truth came out, since everything changed. Sometimes it felt like a lifetime. Sometimes it felt like yesterday.
"Come back to bed," Knox murmured against my hair. "We have a few hours before we need to start setting up."
"And what exactly are we going to do with those hours?"
His hands slid down to grip my hips. "I have some ideas."
I let him lead me back inside, into the bedroom with the big windows facing the mountains, into the bed we'd picked out together.
He laid me down and covered my body with his, and I stopped thinking about anything except the feel of him against me.
Some things, I'd learned, were worth waiting eight years for.
***
The housewarming party started at four.
By five, our home was full of people. Mae had brought enough food to feed a small army. June showed up with a six-pack and Mason was in the backyard, arguing about the best way to light the fire pit. Lila was on the couch, deep in conversation with River about something that involved a lot of hand gestures.
And Cal was in the kitchen, helping Knox set up the bar.
I watched them from the doorway. The two of them, working together, talking in low voices. Not best friends, not yet, maybe not ever. But something built on mutual respect and a shared love for me.
Cal caught me watching and smiled. It was still tentative, that smile. Still searching for forgiveness he hadn't fully found. But it was real, and it was trying, and that was enough.
Knox appeared at my side, beer in hand.
I took the beer he offered. "Look at this. Look at all these people. In our house."
"Our house." He grinned. "Still getting used to that."
"Me too."
Mae bustled over, her apron dusted with flour even though she'd supposedly stopped cooking hours ago. "The cinnamonrolls are a hit. I'm going to need that recipe for the maple glaze, Daisy."
"It's your recipe, Mae. I added maple syrup."
"Innovation." Mae beamed. "I like it." She looked between me and Knox, her eyes going soft. "You two. I always knew, you know. Even back then. Some people are just meant to find their way back to each other."
She patted Knox's cheek and disappeared back into the crowd.
"She's terrifying," Knox said.
"She's wonderful." I leaned into him and his arm came around me automatically, holding me close while the party swirled around us.