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“Fine?” Shocking Ashley, August was first to break the silence. “What does ‘fine’ mean?”

The corner of Esther’s mouth twitched. “I got it.”

“You got it?”

They screamed in tandem while a rosy blush worked its way up Esther’s neck.

Esther’s shoulders hunched as she stared fixedly at the plate in front of her. “The interview was a formality, I guess. They interviewed a couple of other people, but knowing the collection was what won them over.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so proud of you.” Ashley looped an arm around Esther, her heart melting as Esther leaned into her touch.

“So, when do you start?” August asked.

“That’s still…umm, soon.” Esther’s shoulders stiffened under Ashley’s embrace, and she shifted back to her seat. “I have a couple of things to work out first. What about you? Are you and Ashley taking summer classes together?”

“Hell, no.” They both said in tandem.

Ashley tried to glare at the witch, but the corner of her mouth twitched into a smile. “I’m waiting until the fall semester to start classes.”

“And I wouldn’t be caught dead in the teaching program.” August waved his fork in Ashley’s direction, in case anyone there wasn’t sure who had chosen to pursue a teaching degree.

“As opposed to the millions of other programs you’ve burned through,” Ashley said. “What are you majoring in now?”

“Hey now.” Uther placed a hand on August’s thigh, shielding him from Ashley’s truthful comments. “This brunch is about celebrating accomplishments, not criticizing future paths.”

“I could use a walk.” Esther abruptly stood from the table. “Ashley, would you like to walk with me? Digest all this food we just finished?”

Alarm bells sounded in Ashley’s mind, but she nodded. “Of course.” She wrestled out of her chair and grabbed her purse. “August, I’ll Venmo you for the food.”

He gave her a two-fingered salute as she led Esther out of the restaurant, her hand at the small of Esther’s back while Esther waved goodbye to their two best friends.

Esther didn’t say anything as they made their way to the lakeside path. Spring was in full bloom, and a pocket of tulips waved at them as they crossed the last intersection. The lake had a wet, humid smell from the heat of the day, and another couple walked hand in hand in the opposite direction as they started down the path. Patches of green light poked through the leaves overhead, birds chittered, and every daytime detail filled Ashley’s heart to bursting. She was alive and she had Esther, and life was good.

Esther led them to a familiar log by a pebble beach, the waves making soft splashes against the rocks as the occasional boat sped by. “So, I’m just going to say it.”

Ashley brought her attention back into focus, taking her seat by Esther.

Esther took a deep breath and scrunched her beautiful face into the most ridiculous expression. “Would you be interested in taking a month or two this summer to travel with me?”

“Oh my god, yes!” Ashley braced herself. Was she for real? “Where, when, how? Also, did I mention, yes?”

Esther worked her bottom lip between her teeth, fighting a smile. “So, my mom’s been saying she can get me a roomon one of her cruises. I was thinking since you haven’t been able to travel internationally this past decade, maybe we could catch this transatlantic one that’s leaving in a couple weeks and backpack Europe before your classes in the fall. I had some ideas for places, and you’ll have to pack much lighter than you did for our beach trip. But what do you think?”

“Esther.” No longer able to keep her hands to herself, Ashley cradled Esther’s cheeks in her palms. “Did you just plan a multi-week, multi-location vacation for the two of us that involves meeting your mom?”

Esther pulled her lips in between her teeth and nodded between Ashley’s cupped hands.

“Have I told you lately how I’m ridiculously in love with you?” Ashley asked.

That earned her a laugh, teeth and all. “You’re not scared for your life?”

Ashley’s hands drifted down Esther’s neck, her thumbs playing along her delicate collarbone. “Esther, you gave me my life back. I’d brave the world if it meant doing it with you.”

She pushed a lock of hair back from Esther’s face, tucking it behind her ear and jostling the new hoop earrings she’d gifted Esther as a graduation present. Esther smiled and ducked her head, nuzzling under Ashley’s chin as Ashley wrapped an arm around her.

“It still feels like a fairytale.” Esther’s words were quiet over the lapping water. Ashley couldn’t see her face from this angle. “I keep thinking I’ll wake up and none of this will have happened.”

She tilted Esther’s chin up so she could see her face. “This is real, sweetheart. It’ll just take some getting used to.”

Ashley brushed her lips against Esther’s to the tune of a world awake and future plans on the horizon.