Page 41

“Yep. And now your girlfriend owes me fifty bucks,” he said smugly before walking off towards Maggie.

“Your girlfriend?” Irene said, looking between Katie and Maggie.

“Ah, yeah. I was planning to tell you tonight. Not like this. Sorry.”

She thought it over for a moment, continuing to look between them both. “I should have known. I guess I really haven’t been paying attention.”

Katie hated the pain and regret in her tone. She wanted to make it better. She wondered whether that was too close to what she’d always been doing with her mom, but hey, baby steps.

She patted her mom’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I didn’t realize it until the beginning of this month either. And Ireallyshould have been paying attention. Maybe it runs in the family.”

She smiled gratefully at Katie. “She’s a lovely woman, and I’m truly happy for you both.”

“Thanks, Mom. It means a lot.”

She cleared her throat. “Any chance she’s got any interest in living outside of the city?”

Katie narrowed her eyes, “Mom…”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Just kidding.”

Katie hummed as she began tipping hot cocoa into mugs. She was pretty sure it was mostly a joke. For the rest of it, she’d just have to keep toeing the line that she and Maggie were both happy where they were.

She handed out the mugs and snuggled into Maggie’s side feeling more relaxed than she had all month. Everything with Maggie was wonderful, but seeing a path forward with her family was such a weight off her shoulders.

“Having fun?” Maggie whispered, just for Katie as they watched the snow picking up.

“Yeah. This was a good idea.” She pressed a kiss to Maggie’s temple, breathing in the scent of shampoo on her soft, blonde hair. “Although, my mom did just ask if you have any interest in moving to the suburbs.”

Maggie pulled back to stare at Katie. “She did not.”

Katie laughed. “It was mostly a joke.”

“Hm. Well, at any rate, I do not. Snow, the city, and my love. How could I ever give any of this up?”

Katie stared down at her, knowing deep in every part of her that this was it. This was the love everyone talked about. This was the feeling when you really didjust know. Sure, she’d taken a while to figure it out—falling in love with your best friend was complicated, after all—but, now that she did, she was never letting it go.

She kissed Maggie quickly. “I have no idea.”