Page 136 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls

Celene shifted to prop her hand under her head, her gaze intense within seconds. “I dismissed Mavis via email. At Don’s house, right after the talk with my dad.”

Skye had gathered as much. That didn’t stop hot tears from forming behind her eyes. “You’re keeping the Vale house.”

“I’m keeping thehouse,” Celene stressed the omitted word with a curled lip upward. “I’m proud of my job, my business. It’s mostly remote, but I still consult in-person throughout the tri-state area. And I’d like to spend more time with Shanice, Theo...” She paused for a siren blaring blocks away. “I love when you’re in the city with me, too.”

Not quite in her body, Skye assured her, “I forgot how much I missed it here.”

“Skye, I’ll wait for my lease renewal to thoroughly consider my decisions on whether the house is my forever home.” Quickly, she squeezed their fingers together to deter the disappointment that must’ve lived plain on Skye’s face. “Because,” she drew out, “I want to offer it to you.”

“Offer what?” Skye copied Celene, squeezing back. “Your house? The summer house?”

“You love Yielding; youareYielding. It should belong to someone who treasures it.”

“That someone is you.”

The uncertainty dulling Celene’s eyes made Skye withdraw her hand. Not out of anger, but to move herself closer, intent on every line, every fleck, every angle of Celene’s face in sharp definition. “It should stay in your family.”

So Celene watched Skye—reading her sincerity, with any luck. Voice wavering, she said, “I see you as my family. Or at least, soon.”

Soon.

They’d be family.

This was bigger than a key. It was a deed. Ownership. A shared space to build on and enhance, and take on its burdens.

A love nest realized, apart from the fantasy.

Skye exhaled with a shudder. “You—you put so much intention into that place.”

“I don’t want it to go to waste for the weeks I’m away. I’m not interested in renting.”

“Then, how about this,” Skye replied, her convictions strong enough to make her hands shake. A house. Celene offered her a whole house. “I’ll agree to move in.”

Celene blinked harshly. Obviously caught askew. “You’ll take this seriously. That means splitting housing expenses, bringingin furniture, updating the smaller bathrooms, converting one of the rooms into your studio—even the silly blue one, if you want. God, what I’d give to have a partner to tackle these tasks with me.”

Intriguing and also frighteningly vulnerable. If only Celene’s family could see her now, letting go once she felt secure. Skye tested her earnestness, playfully asking, “Knocking down some walls?”

“Yes, as long as it isn’t ugly. You have a good eye; don’t make anything ugly.”

Skye changed course so this wouldn’t tangent into renovation discourse. “I see a future with you. If that means alternating trips to each other until something sticks, I’m down. I’m good at waiting.”

Celene’s gaze softened at the waiting bit. “The house should be under both our names.”

“And it will be, one day. I just don’t believe in ousting it from your family. A Vale should stay at the Vale house.”

“I’ll make you a Vale,” Celene said in a slow exhale.

Letting that comment breathe, she kissed Skye, merging them into heavy minutes of sighs, warm glides of lips closing and parting, the occasional gasp. This sealed their contract, an exchange as official as the document for the Forever Fuchsia.

“Mm, wait.” Celene frowned at the pale ceiling, pensive and blazing alike. “You come from a notable family. Should I take Florentine?”

Skye tingled all over.

Who could’ve known that locking herself outside would yield this?

Celene fell to her back with a bounce of new energy, assessing last name choices. “Skye Vale—jesus, no, that sounds like an airline point system. Should we double-barrel it?Celene Florentine-Vale. Vale-Florentine? There’s no way we’re dropping your last name; that’s for fucking sure.”

Skye rested her cheek on a pillow smelling of ginger, more at peace listening to Celene rationalize the benefits of each name combination and any potential pronunciation issues than she’d be with hot tea.