Page 78 of Let Them Fall

“In November? In New England?” Lily settled in next to Maya and wrapped an arm around her, grabbing her own sandwich with her free hand. “Can’t believe we blew it, we should at least get gifts or something.”

“You got a gift, you got nudes this morning,” Maya said.

“The gift that will keep on giving,” Lily smiled.

“And we def got something in return,” Hanna said, leaning over to kiss first Maya, then Lily, on the cheek.

“Mmm, we sure did,”Mayasaid as Hanna leaned back into her spot and grabbed the last sandwich. “Besides, I don’t think we need to do something big,” she continued around a small bite of bagel and egg. “Not after the year we’ve had—I’m actually so proud of us.” She took a moment to chew, and the pause seemed to spread through the room and settle around them.

They had gone from hooking up, to falling in love, to moving in together. Sure, cue the U-Hauling jokes, but it had taken them a whole year. There were still things to navigate with their parents, school, work, but Maya was starting to understand that was probably a constant of life.

Maya thought about howgoodthey all were, even if she was going to have to de-crumb their bed. How one night of stumbling into a steamy encounter had planted something between them, and Maya couldn’t wait to keep watching it grow.

They finished their food in the same old easy silence, then cleaned up before climbing right back into bed. As they settled in to pick a movie, Maya could almost recall something her mother had said at the start of her journey to this point—something about home, and about people. In the haze of a wine hangover and a greasy-food Band-Aid, she could only smile at the thought that she finally understood.

Like the noise of life, the day was grey outside the apartment, but their bed was a refuge. Maya knew she wasn’t alone as she snuggled between her two girls, sturdy and warm — there was no place she’d rather be than in the soft light of this room, their hands sliding into hers.