A pinball arcade I love in Murray Hill.
A bookstore in the Village.
The St. James Theater, where we see a production of Anything Goes with Emerson and Nolan.
I take him out to Gin Joint in Chelsea, and we order Moscow Mules and listen to the piano player croon old standards. And one by one, my found family joins us.
“I feel like I already know you thanks to Jo,” TJ jokes.
Heath laughs as they shake hands. “Same to you. And I love your books.”
“How’s your book coming along?”
“Brilliantly,” Heath says as he wraps an arm around me. “We’ve done a lot of research.”
We have, indeed. He’s compiling a book of photos—The Best Places in London to Kiss. Another one of his side hustles, and he’s so damn happy juggling all three—taking photos for tours, consulting on art, and crafting a new book of images.
I’m a very willing subject. I help him test all the places where he takes pictures. Research is so important.
And after London, we’ll tackle Paris, then Vienna, then Rome. We’ll kiss all over the world and share the best spots with others.
Easton and Bellamy are next to join us at the bar, then Emerson and Nolan, then at last, Jude comes in, and I tense, but hope it goes well with him here. I’m worried since I recently learned he has a history with TJ. Apparently, they met in London years ago when TJ worked there for a while. I watch TJ carefully in case he needs me, but he’s smooth even though the friction between TJ and Heath’s brother practically vibrates. Or, wait. Is that heat I see in their eyes instead? The way they look at each has me wondering what kind of secrets my friend has been keeping. Maybe something happened in London way back when? Or more recently? I’ll try to pry it out of him later, but for now, I turn to Emerson as she chats with Heath.
“Has Jo shown you my favorite food truck?” Emerson asks Heath.
“The one with the tacos and ramen noodles?” He asks.
“What more could anyone want than tacos and ramen?” Nolan quips.
“Can’t think of a thing,” Heath says, and when we sit back down on the sapphire-blue couch, he drapes an arm around me. “Except love.”
“Exactly,” I say.
And as I look around, I see so much of it right here. I see so many of my friends falling in love, staying in love…and, with TJ and Jude, perhaps longing for love.
I see others finding their homes with the people they love.
I found mine, and it’s across the sea, with this man right by my side.
EPILOGUE
A little later
Heath
The ivy is relentless, climbing higher and growing thicker along the walls of our church.
This place doesn’t have a name, so I’ve given it one.
Time to share it too. This is the last place to photograph for my book of kisses.
I snap several shots, taking them from many angles, and after a while, Jo joins me, walking up and brushing my cheek with a kiss. “Want one more?” she asks.
“For the book?”
“No, for our mantel. I got a new frame. It can go next to the shot of all of us at Gin Joint. We can have another one of you and me.”
We have many of those. But I’m always happy to add to the collection. Turning the camera around, I snap a shot of the two of us, then one of us kissing. When we break the kiss, I move quickly.
So quickly, she blinks in surprise to see me on one knee, camera on the ground.
“Jo Brennan, when I first came here all by myself, I imagined sharing this place with someone someday. Then, you walked into my life and instantly became that person,” I say as her eyes shine and her smile takes off for the heavens. “And that—your smile—is one of the things I love madly about you. You’re so bright, you’re like the sun. And I need you like I need sunlight. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my days and nights with you. Only you.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she says, falling to her knees.
She grabs my face and kisses me hard and beautifully before I can even get the ring out.
I let myself bask in the moment.
Not long ago, I figured you got what you got. I believed love didn’t come calling twice. I thought I’d have to be content alone for the rest of my days.