Choosing Each Other

The smell of cinnamon drifted through Kingston Bookstore.

Lois stood behind the register staring at a bouquet of flowers.

Again.

Because apparently they weren't going away.

Every Monday.

For six weeks.

Flowers.

Different colors.

Different arrangements.

Always accompanied by the same note.

Have a good day.

No signature.

No explanation.

No need.

Everyone knew.

Especially Mrs. Kingston.

Who had become completely unbearable about it.

"Your boyfriend is ridiculous."

Lois looked up.

"Technically he's still courting me."

Mrs. Kingston laughed.

"A billionaire courting someone with weekly flowers."

"He says consistency is important."

"He owns helicopters."

Lois couldn't argue with that.

A smile tugged at her lips anyway.

Because Walter had been trying.

Really trying.

Not with grand gestures.

Not with expensive gifts.

With effort.

The kind that mattered.

The kind nobody else saw.

The kind she noticed every single time.

The bookstore bell chimed.

Lois looked up automatically.

Walter stepped inside.

Right on schedule.

Every Thursday.

Five thirty.

Never early.

Never late.

The man ran a global company.

Yet somehow arrived at the bookstore with the reliability of a train timetable.

Mrs. Kingston immediately disappeared.

A survival instinct.

Lois suspected she enjoyed leaving them alone.

Far too much.

Walter approached the counter.

A familiar book rested in his hand.

Lois smiled.

"Another recommendation?"

Walter placed the novel down.

"I hated it."

"You finished it?"

"Unfortunately."

"You cried, didn't you?"

Walter looked offended.

Which was answer enough.

Lois laughed.

The sound immediately softened his expression.

The transformation still amazed her.

A year ago Walter smiled like someone paying taxes.

Now it happened naturally.

Especially around her.

"You are impossible."

Lois leaned forward.

"You like me."

The answer came without hesitation.

"Very much."

The warmth in his voice caught her off guard.

Still.

Every time.

Walter noticed immediately.

His smile softened.

"Still not used to that?"

"No."

"Good."

Lois laughed again.

Walter looked entirely too pleased with himself.

-----

Three weeks later

The city glowed beneath the evening sky.

Walter stood in Lois's apartment holding a bookshelf.

Or at least attempting to.

The bookshelf strongly disagreed.

Lois watched from the couch.

Eating popcorn.

Offering absolutely no assistance.

"You could help."

"I could."

Walter narrowed his eyes.

She smiled sweetly.

The smile fooled nobody.

Especially not Walter.

The bookshelf finally surrendered.

A hard-earned victory.

Walter stepped back.

Proud.

Lois applauded.

Slowly.

Mockingly.

"I built that."

"You assembled a piece of furniture."

"There were instructions."

"You're very brave."

Walter pointed toward the door.

"I can leave."

"No, you can't."

The answer came too quickly.

Too honestly.

The room grew quiet.

Not awkward.

Something softer.

Walter looked around the apartment.

The tiny kitchen.

The overflowing bookshelves.

The reading chair beside the window.

The life she'd built.

Then he looked at her.

A thought had been living inside his head for weeks.

Maybe months.

Walter wasn't known for patience.

Yet somehow this mattered enough to wait.

Lois noticed the shift immediately.

"What?"

Walter sat beside her.

Close.

Not touching.

Close enough.

The city lights shimmered beyond the window.

The apartment suddenly felt smaller.

Warmer.

More important.

Walter rubbed the back of his neck.

An unusual sign of nervousness.

Lois immediately became suspicious.

"You look worried."

"I'm thinking."

"That explains it."

Walter sighed.

Lois smiled.

The smile faded when he didn't.

"Oh."

Now she was nervous too.

Walter looked at the floor.

Then at her.

Then away again.

A remarkably poor performance for a man who negotiated billion-dollar deals.

"You're laughing."

"A little."

"This is difficult."

The confession surprised her.

Walter rarely admitted difficulty.

Especially emotional difficulty.

Lois sat up straighter.

Immediately serious.

"What is?"

Walter took a breath.

Then another.

Then finally said it.

"I hate leaving."

The words settled quietly between them.

Lois blinked.

"What?"

Walter looked around the apartment.

Then back at her.

"When dinner ends."

A pause.

"When movie night ends."

Another.

"When I have to go home."

Lois felt her heart squeeze.

Because suddenly she understood.

Walter continued.

More quietly now.

"I spend half my week finding reasons to come back."

The honesty nearly stole her breath.

Walter laughed softly.

Embarrassed.

"I know how that sounds."

"No."

Lois shook her head.

"You really don't."

Because it sounded like love.

The deep kind.

The everyday kind.

The kind built slowly.

The kind that stays.

Walter's gaze met hers.

Steady.

Honest.

Hopeful.

"I was wondering..."

He stopped.

Started again.

"I was wondering if maybe..."

The billionaire was struggling.

Spectacularly.

Lois was absolutely going to remember this forever.

Walter noticed.

"You are enjoying this."

"A little."

His eyes narrowed.

Then softened.

Because he couldn't help it around her.

Finally he reached for her hand.

Warm.

Familiar.

Home.

"What would you think about living together?"

Silence.

Complete.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

Lois stared.

Walter immediately looked concerned.

A terrible sign.

"That sounded fast."

"It did."

"I had a better version planned."

Lois laughed.

The tension cracked instantly.

Walter relaxed.

Slightly.

Only slightly.

Then Lois looked around her apartment.

The books.

The memories.

The life she'd built.

And she imagined Walter here.

Morning coffee.

Movie nights.

Arguments with furniture.

Books scattered everywhere.

His suit jackets hanging beside her sweaters.

A future.

Not dramatic.

Not perfect.

Real.

The thought felt surprisingly right.

Lois looked back at him.

The man who once feared love.

The man who once pushed her away.

The man who fought his way back.

The man she loved.

A smile appeared.

Slow.

Warm.

Certain.

"I think..."

Walter held his breath.

Lois enjoyed that more than she should.

Then she squeezed his hand.

"I think I'd like that."

Relief flooded his face.

Immediate.

Unfiltered.

Beautiful.

Walter laughed.

Actually laughed.

The sound filled the apartment.

And suddenly Lois realized something.

Neither of them was choosing an apartment.

They were choosing a life.

Together.

Outside, the city sparkled beneath the night sky.

Inside, Walter leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Gentle.

Tender.

Certain.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Just love.

And for the first time, the future didn't feel frightening.

It felt like home.