“Then that means it’s time to drink,” Kash declared just as he popped the cork of a bottle of champagne.

The lot of us jumped and laughed. Laney provided plastic cups, and Jett popped a second. And around the bottle went until we all had a bubbling glass raised, ignoring the early hour in the spirit of celebration.

“To all that’s old and new,” I said, smiling down at my mother. “May we be immortalized by the deeds we do and the love we give.”

Hear, hear, we cheered before joining in silence as we drank deep from the well of beginnings and the familiarity of home.

Chatter rose as everyone began to talk among themselves, wandering around the shop to point and nudge and smile at every corner of the space. Dad scooped Mom into a hug, whispering something in her ear that made her smile-cry again. And I took the opportunity to put myself in Tess’s space.

She smiled at me over her champagne, taking a deliberately delicate sip as I approached.

We’d left the shop the night before in a trail of kisses, neither of us wanting to go. I couldn’t speak to her reasons, but as for me … I wasn’t sure if that was it. If she wanted me for anything more than last night.

A flash of fear shot through me, as it had a dozen times since last night, at the thought that it might have been the only time. That all she wanted from me was the use of my body, the blanket of my charm, the comfort of companionship for a moment, nothing more.

But Tess was different. The things she wanted. The way her body sang to mine. Tess didn’t fling. And I didn’t want to.

I wanted to build things for her and watch her face light up. I wanted to surprise her, wanted to give her the unexpected. I wanted to discover her, and I wanted to live in every little joy that discovery would bring. But I wanted more than just that.

I wanted to be the man she didn’t believe me to be.

Tess’s eyes were deep and dark, touched at the corners with mischief.

“Well, cheers to making her cry,” I said, extending my glass for a tap.

She obliged. “It’s all thanks to you.”

I made an argumentative noise and took a sip. “You’re the brains. I’m just the brawn.”

Tess made a derisive face, though it was soft with affection. “Please. You did more than me, and your ideas were even better than mine.”

I chuckled. “Mom’s right. We even argue when we’re getting along.”

Her face lit up when she laughed. “If we’re not insulting each other, we’re trying to out-compliment each other. It’s sick, really.”

“Disturbing,” I agreed, stepping closer without meaning to. “Also, for the record, I never insulted you.”

“That’s true,” she admitted, her eyes flashing down to the golden bubbles in her cup. “I’m sorry for that, Luke. I’ve been cruel.”