You walked into my life like you had always lived there, like my heart was a home built just for you. -a.r.asher
Saying goodbye to your soulmate is never easy; Steve Rogers watched his drive away. She was headed towards the school of her dreams and...
"It wasn't a move. I'm just meaner than you." —John Dutton
I apologize for the delay in updating, I've been preoccupied with other projects.
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The soft strains of a nineties country song drifted from the radio, the only station that came in clearly besides a gospel station. Lily hummed along to Deana Carter's "Danced Anyway," the familiar tune lifting her spirits. She glanced at the clock on the stove, and cursed softly under her breath as she hefted another box onto the table, determined to finish unpacking the kitchen today. Just two more boxes to go, and she'd have the room sorted.
A knock at the front door interrupted her focus. Lily sighed, brushing her hair out of her face with the back of her hand. "Colton! Go see who's at the door!" she called from the kitchen.
The sound of Colton's feet slapping against the hardwood echoed through the house as he sprinted to the front. Moments later, she heard her son's excited voice. "Oh hey, Dad! It's Dad!" The screen door squeaked open, then shut with a thud, followed by the sound of boots on the wooden floor fading toward the bedrooms.
"Hey, come look at my room! It's not as big as my room at your house, but Mom got me a new bed!" Colton exclaimed proudly.
Lily winced a little, thinking about how they'd downsized when they moved into the new house. It wasn't much, but it was theirs. She glanced at the clock again, feeling the pressure of the time ticking away. Her interview at Buckskin High School was in an hour. She'd applied for a history teacher position, hoping the transition from middle school to high school wouldn't be too much of a leap.
The song continued playing softly in the background as Lily swayed her hips, folding towels and humming along. She sang the lyrics under her breath, "You remember we were laughing, so in love. And the band played songs that we had never heard, but we danced anyway..."
Steve paused at the kitchen doorway, watching her with a nostalgic smile. Memories of helping her move into her first apartment flooded back—how they'd spent more time dancing barefoot in the kitchen and kissing than actually unpacking. He couldn't help but remember lifting her onto the counter, her laughter filling the air as he kissed her breathless.
The sound of his boots must have caught her attention, because Lily turned, catching his gaze before quickly looking away, refusing to let her thoughts linger on the past. She wasn't going to let herself go down that road again.
"Place is nice," Steve said, his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. "Colton seems to be settling in just fine."
Lily hummed, her eyes flicking to the clock once more.
"What time's your interview?" he asked, watching her stretch on her tiptoes to reach a shelf, her green tee riding up just enough to reveal a hint of skin. She wore dark jean shorts that hugged her curves, and Steve couldn't help but admire her, the familiar ache of what could have been tightening in his chest. He wondered, if things were different, would this be their home? Would he be unpacking boxes, teaching Colton how to ride, and sharing a life with her? The thought lingered as he imagined slipping up behind her, feeling her soft warmth pressed against him, and kissing her just like old times.
