If It Makes You Happy

by Julie Olivia

“We are not going to slow dance to Pearl Jam.” “Oh, yes, we are.”

“Ah, screw it.” Cliff sinks his hand into my hair, cups my head, and collides his lips with mine.

“Yeah. You’re the divorced dad who owns a bakery. That’s your thing.”

“God, I love you,” he says, shaking his head. “I love that you roll your eyes when I make stupid jokes. I love that you argue with your dog when you think nobody’s watching. I love that you have coffee at night and that you don’t dress up for Halloween. And I love how great you are with my girls. I told myself I would never ask someone to stay with me again. But I love you. And that’s gotta mean something, right?” His eyes dart between mine, and he echoes on another breath, “That’s gotta mean something.”