Updated Nov 23, 2025 • ~8 min read
The apartment felt different with Jeremy home all day.
Not bad different. Just… different.
First morning post-resignation, I woke to him already up, making elaborate breakfast.
“French toast, bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice,” he announced. “I have time now. Figured I’d use it.”
“It’s seven a.m.”
“I’m used to being up at five. Had to do something with the extra hours.”
I sat at the counter, watching him cook. “How are you? Really?”
“Terrified. Relieved. Slightly unmoored.” He plated food. “I called my mom last night. Told her I quit. She laughed for five minutes straight.”
“That bad?”
“She said it’s about time I stopped trying to prove I’m not my father and actually lived my life.” He sat beside me. “She also wants to meet you. Again. Properly this time, as my actual wife instead of my soon-to-be-ex-wife.”
“I’d like that.”
We ate in comfortable silence.
“What are you going to do?” I asked. “With all this free time?”
“I have some ideas. Consulting, angel investing, maybe start something smaller and more focused.” He sipped coffee. “But first, I thought I’d take a month. Just be. No plans, no pressure. Maybe we could travel?”
“I still have a job. Sort of. If Eric lifts the administrative leave.”
“Right. Forgot about that.” He grimaced. “Want me to call him? Smooth things over?”
“Absolutely not. I fight my own battles.”
“I know. It’s one of the things I love about you.” He kissed my temple. “But if you need backup, I’m here.”
At nine, I called Eric.
“Roselyn. How are you?”
“Better. Listen, about the leave—”
“You’re reinstated. Effective immediately.”
I blinked. “What? Just like that?”
“Henderson called this morning. Apparently they saw Jeremy’s resignation press conference. Said anyone who walks away from a company to prioritize family is someone they want to work with. They’re reinstating the contract, specifically requesting you lead the team.”
“Are you serious?”
“Completely. Get in here. We have work to do.”
I hung up, stunned.
“Good news?” Jeremy asked.
“I’m reinstated. Henderson wants me back. Because of you quitting.”
“See? Everything works out.”
“You sound awfully zen for someone who just lost their company.”
“I didn’t lose it. I chose differently.” He pulled me into his lap. “And it’s already paying off. You’re happy. I’m less stressed. We get to actually have breakfast together instead of me running out the door at six a.m.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Ask me in a month. Right now, I’m choosing to be okay.” He nuzzled my neck. “Besides, I have plans.”
“What kind of plans?”
“The kind where I seduce my wife properly. We’ve been taking things slow, being careful. But Rose, I’m done being careful. I want you. All of you. If you’re ready.”
Heat flooded through me. “It’s nine a.m.”
“So? I’m unemployed. You’re working from home today. We have time.” His hands slid under my shirt. “Unless you’re not interested?”
I was very interested.
“I need to shower first.”
“I’ll join you.” He stood, carrying me toward the bathroom. “Efficiency. Very important.”
We didn’t make it to the shower.
We made it to the bedroom, clothes discarded in a trail, five years of tension finally breaking.
“I’ve missed this,” he breathed against my skin. “Missed you.”
“Then show me.”
He did. Slowly, thoroughly, reminding me exactly why we’d been so good together.
After, we lay tangled in sheets, hearts still racing.
“That was—” I started.
“Long overdue,” he finished. “We’re doing that again. Frequently.”
“I have to work.”
“Later. Right now, we’re having a moment.” He pulled me against his chest. “I love you, Rose. So much it’s terrifying.”
“I love you too. Even when you’re infuriating.”
“Especially when I’m infuriating. That’s my charm.”
My phone rang. Julie.
“I should get that.”
“Should you though?”
I answered. “Hi.”
“Did you just have sex? You sound like you just had sex.”
“Julie!”
“Oh my god, you did! Finally!” She laughed. “About time. I was starting to think you two were cursed.”
“We’re not cursed. Just complicated.”
“Same thing. Anyway, I’m calling because I saw Jeremy’s press conference. He really quit?”
“Really quit.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
I looked at Jeremy, who was watching me with soft eyes.
“Yeah. I am.”
“Good. Because you both deserve to be happy. Even if you’re insane.”
After work—actual work, designing at the kitchen table while Jeremy read beside me—we went for a walk.
Chicago in autumn was beautiful. Leaves changing, air crisp, everything feeling new.
“I want to renew our vows,” Jeremy said suddenly.
“What?”
“We’re technically still married. But it feels like we should mark this. The fresh start. Do it right this time.”
“Renew our vows,” I repeated.
“Unless you think it’s cheesy.”
“It’s very cheesy.”
“But?”
“But I kind of love it.” I stopped walking. “When?”
“Whenever you want. Small ceremony, just us and close friends. Nothing fancy. Just real.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” His smile was brilliant. “Really?”
“Really. Let’s renew our vows. Choose each other publicly, honestly, with full knowledge of what we’re getting into.”
He kissed me right there on the sidewalk, ignoring pedestrians and traffic.
“I’m going to make you so happy,” he promised.
“You already are.”
That night, we invited Julie over for dinner. Jeremy cooked, I set the table, and we pretended to be normal.
“This is weird,” Julie said, sipping wine. “You two being domestic and functional.”
“Is it working?” I asked.
“Annoyingly well. I came prepared to talk you out of this. But you actually seem happy.”
“We are,” Jeremy said. “Shockingly so.”
“What are you going to do now? Besides cook elaborate dinners and have lots of sex?”
I choked on my wine.
Jeremy laughed. “I’m exploring options. Consulting, investing, maybe teaching business classes. And Rose and I are planning a vow renewal.”
“Of course you are. Because you two can’t do anything halfway.”
“What’s the point of halfway?” Jeremy’s hand found mine. “We tried that. It didn’t work. So we’re going all in.”
After Julie left, we cleaned up together.
“She’s warming to me,” Jeremy observed.
“She’s tolerating you. Big difference.”
“I’ll take it.” He pulled me against him, swaying to imaginary music. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me another chance. For showing up when I needed you. For choosing this even when it’s terrifying.”
“Thank you for being worth it.” I rested my head on his chest. “For changing, growing, becoming someone I can actually build a life with.”
“We’re going to make it this time.”
“Yeah. I think we are.”
We swayed in our kitchen, no music, just us, choosing each other.
My phone buzzed. Charlie.
I stiffened.
“You can answer it,” Jeremy said. “I’m not worried.”
I put it on speaker. “Hello?”
“Rose. Hi. I saw the news. About Jeremy quitting, everything.” He paused. “I wanted to check on you. Make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. Good, actually.”
“Good. That’s good.” Another pause. “I’m seeing someone. Wanted you to know. Didn’t want you to hear through the grapevine.”
“Charlie, that’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah. She’s nice. Uncomplicated. Everything you and I were supposed to be.”
“I’m sorry. For how everything ended.”
“Don’t be. You were right to choose him. It’s obvious you two are meant for each other. Chaotic and dramatic, but meant to be.” He exhaled. “Be happy, Rose. You deserve it.”
“You too, Charlie. Really.”
He hung up.
I set down the phone, processed.
“You okay?” Jeremy asked.
“Yeah. That was closure. Actual closure.”
“Good. Because I’d like to be your only romantic entanglement, if possible.”
“Greedy.”
“When it comes to you? Absolutely.”
We went to bed early, wrapped around each other, planning our future.
“What should we do for the vow renewal?” he asked.
“Something small. Intimate. Just the people who matter.”
“Beach or city?”
“City. Chicago’s our place. Where we started. Makes sense to recommit here.”
“Fall or winter?”
“Fall. Next month. Before it gets too cold.”
“Next month,” he repeated. “That’s fast.”
“We’ve waited five years. I’m done waiting.”
He kissed me. “Next month it is. I’ll make it perfect.”
“It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just real.”
“Real I can do.” His hand traced patterns on my skin. “I love you, Rose. Every messy, complicated, beautiful part of you.”
“I love you too. Even the parts that drive me crazy.”
“Especially those parts. That’s the good stuff.”
I fell asleep smiling, heart full, future bright.
Whatever came next, we’d face it together.
No company to hide behind. No excuses. Just us, choosing each other, every day.
Terrifying. Perfect. Right.
Finally, finally right.
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