3 Months Later

3 months later…

"Why are you awake right now?" AJ groaned, turning around in bed where Punk was sitting wide awake beside her, looking at his phone.

"Do you know what Pinterest is?" Punk asked her.

"What?" AJ shook her head.

"Pinterest. I fear I've stumbled down a rabbit hole. And I can't put my phone down." Punk shook his head as AJ chuckled.

"What are you looking at on Pinterest?" AJ questioned curiously.

"Everything. That's the amazing part about it." Punk said with fascination, "Look at this." He turned his phone to her as she screwed her eyes up at the sudden brightness.

"Mummy dogs." AJ shook her head, "Am I dreaming right now?" She shook her head.

"It's hot dogs with pastry wrapped around them. So they look like mummies." Punk said enthusiastically, turning his phone back around to him, "There's so many cool fall and Halloween ideas. I'm thinking for the Fair coming up."

"My personality really has rubbed off on you, hasn't it?" AJ frowned, "Poor baby." She played with the hair behind his ear.

"And I've been looking at DIY stuff." Punk cared to let her know.

"Such a man." AJ grinned.

"I think I could probably build you a house." Punk nodded to himself as AJ chuckled.

"Just you and your hands?" AJ smiled.

"I could face anything in life with Pinterest." Punk nodded, "And I told you, I'm gonna build us a house here."

"Or we could just buy a house. You don't need to build anything." AJ smiled, although the thought made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"There's barely anywhere to buy here." Punk shook his head.

"So, you're just gonna build one instead?" AJ asked him.

"Might take me a few years but… if I put my mind to it." Punk nodded with determination as she smiled.

"You let me know when it's ready and I'll be right there." AJ nodded, tapping his chest playfully as he smiled.

Three months had passed, and Summer had turned into a brisk fall, both of their favourite time of year. Leaves were rusty and falling from the trees. Hats and scarfs were hanging up by the door. Fall and Halloween decorations were prominent in both of their coffee shops as well as different menus to cater for the colder weather. And… their relationship was blooming, with talks of their future happening regularly without them even realising it.

"Pumpkin Pie Latte." Punk said, turning his phone around to her to show her.

"Is that just the same as Pumpkin Spice Latte?" AJ raised a brow.

"I don't know. But I like the sound of it." He said.

"It's 3.20." AJ noticed on the clock by her bed, "You should get some sleep. We're up in a few hours."

"I know." Punk sighed, running his hand over his face, "I was getting carried away with myself." He shook his head as she chuckled, watching him sit his phone over on the bedside table beside him.

They'd been living together for over three months and there was never a dull moment. Perhaps some petty and childish disagreements, but mostly it was just love and happiness. Getting to go home with one another and wake up to each other was something they both agreed was essential to them now.

"What are you two doing?" Punk shook his head, making his way into the back of his coffee shop where Daryl and Finn were standing in the kitchen with a newspaper spread on the counter.

"Guess what?" Finn smiled.

"We're in the paper." Daryl blurted out as Finn turned to him unhappily.

"He was supposed to guess." Finn shook his head.

"We're in the paper?" Punk shook his head with confusion, walking over to them and looking on at the newspaper.

"This article by Roast Magazine has named us in the top 20 coffee shops in the US." Finn explained, "Someone must have been in the shop undercover."

"Let me see." Punk said, not believing it as he looked on at the list and somehow spotted the name of his shop, "Is April's on it?"

"Yeah, look." Daryl pointed to where The Brewberry Café was listed just a few lines above them, "I checked our company email, and someone wants to come from the company to take our picture." He said.

"I think they probably just want Phil's picture." Finn corrected.

"I want in on it." Daryl scoffed.

"This is kinda cool." Punk said, not realising how much it actually meant to him to see the shop recognised in such a way, especially after only being opened for eight months.

"It's wicked." Finn nodded, "Pretty sure AJ has been on the list before but… this is huge for this place. Whoever came here to review it obviously liked what they saw."

"Imagine your job being an undercover coffee shop reviewer." Daryl scoffed, "Ridiculous."

"This is a pretty big deal if it's out of the entire country." Punk said, "We should frame this."

"Too far." Daryl shook his head, "But we should celebrate."

"I gotta message this to Ape." Punk shook his head, not being able to help the desperate need he had to share this news with the person he loved most. He whipped out his phone and snapped a picture of the article.

"You're cute." Daryl nodded, patting his back.

"We should celebrate." Punk said after sending the message to AJ, turning his attention back to the boys, "Open-mic night, anyone?" He asked them as they nodded.

Since their first open-mic night, they'd had a few more which seemed to get more and more successful.

"Special edition open-mic night." Daryl nodded, "Halloween open-mic night? We could do candy apples and hot cider."

"And mummy dogs." Punk said enthusiastically as they both looked at him with confusion.

"What?" Finn shook his head.

"Hot dogs wrapped in pastry. So, they look like mummies." Punk explained, "I saw it on Pinterest. It is the app of all ideas imaginable."

"Ok." Daryl shook his head, "But wait… doesn't the town hall do a Halloween party every year?" He remembered.

"We could do it the day before Halloween." Finn shrugged, "Get the festivities going."

"Sounds like a plan, boys." Punk nodded.

"Oh, look. Phil's shop got listed by Roast Magazine in the paper." AJ said, showing Lyla and Becca who gathered around either side of her to look on at the message Punk had sent her.

"That's super impressive, actually." Lyla said with raised brows, "We didn't get recognised until two years after we opened."

"His place is good." Becca admitted, "Good for him. I bet it's a good feeling."

"Yeah, him and the boys must be so happy." AJ smiled, feeling so genuinely proud and thrilled for her boyfriend.

"Shiv has put it on the group chat. She saw it online." Lyla chuckled, picking up her phone where Shiv had messaged their group chat with a screenshot of the same article from the newspaper.

"I miss her." Becca frowned.

They hadn't saw Shiv in four weeks. In fact, since she had gone off to college, they'd only seen her three or four times which they had all been finding difficult. They always thought of her as their little ray of sunshine, and they could really feel her absence in the shop. But she had told them she was having a great time and meeting lots of great people, which was of course all they wanted for her.

"Does that mean the Roast guys will be coming round for our picture again like last time?" Lyla rolled her eyes.

"Probably." AJ chuckled, "And I have good news of my own." She told them as they both turned to her.

"Oh no." Becca looked at AJ's stomach with a frown.

"I'm not pregnant." AJ scoffed, "And if I was… that's a great response." She rolled her eyes as Becca shrugged, "Aunt Nico is coming at the beginning of December and she's staying right until Christmas." She smiled excitedly.

She'd skyped with her aunt last night, who Punk had been virtually introduced to the past few times now, even though he struggled to have a full conversation with her most times due to her mostly speaking Spanish.

"Oh, thank God." Lyla said, "I've missed that woman."

"Where is she going to stay?" Becca asked, "You and Phil don't have a spare room."

"She can stay with me." Lyla insisted, "I'd love nothing more."

"She said she would just get a b&b or a motel but… if you don't mind." AJ turned to Lyla.

"No, of course I don't mind. She's the best lady ever." Lyla shook her head as AJ smiled.

Ever since Lyla had gone to New Jersey a couple of months back to end her situation with Lewis, AJ had really noticed a positive difference in her. Like she'd finally realised she didn't have to live for a man who she only saw three times a year. She'd even gone on a date or two and it was clear that she had enjoyed them.

"Did Shiv say she was coming back for the Fall Fair?" Becca asked, pouring some coffee beans into the filter above the machine whilst Lyla was busy putting fresh croissants onto the counter before they opened.

"Yeah, she'll be back for the Fair but not for the Halloween party." AJ said, "Apparently she's got lots of Halloween parties at college."

"She's living her best life." Lyla smiled.

"Oh, I'm so happy for Phil." AJ smiled, looking back down at the photo he'd sent her of the newspaper. His success truly felt like her success. She'd never have imagined that eight months ago when he first got here, and she was secretly hoping for his downfall. All she wanted was success for him, the way he wanted it for her. She supposed that was real love.

"I think Becca is practically living with Mister Eckles on his farm now." AJ said, making dinner with Punk later that night, a proper dinner of chicken, veg and rice. There was still emergency cups of noodles and mac and cheese in their cupboard, but they definitely made more of an effort with dinner.

"Why?" Punk laughed, taking the plates to the table whilst AJ got them some drinks.

"Because Patrick lives there." AJ said, "She was helping Mister Eckles feed the horses this morning before she came to work."

"Farm life calling to her, huh?" Punk smiled.

"Looks like it. I mean… she seems super happy. And Patrick is nice." AJ shrugged, "Things seemed to be working out well for them."

"Daryl will be grateful to her if she gives him Maple updates." Punk said.

"Maple and the kittens are doing fine." AJ smiled.

Thankfully, Mister Eckles had took in Maple and the kittens who were all thriving in their new home. It only bummed Daryl out because he no longer got visits from Maple at their shop looking for food.

"We're going to do an open-mic night before Halloween. To celebrate getting acknowledged in the top coffee shops thing." He waved his hand as AJ smiled.

"And you can make your mummy dogs." AJ thought.

"That's what I said to the boys." Punk nodded excitedly as AJ smiled.

"Well… here's to you, lovebug." AJ said, raising her can of soda as he raised his and knocked it off hers in a celebratory cheers.

"It does feel pretty cool." Punk nodded, "To know that people actually like the shop and it's getting some kind of recognition. Never thought I'd become so emotionally invested in it all, honestly."

"Well of course you'll be invested. You're putting so much time and effort into making something work. It's nice to be recognised for that hard work. Makes you feel like all the hard work is actually paying off." She said as Punk nodded.

"Yeah, it does." Punk agreed, "I kinda want to get the boys something. They're such a huge help and I don't want their help to go unnoticed."

"Like a gift?" AJ asked.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "They're good kids. I'm lucky to have them."

"I'm sure they'd appreciate that." AJ smiled, "The good news is, Shiv is going to be back next week for the Fall Fair. Extra pair of hands and I get to see my sweet little butterfly." AJ said happily as Punk smiled.

They were planning to team up their coffee shops again for the upcoming Fair, having already discussed with one another different ideas for the menu.

"I wonder how her and Daryl will be." Punk said.

"From what I can tell, she's been making out with a lot of college guys." AJ nodded.

"Really?" Punk said with disappointment.

"I mean… what would you expect? She's young. It's an exciting time. She has no commitment to Daryl." AJ said.

"Yeah, but still." Punk huffed like a child as AJ smiled.

Later on that night, AJ was showering whilst Punk was already in bed looking at his phone in just his boxer shorts, having taken a shower earlier whilst dinner was cooking.

"You on Pinterest again?" AJ smiled, coming out from the bathroom in her bathrobe with wet hair.

"Yeah, obviously." Punk shook his head as AJ smiled.

"Oh, I forgot to say. Lyla said my aunt can stay with her at her place when she comes for Christmas." AJ said, "That way she doesn't need to get a motel room."

"That's great. Lyla doesn't mind?" Punk asked, sitting his phone over onto the bedside table.

"No, she said she'd love for her to stay." AJ said.

"I'm kinda nervous about meeting her in person." Punk admitted, watching AJ apply some face cream and body lotion.

"Why?" AJ smiled.

"Well… she means so much to you. And you mean so much to her. It's like I'm meeting your mom, basically." He said.

"She'll love you. You have nothing to worry about." AJ shook her head as Punk watched her rubbing lotion up her legs.

"Your commitment to your skincare is next level." Punk nodded as she chuckled.

"Gotta keep moisturised, babe." AJ said.

"Mhm. It does have its benefits." Punk said as she smiled, slowly untying her bath robe as his eyes stayed glued to her.

"We should probably have a little celebration of our own." AJ said, letting her robe open up just a little to reveal her nakedness, "We should celebrate you being so clever and successful. And pretty." She nodded.

"If that's what you think we should do." Punk nodded along robotically, watching her bath robe fall to the floor, leaving her completely naked.

"Come here then." AJ waited as Punk got off the bed, making his way over to her, immediately pressing his lips against hers as she placed her hands on his waist, pulling him close.

She pulled away from his lips, grinning deviously before slowly sinking to her knees in front of him, taking a hold of the hem of his boxer shorts and pulling them down to free his length which was hardening with excitement.

She took him in her hand, spitting on him and beginning to stroke him up and down as he rolled his head back a little and moaned.

"Give me that mouth." He said roughly, burying his hand in her scalp as she smirked and swapped her hand for her mouth, beginning to suck him up and down, allowing him to set the pace by pushing her head back and forth.

She always got extra turned on whenever she felt how desperate his need was. The way he pushed her head down on him back and forth so desperately, a gesture she was more than happy to allow him to do.

"Fuck." Punk moaned, letting go of her head as she released him from her mouth to get some air, chuckling a little as she went back to stroking him with her hand.

"You like that?" She whispered in a moan, "You like fucking my mouth?" She smiled, looking up at him with big brown eyes. All he could do was nod, guiding her head back down on him as she opened her mouth and took him back in. It was certainly a mouthful, but she liked to think she did her best, particularly when she felt him touch the back of her throat several times.

She continued to suck him off as he kept his hand buried into her scalp, moaning at the feeling he was so used to yet felt better every single time.

She felt him pull himself from her mouth, pulling her up to her feet from her knees and lifting her up to lay her down on the bed, settling himself between her legs before thrusting himself inside of her desperately.

"Fuck." AJ moaned at the joyous feeling of being filled with him, his thrusts going deep and hard as she wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed the back of his hair.

"April." Punk moaned in her ear, leaning down and capturing one of her breasts in his mouth as she rolled her head to the side and arched her back, desperate to feel every inch of him against her, inside her, on her… everywhere.

"Keep going." AJ panted, running her hand through his hair as he continued thrusting into her whilst sucking her breasts. She intervened and pushed her hand down between them to rub at her clit for even more stimulation, feeling her orgasm building from his tongue on her nipples to his thrusts inside to her clit being rubbed by herself.

"You gonna come?" He asked, breathing heavily as he gripped her chin, watching her nod before kissing her on the mouth a little sloppily, feeling her go rigid against him and moan out through her orgasm.

He let himself go with her, feeling his own orgasm wash over him as he spilled himself inside of her, both of them in complete bliss from head to toe.

He collapsed on top of her as she giggled, circling her arms around his back whilst grazing her fingers up and down, feeling him still twitching inside of her.

"Better than Pinterest?" She whispered in his ear as he chuckled against the mattress.