“Yeah.” I lifted our hands and kissed the back of his, then pecked him on the lips. “Thank you for coming.”
“There was no world where I wouldn’t have,” he answered seriously.
We both knew the only thing that would come before me would be his kids and I understood that. Maybe Caitlyn, because she was the mother of those little ones and his best friend. But barring simultaneous disasters?
I was finally starting to feel the security of having someone in my corner, truly in my corner for me, for the first time in my life and not just because they were the loving, genuinely wonderful part of my family tree.
“Let’s go home?”
“Do you think you can drive?”
I pulled my hand from his, then held both of mine level. “Not shaky anymore, so I think I can. I’d rather not leave my car here.”
“Okay, baby. Let’s go.” He kissed me gently, then waited for me to slide off his lap.
My knees didn’t feel wobbly anymore, but I still reached for his hand.
“Tell the doc I’m fine!” I called to the receptionist who had been pointedly not paying attention to us. “Bye!”
She smiled. “See you next time.”
I drove home to my cabin with Law’s SUV a constant shadow that comforted me somehow. As I parked my car down at the Inn’s lot, he pulled in behind me and waited for me to get out.
I suddenly felt a bit awkward for some reason, like I didn’t know what the next step was. But then he opened his window and smiled.
“Come on.”
I locked my car and went around his, getting to the passenger’s seat.
“We have about three hours until I need to get the kids,” he explained as he started to drive toward the Yellow House. “Idon’t want you to be alone, and Teague will take care of what we needed to finish at the cabin today, so I’m all yours for the afternoon.”
He glanced at me and must’ve seen where my brain immediately went, because he laughed and reached over to squeeze my thigh.
We smiled the rest of the way to his house, then went inside together. It felt natural, going there with him, and I wondered when that had happened. I felt wiped out and weary, but also… hopeful?
After we got rid of our jackets and shoes, he led me into the kitchen and sat me down at the island. Then he proceeded to make us really awesome sandwiches while I admired his corded forearms. Rolled up sleeves were really a weakness of mine, I swear.
His hair had a bit more length on it now, and it had started to curl a bit. I was smiling at the errant curl that tried to make him look like Superman when he realized I was watching him.
He smiled. “What?”
“Nothing.” Grinning, I accepted the plate and a tall glass of water he put in front of me.
He sat kitty corner from me and we ate in silence. By the time I was mostly done, a huge yawn almost made me dislocate my jaw.
“Aw, crap,” I groused.
“How about we take a shower and then I’ll take you to bed for a nap?” Law suggested before finishing his sandwich.
“Yeah? I’d really like that.” Suddenly I wanted nothing more.
“Then eat up and drink the rest of the water. You’re probably dehydrated.”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t. Instead, I did as I was told and tried my best not to sway on my feet when I stood up.
“Go through to my bedroom in the back and get in the shower, I’ll be right with you,” he instructed.
I decided I was too tired to be bratty, so I was a good boy instead. Maybe I’d get a reward. My brain chose to remind me what had happened the last time I’d brought that up in this house. Frowning, I walked past the living room and into Law’s bedroom.
