Let the Nerf gun wars commence.
“Mommy, we have to find him!”
“Find him? I think you better run…” I hear her release a dart, and Rune screams as his footsteps come closer to my own hiding spot. My merciless pretty bird, going after her own son. I pop up from behind the couch and fire at Leo, hitting her in the leg, and she goes down laughing.
“Medic! I need a medic!” she cries, and Rune runs over.
“I’ve got you, soldier. Just hold on. Don’t go toward the light!” Suddenly he is helping the woman who was just an enemy.
I allow him time to wrap a towel around Leo’s leg and then compose himself.
“Okay, Mommy, you ready?”
“Ready,” Leo says. I can hear the smile and determination in her voice.
Mission accomplished. Mommy and Rune are a team again.
After a few missed shots from both of us, I stand, pretending like I don’t see him crouched under the kitchen table, and I let him fire his shot, hitting me right in the chest.
I go down with a wail, grasping at my chest.
“I got you, Daddy! Mommy! Mommy, I got Daddy!”
Fuck. He called me daddy. I’m playing a Nerf gun battle with my son, and Leo is laughing, coming out of her hiding spot. Is this real life? Am I dreaming? If so, never wake me. Please let me live here forever.
“Good job, little bird.” She gives Rune a high-five and then kneels next to me.
“Do you need resuscitation, soldier?”
“Oh yes. Mouth-to-mouth should work.”
She leans over me and kisses me.
I smile against her lips and whisper, “Operation Seize Hummingbird accomplished.”
“I want to do this every night!” Rune jumps onto me.
Good fucking thing I have fast reflexes, or my baby maker would have been seriously damaged, and I still need that.
“Me too, buddy.” I look at Leo. Cradling her cheek in my hand, I run my thumb over her bottom lip. “Move in with me so I can have you both every night for the rest of my life.”
“Ihate moving. Did you know that about me, LJ? I fucking hate it. My body was not meant for manual labor. So just look at this as a testament to how much I love you.”
We have been loading boxes for a whole fifteen minutes. Cole has moved one box of Rune’s stuffed animals and one box of pillows.
“You know, I think the boys can move the boxes. I really could use your help directing them where to put them in the truck and then at Ev’s apartment.” I smile at her, giving her an out, because if I don’t, I won't hear the end of her complaining.
“Yes! Now you’re talking! Bossing around hot, sweaty men. I fucking love you. Thank you.”
She drops the box, not even finishing taking it to the truck, which is ten feet in front of her, and gives me a smooch to my cheek.
“Everett, this one here goes on top!” She marches off and begins pointing her fingers, asking Ev to re-arrange the boxes he already stacked, and like the gentleman he is, he obliges.
Two weeks is all it took for Ev to convince me to move in with him. Two weeks, even though I knew I was going to say yes the momenthe asked. I had fun making him think I was actually having to think about it. Now, as the first week of April rolls in, we are finally moving in and starting a new journey.
I texted Gage to help us, and with some bribery and maybe a small fib about Cole not coming to help, I was able to drag him here. I need him and Ev to make peace because I need both of them. Point. Blank. Period.
Ev is the love of my life, but Gage is my best friend, even before Cole. And one thing Cole can never do, thank fuck, is that she can never understand the trauma that Gage and I share. His darkness speaks to my own.
