JP smelled so good — warm and rich and male.His body remembered that smell, responding to JP’s closeness.
“I…I am probably going to have to get up, JP…” His cheeks were hot as hell.
“Hmm?What’s wrong, Chou?”
“It’s been a long time, love.A really long time.”And his body was betraying him.
“What’s been a long time?”JP sat up a little, looking at him with a frown of confusion.
“Since I was close to you.A man.Any man, but mostly you…” His cheeks were going to set on fire.
“Oh…” JP squeezed his thigh.“I still do it for you?Even… broken?”
He leaned up on one elbow.“What?I fell in love with you — your soul, your spirit, your heart.”
“You make me feel good with your words.You always did.”
“I know it’s not much, but…I mean—”Have you been with anyone else?
“Not much?Don’t sell yourself short, Chou.There isn’t anyone else like you in the whole world.”JP’s gaze held his.
“I’m the one who waited for you…” Like a fool.
“You waited for me.For real, for real?Like.I can be home for real now?”JP asked, expression more vulnerable than he could ever remember seeing it.
“Of course I did.We’remarried.”He’d made promises.
“I know.I never forgot that.Not once.”
“Me either.”He swallowed hard.“Not once.”He searched JP’s eyes.“You mean it?No one?”
JP shook his head.“I said there wasn’t anyone like you in the world, and I meant it.”
“Oh.”He didn’t know what to do, what to say, so he stayed right there.
JP did the same, the two of them staring into each other’s eyes, the laugh track sounding in the background.He would swear that time stood still.
“I don’t know what to do.I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you either, Chou.I already hurt you too much.”JP touched his cheek, big fingers warm and oh so gentle.
“It’s not your fault I’m not your biggest love.”
JP sighed and pressed their foreheads together.“I do love you, Chou.”
“I love you too.”And he’d married JP knowing what the truth was.It was sad, but it was what it was.“Don’t worry.Things are going to be okay.”
“You promise?”
“I do.”He would help JP get back to hockey, back to the ice, and back to Florida, if that was what was necessary.
Even if it meant losing JP again soon.
ChapterEleven
They got a bit of a routine going.JP would wake up and grab the walker, moving around the house.After breakfast he’d play with the kids for a bit before napping.There was still a lot of napping.
Ian usually made sandwiches for lunch, and they’d eat all together, the kids on the bed with him, Ian in the big chair.He’d do another couple circuits with the walker, and his exercises with the elastic band.More napping.
