“How the hell did I find you?”
“You accepted help,” he said dryly. “Crazy, right?”
“Are we in the joking portion now?” I asked, glaring at him. “Because if we are, you’re paying to replace the shit in Finn’s school bag that you broke when you tossed it against the wall.”
“Fine with me.”
Tilting my head back, I looked at the bedroom door. “The kids are probably going crazy out there.”
“You ready to put them out of their misery?”
“Can you just hold me for a couple more minutes?” I asked softly.
“I’ll hold you as long as you want,” he replied, rolling to his side. He pulled me with him, so we were pressed chest to chest.
“How did you know?” I asked, looking into his eyes.
Curtis hesitated for a moment. “Jesse called me.”
My chest felt like it was caving in as I nodded. Squeezing my eyes closed, I fought back the burn of tears. I wasn’t sure if I was more ashamed that they’d seen me doing something so shitty and they’d felt the need to save me from myself, or heartbroken that, for the first time in their lives, I’d done something that they couldn’t trust was the best decision.
“Don’t be mad at Jess.”
“I’m not,” I assured him as I opened my eyes. “I’m ashamed I put them in that position.”
Curtis gave a nod of understanding and pressed a long kiss to my forehead. “I don’t think that we could separate them now,” he said, rubbing my back. “The kids, I mean.”
“I’m sorry.” I sniffled. He was right. In my mad dash to disappear, I’d underestimated what it would’ve done to the kids, not only taking them from Dylan but Curtis too.
“It’s over,” he replied easily.
For Curtis, it was that simple. I’d tried to do something that wouldn’t have been good for anyone, he’d stopped me, we’d talked it out, and now it was done. There was no hesitation in the way he touched me. No recrimination in his eyes.
It would take me longer to forgive myself.
We lay there for a few more minutes, and then we rose in unspoken agreement. As soon as we were dressed, we went to find the kids. Instead of the bonus room, they’d made their way downstairs to the kitchen. Finn was eating a bowl of cereal while Dylan and Jesse talked in quiet voices.
“You’re not movin’ anywhere,” Curtis announced, walking straight through to the coffeepot. “And I’m takin’ the rest of the day off work. What do you guys wanna do?”
“Library?” Finn asked, pausing with his bowl halfway to his mouth. “I need new books.”
“Yeah,” Jesse said cautiously, their eyes on me. “Me too.”
“Can’t really do anythin’ else,” Dylan agreed.
“Baby, where’s the coffee grounds?” Curtis called over his shoulder.
“You’ve seriously never made coffee?” Jesse asked in disbelief.
“It’s in the pantry,” I replied, going to get it. I carried it over to him, and he took it with a sweet smile.
“I love you too,” I said quietly.
“I know you do,” he replied, just as quietly.
“I’m goin’ to get dressed,” Finn announced, abandoning his empty bowl on the table. He disappeared up the stairs.
“So we’re staying,” Jesse said, watching me and Curtis.
