Page 131 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“Of course.”

“Then it doesn’t make any difference what he decides. You’re the parent he needs.” He poked Myles’s chest lightly. “The one he deserves. The one who loves him and will always have his back. The one who makes it safe for him to make up his own mind when the outcome isn’t quite so clear. You’re the parent taking him back to find out how he wants to move forward, and for what it’s worth, as much as I wish we didn’t have to separate, I think you’re doing the right thing.”

Myles rolled on top of him again. “Don’t be shocked when I facetime you for more parenting advice.”

“Don’t be shocked when I insist you never needed my advice. You’ve got this. But also, facetime me any time. All the time. Often.”

Myles dropped his forehead to Steven’s chest.

For a while, Steven ran fingers through his hair, and neither of them spoke.

“I do love you,” Myles said finally, into the soft, dark space between his lips and Steven’s chest. He pressed the words into his skin with kisses.

They spent the rest of the afternoon not worrying about the shop staying closed or Myles’s imminent departure.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

In the end, Myles decided to fly back to Calgary with the kids, instead of enduring the agonizing drive again. He’d worry about getting his car back later. He could use Natalie’s car for a while, and there was no shortage of people volunteering for the cross-country drive from Ontario to Alberta. Lucky and Kreed both said they would, as soon as they could find time in their schedules. Tris and Ozzy also offered, and Lucy’s younger brother Cameron also jumped at the chance.

It was Stephanie and Bob who eventually decided to do it, since they had the most flexible timeframe, which was fine with Myles. He’d already interrupted Kreed and Lucky’s business more than he’d wanted to. Cameron was too new a driver, and too distractable a person, for that responsibility, and Myles knew in his heart Ozzy didn’t want to leave Wyatt to his own devices any time soon.

On the day of departure, it was Steven who accompanied them to the airport so he could drive the car back to the B and B until his sister was ready to bring it to Calgary.

Myles noticed Steven being very demonstrative as they loaded the car, touching him often, standing close when they weren’t doing anything else, and once their cases were all loaded, he kept Myles’s hand in his.

“You okay?” Myles asked him.

“Just… going to miss you.” Steven pressed his forehead to Myles’s shoulder, breathing hard, then, when he straightened, glanced over it to his own house.

“You don’t have to come to the airport if you don’t⁠—”

“Want to?” Steven’s laser focus came back to Myles’s face. “I want to be with you. Every last minute.” He swallowed hard. “My house isn’t going anywhere. You are.”

Myles dropped his hand so he could cup Steven’s face, taking charge, even if just for that moment. “I want you to know that if it gets too much, if you have to get back here, you can say that, and I won’t mind.”

“I’ll mind.”

“You have to listen to your heart, Steven. And if the house calls, don’t be afraid to answer.”

“My heart is with you. You get that, right?”

Myles smiled, unable to keep his sadness out of it. “I do. I also know it’s a bit torn between me and your house. Your shop. The life you love. This is a big deal. Don’t pretend it’s not.”

Steven nodded, his expression so uncertain, Myles couldn’t stand not kissing him a second longer.

They only parted when Jet made a show of loudly telling Shelly it was time to get in the car.

“Will you drive?” Myles asked, hoping that driving would help to keep Steven’s mind off his empty house. It would also be easier on his hip, but that was a side benefit.

Steven nodded and climbed behind the wheel, putting on an overly cheerful smile when he looked at Shelly in the mirror and asked what she wanted on the radio.

Both kids, thrilled at the prospect of a first-class flight, chatted about the adventure in the back seat. For maybe the first time in his life, and thanks to Jet’s advice, Myles didn’t begrudge the money inherited from his father that he used to pay for it. His hip would thank him for the extra leg room later.

“How is Jet taking this?” Steven asked as they walked, hand-in-hand, to a check-in kiosk.

“I can’t really tell if he’s taking it better than I thought he would, or if he’s just putting up a front for now and I’m going to pay for this later.”

“I would bet probably a bit of both.”