Page 132 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“How are you taking it?” Myles asked, lifting Steven’s hand to his lips to kiss his knuckles.

Steven shrugged. “I have formulated two weeks’ worth of leaving-the-house plans, and I am shamelessly using our friends to hold me to those plans. Nothing big. Breakfast at the Oaks where I can sit in the front window and see my house.”

“Make sure it doesn’t spontaneously crumble to the ground.”

“Exactly. I’m going to bring a few loads of books over to the Cabin so Ozzy’s shelves up in the study area don’t looks quite so desolate, too.” He winked. “I may have more than I strictly need.”

Myles grunted. “You think?”

“Also—” He stuck out his tongue at Myles, making him grin despite his swooping stomach and vibrating nerves. “—there will be thrift shopping with Steph for some decor for her new place, and driving Wyatt to the Y for his lifeguarding course.”

“You’ve got this all figured out.”

“Oh, I’m not going to kid myself that it will be easy. But I do have a bit of experience in taking baby steps to get used to the idea of change.”

“Baby steps,” Myles mused as he punched buttons and scanned passports for the flight check-in. “That might have been something to try before I upended everybody’s lives. Twice.”

“Don’t do that.” Steven took the tickets and receipts as the machine spit them out and Myles handed them to him. “You did the right thing coming here.”

“And I’m doing the right thing going back?”

“I’m sure that’s probably an impossible question to answer before you do it. And maybe even after it’s done. But you have legitimate reasons for doing it. Trust yourself.”

“God, Steven.” Myles huffed and grabbed up his carry-on. “I wish I could.”

“Then trust Jet.”

Myles nodded as they resumed the walk through the airport.

Ahead of them, Jet and Shelly meandered along, chatting. Or rather, Shelly was chatting, Jet was nodding and answering her questions and looking resigned. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder and Shelly’s hand in his. She hauled her pink suitcase along behind her, looking utterly adorable—and slightly eye-watering—in neon green leggings, a pink dance tutu, rubber boots and a sparkling orange hoodie, a complete contrast to Jet’s all-black outfit and multi-buckled boots.

“How are they even possible?” Myles murmured.

Steven kissed his knuckles this time and smiled his crooked smile. “Same way we are. Pure luck and unbelievable good fortune.”

“We.” Myles stopped and turned to him. “What happens to that when we’re half the country apart?”

“I don’t know. But I’m in love, and I’m not giving that up because of a silly little thing like geography.”

Myles closed his eyes and tried not to let the creeping sense of futility take over.

“We will figure this out, Myles.” Steven took his duffel and dropped it on the floor, then took his other hand in his, too.

“I can’t see it.”

Steven leaned his forehead against Myles. “I can’t see the sun at night, either, but I trust it’s there.”

“You are so positive about this.”

“You’ll see,” Steven reassured him. “Promise.”

Myles couldn’t linger over goodbye, for fear he’d decide not to go at all, so they kissed quickly at the security gate, and Myles joined the queue with the kids while Steven, maybe sensing his fragile resolve, walked away without looking back.

As they neared the front of the line, Myle’s pocket buzzed and he fished out his phone.

STEVEN: Trust us. I love you.

MYLES: <3 Love you, too.