Page 87 of Sterling Stone

“Stone?” I question the power of what’s coming, of what’s happening inside me.

I clutch harder at his hair, my fingers dig within the strands, holding onto him, like I need him to align my gravity. My hips rock faster, thighs spread as wide as I can.

Stone flicks harder, and I detonate. I feel like I’ve left this bed and hover above it, floating in suspension, the pleasure mesmerizing. If I thought my body could glitter and shimmer, I swear it does. My skin tingles. My toes curl. I cling to Stone’s head and ride out the sensation that he continues to tease from me until I can’t take anymore.

I fall back against the bed, legs limp, fingers loosening in his hair.

“Stone,” I whisper, a warning, an appreciation. Enough.

He presses a final kiss against where I’m tender and spent, and then slowly lifts, climbing up my body.

One of his legs slips between mine. Half his body covers me. He falls into the cradle of my arm and my chest, resting his head against my shoulder. I run my fingernails up his back, and he presses a kiss right above my right breast.

“Thank you, Taxi.”

The words surprise me, and I pull back my head, dip my fingers in his hair again, and gently tug his head back so he can look at me.

“For what?”

“For being here.”

He settles back into the nest of my arm around him and his cheek against my chest, but I lie there stunned, eyes prickling.

Because no one has ever said such a thing to me.

31

[Taxi]

For the next few nights, I stay at Stone’s place. Partially because his bed is bigger. Partially because I don’t want to go to Trudy’s home without her present.

Mostly because of Stone.

Being in a house that belongs to Trudy but is not the house I remember growing up in continues to feel strange.

Fortunately, we get the good news that Trudy can come home.

Trudy and Simon.

There’s been so much to consider lately. Rearranging my schedule and figuring out how to get Gloria here, but the night before Trudy’s return home, Judd brings Simon back to the house and I meet him there. It’s the first night he and I will be alone together, and I think we’re both a little nervous.

Judd offered to stay a while as a buffer. Stone offered as well, but I need to do this on my own. I need to be here for Simon as well as Trudy.

We build our own mini pizzas. We blow up balloons and fill the entryway with them, and we make a Welcome Home banner.

Judd and Genie gave us a basket full of tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans from their home garden. Stone dropped off a large bouquet of flowers.

The house looks almost festive, and the night ends with Simon and me watching a movie. His choice: Star Wars.

He’s such a good kid, but quiet, observant, hesitant, like Judd as a child. The similarities are almost eerie. But Simon isn’t the same with me as I’ve seen him with Judd. He doesn’t smile the way he does around Judd. Doesn’t have private jokes with me or laugh at mine.

He’s cautious around me, and I hate that for him and me.

The similarities between Simon and me are uncanny. Absentee parents. His father had custody of him and dropped Simon off at Trudy’s home two years ago. It was the responsible thing to do, but I’m certain Simon feels the rejection. Mother never present. Father willingly giving him up.

My heart aches for him, but I’ve been equally not available to him. Guilt hits me in a new way. If I want to consider Simon family, I need to step up for family.

While my sisters and I have consciously gone our own ways, we’ve kept in touch as best we can. It’s more difficult with Jolene as she’s the wildcat in our trio. Still, she’s my sister. I love her. I miss both of them.