Page 45 of Together Is Where We Belong

“You’re sure everythin’ is okay?” he asked as he ruffled Luke’s hair and checked him over.

“Yeah, I’m sure. He was almost asleep when we got home and when I picked him up out of the SUV he asked to tell you goodnight,” I told him and looked over at Luke to find him fast asleep.

“You need help carryin’ him next door?” Leo asked. The hopeful look in his eyes told me he prayed I’d say yes.

“Yeah, that’d be great. He’s almost too heavy for me to carry.”

His hand brushed against my arm as he carefully took Luke out of my arms, and I sucked in a breath between my teeth due to the spark that ignited at the heat of his touch. Luke settled into him, wrapping his arms around Leo’s neck.

We walked over to my house in silence. As I walked up the steps, the light from the porch illuminated the wooden planks and I noticed there were new boards replacing the old ones. I searched for my keys in my bag once we got to the door, thankful for the porchlight that automatically turned on once the sun set so that I could see inside the bag to find the keys.

Once I opened the door and we were inside, I took Luke’s shoes off and tossed them in the direction of the basket, not caring if I made it or not.

“You want to put him in pajamas?” Leo asked as we walked down the hall to Luke’s room.

“Yeah, he ran around outside a lot today,” I told him.

I grabbed a shirt and shorts out of Luke’s dresser. Leo laid him down on the bed and moved out of the way so I could change him. Carefully so I didn’t wake him, I got him changed in a matter of minutes.

Leaning down, I kissed him goodnight and moved out of the way so Leo could do the same.

Leo sat on the side of the bed and stared down at Luke for a moment before he felt around on the bed and found his favorite blanket. He snuggled it up beside Luke as he went to stand.

“Night, Dad,” Luke grumbled as he turned over and got comfortable in bed.

“Night, little man,” Leo said back to him before he leaned down and kissed his forehead.

I had to turn away from the sweet moment before Leo saw how it affected me. Seeing Leo with our son and how good he was with him did something to me that I didn’t want to think about. Because thinking about it would do nothing but cause me heartache in the end.

“Can we talk?” Leo asked after I walked him out the front door.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I asked, scared of what he’d want to talk to me about.

“I was wonderin’ when you’d feel comfortable enough for me to have Luke by myself. I know you mentioned I could get him on Sundays, but I wasn’t sure when you were thinkin’ that would start.”

I hadn’t really thought about it to be honest. I knew I’d have to share my time with Luke, and Leo wouldn’t always want to spend his time with Luke here on his evenings with him, but I wasn’t ready to let go just yet.

“Um…” I started to say, trying to come up with a way to explain my feelings on the matter.

“If you’re not ready, that’s understandable. He doesn’t know me very well yet. It’s just, my parents want to meet him, and I thought Sunday at dinner might be a suitable time since everyone will be there,” Leo rambled.

That would make sense. Luke was a people person and loved meeting new people. I just wasn’t sure if having the entire Courtright clan together would overwhelm him or not.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you with him or anything. I think Luke would be fine alone with you since he’s already so comfortable around you. It’s just…” I said as tears welled in my eyes.

I turned away to try and mask my emotional state. I didn’t want Leo to see me like this.

“It’s just what?” Leo asked, his voice now above a low whisper.

“It’s always just been Luke and me. Well, and Lexi and Neil, but they aren’t here now. I guess I just haven’t gotten used to the idea of sharing him. It’s selfish, I know,” I admitted.

Leo tensed at the mention of my friends, and I should probably explain their relationship with our son. Luke would likely mention them around Leo eventually, and it’d be a promising idea for him to know about them beforehand.

“Lexi and Neil are my friends. Friends who are now together,” I explained.

Leo’s shoulders relaxed, and his body wasn’t tight with uncertainty anymore.

“I get it. You can join us if that’d make you more comfortable,” he suggested.