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“What?” I shrieked.Sell. The. House?
“I already talked to my Realtor, Vanessa, about it. And I’ve been looking into world schooling.”
“Whoa. Whoa.” I held up my hands. “Slow down. Sell the house? World school? You’re going to leave the AV?”
He smiled and looped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. “We both know that life is short. And no matter how much time we do or don’t have, I want to spend it with you.”
If I hadn’t already melted at his words, I would’ve then. He wanted to be with me. Tristan wantedme, and I wanted him. Maybe it wasn’t so complicated after all.
“I want to be with you and the kids,” I said through my tears. Tears of joy and relief. Of release. I knew we’d figure out a solution—together. That was all that mattered.
He pressed his lips to mine, a solemn promise. A vow to cherish each other and our time together, however long or short it may be.
It felt so incredible to be in his arms, I almost forgot where we were. And then the bell rang, bringing me back to reality.
With our foreheads still touching, I said, “I love you, Tristan.”
“I love hearing you say that.” He cupped the back of my neck. “And I love you.” He kissed me again, this time more passionately. More deeply, until we were both panting.
“What about Lockwood Industries?” I asked, leaning against my desk. Putting some space between us. My mind was spinning. I had so many questions. “What about the kids? Are they here too?” I tried to peer past him, as if I might find Maddox and Savannah waiting in the hallway.
He shook his head, running his thumb over my bottom lip. It was distracting to say the least. “They’re staying with Penny and Liam.”
I was sure they were enjoying that. Though I wondered what Tristan had told them. Did they know he was in Japan? Seeing me?
“Have you told them about your plan? About us? Are they in favor of it?”
I wouldn’t do anything without the kids’ agreement. I loved them, and I’d never want to hurt them.
He took a deep breath and smiled. “I haven’t talked to Maddox and Savannah yet because I didn’t want to get their hopes up.”
I nodded slowly, my heart pumping at a fast clip. “Are you… What do you think they’ll say?”
“Elle.” He held me close. “They miss you like crazy. Surely you know that.”
“I miss them too, but it feels like too much. I mean, to ask them to move from their home. To uproot their lives.” I bit my lip, thinking about what world school would mean for them. “After everything they’ve been through…”
Was this really the best plan? Maddox and Savannah shouldn’t have to sacrifice everything so their dad could be with me.
“I would never do anything that isn’t in their best interest.”
“No. Of course not. I wasn’t suggesting—”
“I know.” He placed a finger to my lips. “I know you weren’t. But honestly, I think it would be good for them. For all of us. We could all use a fresh start.”
As much as I loved what he was proposing, I still had reservations. Was he running? Was he worried that it would be too awkward to live in the AV, considering he’d been married to my sister?
“Is this because you worry about being openly together if we lived in the AV?”
“What?” He frowned, shaking his head slowly. “No. The guys already know, and they were super supportive. And while it might be awkward at first with…others,” he said, and we both knew he was referring to my mom, “they’d have to get over it.”
“Really?” I jerked my head back, shocked that he’d already been paving the way for us to be a couple.
I wasn’t surprised that his friends were supportive, but I was grateful. I knew he valued their opinions, and so did I.
“Yeah. Really. I’ve been seeing a therapist, and she agrees that my feelings for you had nothing to do with Tessa. They never did. You were an escape, but I wasn’t using you to avoid my grief.”
“Nor was I,” I said. “Your relationship to my sister complicated things, but that wasn’t why I was attracted to you.”
