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“You enjoy yourself.” She snorted, her eyes twinkling with jest. “And while you're at it, would you clean my bathroom? Because Ifreakin'hatedoing that.”
“Baby, I'd clean your whole damn house if you asked me to.”
Noah's eyes widened with hope and desperation. “Wait, wait, wait … does that mean I don't have to vacuum or do dishes anymore?”
I shrugged, eyeing Ray with a raised brow and a smirk. “Hey, if your mom says it's okay …”
He grabbed at his mother’s arm and tugged at her shirt. “Mom, do I still get an allowance if Soldier does all my chores?”
Ray glowered at me with a threat that said,You'resleeping alone tonight,as she replied, “Nobody is doing your chores for you, Noah.”
He pouted as she brushed him off and nudged her chin toward his burger.
“Now, finish up. Wehave toget back home soon. Don't forget that you have school in the morning.”
With a grumble, he took a begrudging bite. I polished off the rest of my plate while keeping my eyes on them both. A bolt of awe struck my heart as Ray bumped her elbow against Noah's ribs, and when he glanced at her, she smiled adoringly, and he couldn’t help but smile back.
This little mother-son duo was incredible. They had been through war. They had seen things I couldn't fathom, experienced things I wouldn't wish on anybody, and yet they remained strong and ironclad. Weathering every storm that came at them, unwilling to succumb to the damage. They had done it together, proving they didn’t need anyone else, and yet, somehow, they saw me as worthy of being included.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Officer Kinney approaching as his brood left through the front door. He smiled and waved when he saw he'd gotten my attention, then offered his hand for me to shake.
“Patrick,” I said, accepting the gesture.
“Soldier.” He waved at Ray and Noah. “Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt your dinner. I just wanted to give my congratulations on the job upgrade.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for his acknowledgment and friendship. “Word gets around fast, huh?”
He chuckled at that. “Small towns. You know how it goes.”
“I do.” I nodded fondly.
“Yaknow…” He hesitated as his face took on a somber expression, biting his lip and slipping his hands into his front pockets. “I'll be honest. I wasn't sure what to expect ofyawhenyamoved in. I likedyaenough after we met, but …” He shrugged and offered an apologetic grimace.
“I get it, man,” I said, unsure of where he was going with this.
“Given your past and family history, I'm sureyaunderstand.”
Family history?
I smiled as the gears in my head creaked to life while not wanting to dig too deep into the past with Noah present. “It's cool, man. You and I are all good—you know that.”
“Anyway, I just wanted to say, you've been a great addition to this town. And I'm not justsayin' that as …yaknow … Mr. Cop. I say that as afriend. We're lucky to haveya. I truly mean that.”
I was aware of the stigma of a man getting publicly emotional, especially in the presence of another man. But the clenching of my throat couldn't be fought as I nodded and said, “Thanks, Patrick. But honestly”—my eyes flitted between Ray and her son—”Ithink I'm the lucky one here.”
***
Ray didn'tactually makeme sleep alone that night. Instead, after sending Noah to bed, we made out on the couch before moving into her bedroom, where she locked the door and rode my body with her head thrown back and her nails piercing my chest. And when we were both sated and exhausted, she tucked herself beneath my arm and curled up against my body and asked if I'd stay.
I had never stayed over with Noah in the house.
“Are you sure? What about—”
She yawned, nuzzling her cheek against my chest. “He knows we sleep together, Soldier. He's not oblivious.”
“No, I know. But—”
“Ifyou'reuncomfortable, that's okay. But don't leave to protect Noah from something he's already aware of. And honestly, we both feel better when you're here anyway.”
