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“And seeing you and my brother together doesn’t make me ill?” Cody just shrugs and shakes her head before saying.
“We’re just… hanging out.” I can hear the longing in Cody’s voice, something tells me her and Leah’s brother are having trouble in paradise.
“Are you sure everyone doesn’t mind spending the holidays with a random girl and her kid?” I ask, feeling like I’m intruding on their holiday and I know that they all must want to let loose and party. I don’t want me and Dawson to hinder their fun.
“Of course not,” Katie reprimands.
“They’ll love it. Nathan is excited to finally get to meet you and Dawson,” Leah says. “Plus, it will finally stop Darius from thinking I made you up.”
“Why would he think you made me up?” I ask, slightly confused why her boyfriend would think that.
“Darius is jealous of the toilet paper for touching her hoo-ha,” Cody mocks, earning an eye roll from Leah.
“What’s hoo-ha, Mommy?” Dawson asks. I cringe, and Leah shoots me an apologetic look I wave her off.
“Nothing sweetie,” I say as I places a kiss on his head. We spend the next few hours listening to music and singing along until Dawson falls asleep. Not wanting to wake to disturb him, we cut the music and fill the car with conversation. I ask Leah about her and Darius, and she tells me her story. It has me swooning and claiming that they have an epic love story. Katie and Cody fill me in on their friendly relationships with Crue, Saint and Corvin.
“What about you?” Leah asks me. I sigh and look over at my son with a sad smile.
“There isn’t much to tell, I was sixteen and thought I was in love. He left, I found out eight weeks later I was pregnant. I tried to find him. I went to his house, only to find it vacant. He disappeared from my life and broke my heart.” That’s the version I tell people, except the truth is it was much more complicated.
“I’m so sorry,” Leah whispers.
“It’s okay. I mean, he may have vanished but he left me behind the best gift I could have ever asked for. Dawson makes all the heartache worth it. I wouldn’t change a thing.” I mean it, I wouldn’t change a single thing because all the shit I went through still led me to have the best kid in the world. We spend the rest of the drive talking aimlessly and getting to know each other better. Cody and Katie are amazing. I’ve known those two for a while but Leah is new to me. I can already tell her and I are going to get along just fine.
* * *
“Oh my God,” I breathe out at the sight of the cabin in front of me. It’s stunning and something you would see in a magazine.
“Right? It’s so beautiful here. Just wait till the morning when you get to see the view, it is gorgeous,” Katie says. Cody parks the car and the four of us all jump out to stretch. My back is aching and my legs are sore from sitting for so long, but the sight in front of me has made it all worth it. The air here is crisp, and the smell of pine surrounds us. I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath, loving being out here in nature without the fear of waking to another flower outside my door in the morning.
“Fuck, stop that!” I snap my gaze toward where Leah is currently wrapped up in her boyfriend’s arms. I look toward the porch, and I know without a doubt that the guy standing there is Leah’s brother Corvin, they look like carbon copies of each other. I reach in and carefully unbuckle Dawson and clutch him against me, trying not to wake him.
“Come on, let’s grab your things.” Leah leads the guys over to us and introduces me to Darius and Corvin. They both offer to carry mine and Dawson’s bags so I only have to worry about my son. It’s so nice to have help. I’m used to doing everything by myself and not having anyone to rely on.
“Where’re the guys?’ Cody asks as we walk up the path toward the cabin.
“They tried to wait up but they crashed. Katie your boys said to tell you to lock the basement door after yourself. Nathan took the fold-out bed in the theatre room so, Val, you and your boy can have the spare room next to Darius’s.” Leah darts in front of the guys and opens the door for them. The only light that is on is in the entryway. I would love to look around but I’m bone tired and just need sleep. Corvin hands Katie her bags, and she gives a shy wave before disappearing. Corvin blocks Leah from being able to climb the stairs. I stand behind her and feel slightly awkward until Cody comes to stand beside me.
“What’s up?” she asks, Corvin smiles down at her with pride in his eyes.
“I know shit has been hard for you but I just wanted to say I am so fucking proud of you for finishing your English paper and not quitting. Also, Darius told me about Alaska.” She tenses at the mention of her going to Alaska, she had told us about her decision in the car. “I spoke with Mom and Dad and told them about it, they agreed with me that this would be good for you.”
“W-what?” she stutters out.
He smiles down at her. “I may not enjoy the sight of you and dickhead together.” Darius snorts but doesn’t comment. “But I also know he is a lot of the reason why you are doing so well. I expect your ass on a plane back to CHU to visit me every two months.” She squeals then launches herself at her brother. He drops my bags to catch her. I smile at them, envious of the bond they have. I don’t have any siblings so I don’t know what it’s like to have someone in your corner constantly.
“I love you, Corv.”
“I love you too, Lee.”
The moment they release each other, Darius leads me to my room where he places my bags on the end of the bed. Leah tells me where the bathroom is and where her room is in case I need her. I smile my thanks and thank her again for letting me and Dawson come. She waves me off, promises to introduce me to everyone in the morning and give me a tour of the cabin and the grounds.
“Leah, go. I swear we will be fine,” I say with a smile. She nibbles her bottom lip clearly feeling bad for leaving me when she shouldn’t.
“Okay, if you need me I’m right next door.” I nod, Darius smiles as he closes the door after Leah. After I get Dawson into bed, I strip down to my singlet and panties and slip in beside him. Drawing him close, I let his scent lull me to sleep.
Valance
