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“How mad do you think your parents would be if you slept in here?” Sam whispered.
“They’d be pissed, but they’re too polite to say anything.”
“Do you wanna stay here with me?” Sam asked, and Aero immediately nodded.
While he had nightmares when he stayed with Sam, knowing she was there when he woke up, ready to hold him and comfort him, made the idea of having a nightmare less frightening. Having her there was like having a security blanket, making him feel braver and like he could handle the dreams when they came.
He wanted to sleep next to Sam every night for the rest of his life.
“Relax, love,” Sam cooed, shifting back to lie down and keeping Aero wrapped in her arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Welcome back!” Evie called out from the living room as Sam and Aero passed. Ashlyn was on the rug in the living room, stacking plastic blocks while her mother fed the baby.
“Hey,” Sam said, stopping in the doorway. “How’s it going?”
“Same old, same old.” Evie shrugged, shifting Elliot to her shoulder to burp him.
“Sam!” Ashlyn hopped up from the floor and ran to Sam, hugging her legs.
“Hi, baby girl.” Sam stooped down to hug the toddler. “Are you being good?”
Ashlyn nodded enthusiastically.
“Ashlyn,” Aero said, dropping to one knee beside Sam.
The little girl looked up at the large man and smiled shyly.
Sam and Evie watched raptly as Aero held out a hand and Ashlyn high-fived him. Aero smiled.
She giggled, throwing herself at him and hugging him tight. Aero hugged her back gently, stroking her dark hair softly with one large hand.
Evie covered her mouth with one hand, in awe at the change in Aero’s behavior. In all the time she’d lived on the compound and all the time her kids had lived there, Aero had never sought them out or invited physical contact. It was both shocking and wonderful to see.
“Levi?” Ashlyn asked, letting go and looking up at Aero.
“He’s upstairs, baby,” Evie said, and Ashlyn pouted.
“I want Levi.”
“Let’s go find him,” Sam said, holding out a hand toward her.
Ashlyn ignored her, holding her arms out, wanting Aero to pick her up. He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Evie, and then scooped the little girl into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Settling her on his hip, Aero stiffened but looked into her blue eyes and relaxed before turning and heading up the stairs.
“Oh my God,” Evie said, stunned.
Sam smiled adoringly after her man. “He’ll be good to her.”
“I know,” Evie agreed, happy tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Sam.”
“Thank you,” Sam said, moving to follow Aero and Ashlyn up the stairs.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Um, Aero?” Sam said, getting his attention.
He was seated on the couch in a tiny one-bedroom rental cottage a block from the ocean in Maine. He’d insisted on bringing her back every summer, and this time they were staying for two weeks.
