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I glanced over at him as I slowed to turn into the lakeside community. “Alex told you what was going on?”
Abe winced. “Please don’t be mad. I promised Alex I would keep his confidence if he wasn’t in danger. Otherwise, I would’ve ratted him out to you, Alyssa, and Russ in a heartbeat.”
“Of course I’m not mad.” Alex had always loved Abe, and he’d been so happy when I’d told him Abe and I were dating. “Kids aren’t always comfortable telling their parents stuff. Alex is lucky to have you as an ally.”
“I’ll always have his back just like I’ve had yours all these years,” Abe said. “And I admire how you, Alyssa, and Russ work together to provide Alex with a stable home life. It’s no wonder he’s an exceptional kid.”
Abe’s compliment warmed my heart, but he was leaving out a significant piece of the puzzle. I pulled into the driveway at his cabin, killed the engine, and looked over at him. “You’ve played a pivotal role in Alex’s life too. You’re the one he came to about the trouble at school.”
“I guess we’ve formed a different fearsome foursome at this stage in our lives,” Abe said.
“Instead of soldiers, we’re parents.” I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “But don’t tell Alyssa. She’ll want us all to wear costumes.”
“Halloween is just around the corner,” Abe said as we exited the truck.
“And Alex’s two sets of parents roll up to a party dressed in themed costumes.” Abe stopped walking, and I immediately realized what I’d said. I turned and found him leaning against the hood of my truck, wearing a stunned expression. “Too much too soon?” I asked.
Abe swallowed hard and shook his head, and then a slow smile spread across his face. He pushed off the truck, wrapped his arms around me, and buried his nose in my neck. “Please don’t let me fuck this up.”
“I won’t, Abe. I’ve got you.” And I always would. “Let’s get inside before we give your neighbors a show.”
Abe lifted his head, tucked his finger under my chin, and notched it up. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. “Let them talk. I’m sure they’ve worn out the vagrant and burglary stories and need something new.”
I chuckled as I followed him to the porch. He punched the code into the new lock we’d installed the previous Sunday after we set up the new bed. Abe pushed the door open, and we entered the cabin. He paused inside the living room and swept his gaze around the space.
“I don’t know where to start,” he said softly.
I patted his back. “I do.”
“Of course. You probably stayed awake half the night devising a plan.”
“Nah, but I’ve been through this with my folks after my grandparents died. The first order of business is to decide what of theirs you want to keep, donate to charity, or throw away.” Abe grimaced at the last part. “It isn’t practical to keep everything. If you’re not going to use an item, and it’s not in the condition to benefit someone else, then it should go.”
Abe put his hands on his hips and studied the space again. “You’re right. I’m sure the process will get easier as we go.”
“Where do you want to start?”
“Probably the kitchen,” Abe said. “There aren’t as many memories in there.”
That notion lasted maybe five minutes. Every drawer or cabinet we opened contained items that told a story about Abe’s grandparents and their love for him and each other.
We hadn’t added anything to the donate or trash piles by the time we were halfway through the kitchen. Abe vowed there was a purpose for everything we’d found. And who was I to dispute that?
“I’m being overly sentimental, aren’t I?”
“Maybe you’re just not ready to let go of their things. We could always rent a storage unit and move their belongings there. You could sort through them whenever you’re ready.”
He shook his head and kissed me. “I’m ready to approach this practically.”
We started over, and Abe moved several items to the donate column and tossed a few into the trash bins. The living room was where Earl and Lucinda kept their family photo albums. Abe didn’t pause to look through them before he designated them as items to keep. Earl had kept a lot of magazines over the years. Abe’s eyes misted over as he skimmed through a few of them.
“No sense in keeping these, but I’ll put them in my recycling bin at home instead of the trash.” He decided to hang on to the main furniture until he bought new stuff. “I’m eager for your design presentation.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes, earning a kiss that probably lingered longer than either of us expected. Locked lips led to roaming hands, then naked bodies, and ended with me on my knees in the middle of the braided rug. Abe spread my ass cheeks apart, shoved his face between them, and rimmed me until I spurted all over the floor. Then he pounded me into oblivion, pulling out at the last minute to cover me with his spunk. He slid his dick back inside me and followed me down to the carpet. I didn’t care that he weighed a ton; I just wanted him as close to me as possible.
“I love you so much, Abe.”
He eased out and lay beside me. I rolled to my side and he pulled me closer, our legs tangling and our arms finding purchase. “I love you too.” He brushed my hair back off my forehead. “But I’m a little worried about what else you might be keeping from me.”
