Page 64 of Take My Kiss
Considering he’ll be glued to my hip, that isn’t going to happen, but I smile appreciatively anyway.
I lead Sam to the truck and buckle him into the back seat while Colton talks to the sheriff.
“Am I in trouble, mommy?” Sam asks.
Brushing my hand over his cheek, I stare at him, overcome with love. “No, sweetie. But we’re gonna have a talk when we get back ’bout safety.”
“Okay.”
Colton meets me in the front seat and grins at Sam over his shoulder. “Good to go?”
“Yep!”
When he drives us toward his house, he reaches over and grabs my hand. I give it a squeeze before wrapping my other hand around ours. He was just as scared as I was, but handled it better than I did. He made sure I didn’t break down too long and stayed positive.
For not having kids of his own, he’s a good role model for mine.
The driveway is packed with vehicles, but he still finds a spot on the grass.
“It’s a full house,” he says, opening the back door. “Everyone’s been worried.”
“Why?” Sam asks, jumping out.
“’Cause no one knew where you were, buddy,” Colton reminds him. “We thought somethin’ bad happened.”
“Are you mad about the canoe? I didn’t mean to let it get away.”
“No, the canoe is replaceable. You aren’t.” Colton’s voice cracks.
“I can swim!” he exclaims proudly. “And I put on the life jacket just like you taught me.”
Colton scoops him up, squeezing gently. “Good job, kiddo. But next time, you go with an adult only, promise?”
“Okay!”
Colton sets him down, and we watch as Sam races up the stairs.
“I won’t let my family stay too long,” Colton says. “They just wanna see him.”
“It’s fine,” I assure him as we walk together. “He loves the attention.”
He snickers, opening the front door for me. “Sounds like a mini version of Wilder.”
“Auntie Raven!” Sam squeals, jumping into her arms.
“Sammy, I missed you!” She hugs him, rocking back and forth.
“Is that why you came to visit us?”
Raven’s eyes meet mine over his head, still confused about what happened.
We haven’t had the chance to properly update everyone.
“Yeah, I needed to see my favorite boy.”
The rest of Colton’s siblings swarm in on him, giving him hugs and kisses. Bodie gives him a hard time for going fishing without him. Bellamy playfully scolds him for being the reason she’s going to have gray hair before she’s thirty because she was so stressed about where he went. Even Warren and Posey are here to check in on him.
If my nervous system wasn’t still skyrocketed and overloaded with emotion, I’d cry happy tears at how sweet they’re being to him. Lily loves the extra company, especially when they’re willing to play dolls with her.
