Page 65 of Take My Kiss
In one week, the Langstons have taken us in as part of their family and shown us more love than my own ever has in the twenty years I lived at home. Ever since Sam was a baby, I’ve tried to overcompensate to make up for the fact that he didn’t have a father or grandparents in his life. When Lily’s dad and I didn’t work out, I felt even worse that I was failing him a second time.
But I’m realizing now that all those mistakes I made led us to Colton and his siblings, who welcomed us into their hearts unconditionally.
And I’m not sure how I’m going to leave them when it’s time to go home.
chapter fourteen
Colton
The housefinally settles down by dinnertime, but I invite Bodie and Bellamy to stay since they’re busy playing with the kids. Lily’s coloring Bodie’s tattoos, but I’m almost certain she grabbed the permanent markers instead of the washable ones. Bellamy and Sam built a race track across the living room for his toy cars.
Amelia’s still tense and shaken up, so although Raven’s here, I bring her into the kitchen with me to help make baked spaghetti.
“Amelia,” I murmur, standing next to her as she sprinkles mozzarella cheese on top of the dish. But she’s staring so hard at Sam, it’s getting all over the counter. “He’s not goin’ anywhere.”
“I’m not gonna be able to relax if he’s outta my view.”
“I’ll go into town tomorrow and get some extra locks for the front door and a doorbell camera. That way it’s more secure and less likely to escape without our knowledge.”
That finally snaps her out of her trance. “You don’t gotta go through all that trouble. We shouldn’t be here that much longer.”
Her words punch me in the gut, even if they are true, but I don’t want them to go. I love having them here, having the extra commotion in the house, and sitting together for meals.
It’ll be empty, and I’ll be alone again once they’re gone.
“It’s no trouble,” I tell her, glancing down at her lips when she licks them. “I should have the extra security anyway with strangers always being nearby.”
She nods, looking back into the living room. Sam and Bellamy are having a car-crashing contest, trying to knock each other off the tracks, laughter filling the air.
“Your siblings are so good with ’em,” Amelia mutters, not taking her eyes off them.
“That’s ’cause they’re still kids at heart. The babies of the family. The only ones who didn’t have younger siblings to torture.”
I finally get a small smile out of her. “I always hoped to have more kids after Lily.”
My heart rate kicks up at the thought of seeing Amelia pregnant. “She’d make a great big sister.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” She sighs, finally shifting her gaze back to me and sitting at the breakfast bar.
“Being from a bigger family, I hoped to have one too,” I admit. “A few kids, couple dogs, maybe some chickens like Warren has on his property.”
“Chickens sound nice.” The corner of her lips tilts up. “I wanted to create my own since mine were horrible. Well, Samuel wasn’t. He was my best friend.”
I finish coating the cheese on top of the pasta, then put it in the oven. It’ll take at least half an hour, then I’ll put in the garlic bread.
“How old were you when he passed?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t get upset with me asking.
“I was sixteen. He was eighteen.”
Damn. So young.
“Can I ask what happened? You don’t gotta talk ’bout it if you don’t?—”
“Drunk driver,” she blurts. “Killed him instantly.”
Fuck. “God, I’m so sorry.”
“He was on his way to pick me up from a party that my parents said I couldn’t go to, which is why I didn’t call them. I’d been drinkin’, but I didn’t wanna stay overnight, so I begged him to come get me. A man ran a stop sign and T-boned him before he got me.” She stares up at the ceiling, inhaling sharply. “I passed out waitin’ for him and didn’t find out until mornin’ when my mom called to ask where I was. When my parents realized why he was out past midnight, they blamed me for his death. Called me selfish, disobedient, and basically disowned me. They were lookin’ for any reason to kick me out, so when I told them I was pregnant, that was it.”
