Page 68 of Hold You Close
“Hey,” I say gruffly.
Smiling, she lets me pull her close. Her hands rest on my chest. “What?”
I kiss her softly. “Did you have a nice day?”
Her lips curve into a smile. “Yes. Did you?”
“Yes. I think the kids liked it too.”
“I know they did. We should do things like this with them more often. Wasn’t it wonderful to see them smiling like that? Especially Christopher.”
“He and I had a nice talk last night.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Did you? About what?”
“A lot of things. But mostly that it’s okay for him to miss his parents. I told him how much I miss my sister, and I think he was glad to hear that.”
Her eyes drop for a moment. “I think he really wants to be strong, but it’s kind of an act, you know? And if he tries to bury all that pain . . .”
“That’s probably my fault. When it first happened, I handled him like my father handled me all my life. Told him a man needs to hold it together, be brave for the women, not show weakness.” I could tell she wanted to say something, but bit her lip instead. “But maybe that isn’t the right approach with Chris. He seems a little more sensitive than I was at his age. More like his mom.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Anyway, I think he felt better afterward.”
She smiles. “Good job, Uncle Ian.”
I close my eyes for a second. “But I still feel like I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”
“It’s okay. You’re doing great, and I’m here for you. We’re a team. United front, remember?”
“I really want to make a joke about uniting fronts right now.”
Laughing, she gently pushes me away and tries to get around me. “I have to go change or I’ll never get out of this wet suit.”
I catch her again from behind, wrapping my arms around her. “I could help with that.”
“Ian, stop!” She giggles and attempts to pry my arms from her waist but they’re locked tight. “You’re going to be late for work.”
“Fuck work.” And I realize something—I don’t even want to go to work. For the first time I can remember, I’d rather stay home and hang out with her and the kids than be at the club with its huge crowd and loud music and drunk girls falling all over me. What the actual fuck?
London stops moving. “Can you? I mean, do you have to go in?”
I exhale and drop a kiss on her shoulder. She smells like sunscreen and summertime. “Yeah, I do. But I’ll get out of there as soon as I can. No pressure, but you’re welcome to stay over. Wait—fuck that. Stay over.”
She turns in my arms and looks up at me. “You want me to?”
“Yes. I might be late, but I’ve been thinking about you in my bed for two lonely nights. Stay.”
Her eyes brighten and then she smiles. “Okay, I’ll be here.?
??
I lean down and kiss her, while my heart races.
Maybe we can actually make it work this time.
Fifteen
