Tempest breathlessly laughs, “You did the game!”
I groan, buried deep, our bodies one. Locking eyes with my second chance, I promise her what I already know, “I’m all in.”
Epilogue
We move at a steady clip through glass doors whose sensor must be exhausted from endless foot traffic in both directions. As Josh and I walk out of John F. Kennedy International airport, hand in hand, rolling suitcases flanking us, I feel a little tired myself and confess, “I’m nervous.”
He leans to press a brief but hot kiss on my chewed-up lips. “I told you, there’s nothing to be nervous about.”
We stop to look for where the taxi line ends so we can join it. “At least I’ll have a chance to settle in and talk to my grandparents.” Glancing to his smirk, I laugh, “Hey Grandma and Grandpa! I’m gonna be spending the night at my boyfriend’s house a lot because you know…you’re in the other room! Oh yeah, and I have a boyfriend!”
Josh grins, “Not hot with them next door. At least with Will he’s on the other side of the apartment. But you did get a taste of how it feels to be quiet by fucking our brains out in a hotel like that one.”
With a sexy smile I eye him from the side of my lashes. “Kinda hot being forced to be quiet. What are we waiting for? Let’s stand in line before it gets longer.”
“Dad!”
My head swings left to the entirely unexpected voice of Will, heart leaping into my throat, hand suddenly a vice with Josh’s as he whispers, “You’re gonna be okay.”
He frees himself of my hand and opens his arms for his son, the child of another woman I’ll never be able to replace.
I finally get how strange it must have felt for Christina, that time she first met Elliot as Bennett’s girlfriend. Zia’s situation is a little different since the mom is still around, so that’s a whole other ball of problems. Am I sweating?
Running into his dad’s arms, Will is lifted, legs dangling and swinging in a love-filled hug.
“Hey buddy, I missed you.”
Will closes his eyes, “I missed you, too, Dad,” tightens his arms, and sniffles.
Josh told me this is the longest they’ve been separated since Leah passed away. I heard many stories during the remainder of our time in Italy, but he was kind enough to tell me about before she came into his life, mostly. They were together for so long, and she’d still be here if it wasn’t for… But when I asked about her, Josh said, “If we’re going to have a beginning, there has to be an end. Let’s just talk about you and me for a while, just us, until we get strong.”
Nax strolls up in his casual way, grin easy. “Hey Tempest!”
I lift my hand in a small wave. “Nax, hey. Where’s my cousin?”
“Working.”
Realizing he hasn’t said hello to me yet, Will opens his eyes and slides down to stand with both feet on the ground, facing me, Josh at his side.
We stare at each other, and it occurs to me that this is the first time I’ve seen Will shy.
My butterflies aren’t alone, and that settles them down a bit. “Hi Will.”
Josh slides his hands in his pockets, watching us, cautious. It’s the three of us, the rest of the world has vanished. It’s just us figuring this out for the very first time.
Like young boys do when acting cool, Will nods. “Hi.”
Having experience since I have a brother, I tease him, “I heard you guys plotted against me.”
The blue eyes he got from his mother glitter with mischief, but his voice is a quiet, “Yeah,” unsure if I’m mad, and hoping I’m not. It’s melting my heart to see him like this, so opposite of every other time I’ve ever spent around him.
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but…” I pause for effect. “I think your plan worked.”
Will brightens, “I know! Dad told me!”
“Did he tell you he’s an excellent scooter driver?”
“No!”
“He is.”
Will looks at his dad. “Can we get one?”
Josh smiles, “No.”
With young and intense disappointment, Will frowns. “Why not?!”
“Because New York is too dangerous for one. They don’t even rent them here.”
Nax asks, “That true?”
“I think so.”
“If it’s not, can we?” shouts Will.
Nax jogs his thumb to the garage, “Speaking of rentals, parked mine in there.” He takes my suitcase handle without asking, “Let’s go before traffic gets worse.”
We start walking together, Will on my right between me and Josh, “Dad, Google to see if they rent scooters in New York!” and Nax to my left.
“I’ll Google it later.”
“Why not now?”
“Because we just flew for twelve hours.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
I hold back a laugh, exchanging a glance with Josh as we stop at the crosswalk and wait for our shot. He smirks, “Hey Will, remember when I said I missed you? Can I take that back?”
“Aw, Dad, stop. I know you did.”
“I’m regretting having said it so quickly.”
Will cracks up, body bending over. The light turns green and Josh takes Will’s right hand, suitcase rolling on the far side.
My sneakers hit the asphalt, and I feel small fingers touch my palm, then wrap around my hand while we walk. Cutting a speechless look to Will I’m melted by his smile. “You’ll talk him into it, won’t you, Tempest?”
Without hesitation, I answer, “Yes.”
Josh laughs, “Oh ho! Hold on a Tucking minute! Is this how it’s gonna be?”
Will mimics, “A Tucking minute.”
As we climb into Nax’s car, I ask Josh, “Can I sit in the back with Will?”
A smile lights dark eyes that clouds abandoned. “Sure,
