Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
There are so many things I want to say to them all, but this isn’t the time. We’ve had years to build up to this moment. Years to get to know each other, years to develop feelings. To want to rush things now is selfish, but I can’t help myself. A switch has flicked for me. Hearing Travis giving his blessing and hearing confirmation that they love me, it’s everything I need. It’s allowed me to relax enough and to accept what I want, what I feel.
The doorbell rings, and when Lukas opens the door, Mom and Travis greet the Nowaks, stealing Kain away from me with happy relief at his recovery.
I walk back into the kitchen, half in a daze. Everyone is so happy; the air feels alive with it. Lukas steers Mom with a gentle hand on the small of her back. Travis greets his buddies with quick, sharp embraces, and a wide smile. Everyone gushes over Mom’s welcome home cake, and then Dalton’s food, and I stand back and observe these people who I love, and who love each other.
And it doesn’t feel wrong to me that I love Dalton, Blake, and Kain anymore. It feels like I’ve arrived home from a journey that’s lasted a whole lifetime.
We fill our plates with food, and moan over the deliciousness. We listen to Kain talk about his recovery and how grateful he is to be at home. Dalton rests his hand on my thigh, a possessive and reassuring action that keeps me grounded, and everything feels so perfect, I have to swallow back tears.
I catch Mom staring at us all with a soft smile on her face. I guess Travis told her everything. I guess she’s not going to give me the same kind of grief I gave her about her choices. Lukas is the last to know, and maybe his reaction will be different, but as Blake finds my hand beneath the table and Kain’s gaze slides to mine, filled with love and heat, I feel sure we can accomplish anything, as long as we’re together.
29
DALTON
Kain’s welcome home dinner is received so well that I feel overwhelmed. Preparing and cooking so many dishes was hard work but more fun than I’ve ever had in my day job. Not only has it cemented my desire to cook, but it’s made me realize that without a true passion, life can become dull and uninteresting.
Nothing about my life feels like that now.
Darleen insists that she will wash the dishes with Dad while the rest of us relax in the den. As Kain makes the short but slow walk to Dad’s recliner, I catch Travis’s gaze drifting to each of us, a small smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “I’m going to head off,” he says.
“No.” Gabriella reaches to touch his arm. “Stay. It’ll be fun.”
“I have to catch up on work,” he says. “I didn’t get time off to come home. I’ve had to bring my project with me, and with the time difference, getting in touch with the colleagues I need information from isn’t easy. This was cool, though. It’s good to see Kain home safe and sound. It’s been good to spend time with you all.”
“When are you going back?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Travis admits. It’s the first time he’s mentioned an uncertain return date. Something about the way he says it makes me wonder if he’s intending on going back to Germany at all.
“We’ll hang out tomorrow?” Blake says. “Maybe grab a beer.”
“That’ll be great,” Travis says. “Maybe I’ll book to come see you for some ink.”
Blake beams, the prospect of inking another one of his friends and family like an affirmation of his talent.
Gabriella leans in to kiss her brother and hold him in a sisterly hug, then he shakes each of our hands and I accompany him to the door. “Mom knows about you guys,” he says as he pauses on our front step. “She knows you’re good guys, so even though it’s not a standard arrangement, she knows you’ll take care of her daughter.”
“You serious?”
He nods and shoves his hands into his pockets. There’s something different about Travis since he returned from Germany. A sadness that I can’t quite put my finger on. He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s with us, but he still feels apart.
“And you?” I ask. “Are you okay with it?”
“I told Kain I am.”
“You don’t know how much it means to us for you to give your approval.”
He shrugs, brushing off my comment, but it is a big deal. Bigger than he seems to realize.
“Just look after her,” he says. “That’s all I expect, okay?”
“Of course. That’s all we want to do.”
He turns and takes another step. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He calls it over his shoulder and doesn’t turn to wave. I watch as he makes his way next door with rigid shoulders, and my stomach tightens. I won’t discuss it in front of Gabriella, but when she leaves later, I’ll tell my brothers. Something’s not right with our friend and we need to find out what it is.