Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“But we should talk more about it,” I say. “About us, I mean. At home. We can hash out the practical stuff.”
“Oh, so you do want me to mail that check?”
“Be serious!” I slap his chest.
“If you insist.” His grin feels fragile, fading like a dimming lightbulb. “What do you want to ask me?”
“I just mean, if we’re going to figure out a way to make this work, we need to organize it. You’re still my boss and Arlo has no idea you exist.”
“Wrong. He knows I exist,” he counters. “The little man thinks I’m a fire-breathing monster in a suit.”
“He did.” I snort. “Now he thinks you bring supervillains to justice.”
“Much better.”
I sigh contentedly.
Just like before, the sky looks diamond studded, brighter and calmer over the desert. I can appreciate the majesty and the splash of the Milky Way reaching down like it wants us to know the universe approves of my confession.
“We won’t tell anyone. Not at first. We’ll figure it out,” he says. “We can settle into normal life.”
“But together?”
“As together as I can physically arrange.”
I have other thoughts—other considerations—specifically about how we’re going to handle spending time together as a couple without constantly sending Arlo to the babysitter, and what his family will say if we reveal we’re dating.
“What about you?” he asks, toying with my hair. “Will we have to break the news to your folks?”
“Um, which part—that Arlo’s father is fantastically rich or that we’ve reconnected? It’s not a big concern. I still don’t talk to my parents much.” I wince. Reconnected sounds like we had more than a fling to begin with. But Patton doesn’t seem to notice.
“Both?”
“You’re not even going to protest my use of fantastically rich?”
“Call me egotistical, but that’s not too far from the truth.”
“That does sound egotistical.”
He drops a kiss on the end of my nose. “Sounds like I need someone with their feet on the ground to call me out when I’m being an ass.”
“An egotistical ass.”
“See? Archer will love you.”
I laugh and burrow into his arms. He wraps his robe around me, too, and I wish I could linger here all night.
“But in all seriousness, my family kinda imploded. We’ve never had a holiday or visit since they walked out of my life. Mom dances around trying to make amends, and so do I,” I say, and although he doesn’t move, I can feel the mood change. “That’s the choice they made when they left.”
“Probably better I don’t know their names,” he says sharply. “Otherwise, I might be tempted to pay them a little visit and talk some sense into them.”
I wince.
“Er, yeah, let’s not. Maybe stick to romantic gestures like flowers?” I wiggle around so I’m facing the hard look in his eyes. “I mean it, Patton. I’m okay without getting them involved. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we ever need to.”
“You’re okay now,” he agrees. “And not because of them.”
“Flowers, Patton. Don’t forget.”
He releases the tension in his shoulders with a sigh. “Fine. But you’ve got to admit it’s tempting.”
“Almost as tempting as never seeing them again.”
He gives me a reluctant smile and kisses me again.
“If you want a family, mine will be there in a heartbeat,” he says. “They’ll love you to death. And when we tell my mother—which doesn’t have to be right away—she’ll be stoked to have another grandkid. Dex will be pissed I got there before him.”
I smile. “She must love your nephew. Archer’s? Is there a wife too?”
“The mother left a long time ago now. That’s a fucked up story for another time. I can’t even remember her name some days.” His nose wrinkles. “Besides, he’s too old for her to play around with the same way. Arlo, he’s perfect.”
Just hearing Patton say that sends warmth shooting through my veins.
“We’re going to have to ease him into this, you know,” I say carefully.
“That’s fine. It’ll take me some adjusting too.”
“And me three. But in a good way.”
“Only good ways,” he echoes.
I close my eyes and listen to the sound of his heart, which has slowed over the course of this conversation.
Can life really be this simple? Can I really escape the dark cloud that’s always been hanging over me?
It doesn’t feel real, knowing Patton Rory is accepting Arlo with open arms. Much less me as his—
Whatever.
Whatever we are.
I don’t dare define it yet.
But maybe, in the future, if it ever gets that far, maybe we can be a family.
Maybe the day will come when I won’t have to always temper my hopes and dread the next disaster.
And maybe I won’t scare him off in the next five minutes by squealing with joy and kissing his face off.
18
JOKERS ARE WILD (PATTON)
Kansas City feels new and bewildering a week after our return.
My old routine, forever shattered.
Sure, Salem still lives at home with Arlo, who remains oblivious to the entire thing. I take them out on weekends and drop by often, even when she’s not expecting me.