“He’s fearless,” I say. “Just like his daddy. And believe me, that was no compliment.”
Gage grunts, but before he can sling a comeback, Nathan pulls himself out of the ball pit, pausing a moment to submerge his brother just as he comes up for air.
“Daddy, Uncle Loggie!” Nathan darts this way and doesn’t bother kicking his father like his brother did. “I going to marry Tobie.” His tiny lips are pursed as he struggles to pull his pants up to his waist. His entire face is a miniature replica of his father’s.
“No can do, buddy.” Gage leans forward and pulls Nathan’s sweater down over his jeans. “She’s your sister. Can’t marry your sister.”
Nathan’s little mouth falls open as he looks my way. “Tobie’s my sister?” He jabs his thumb in his chest as he waits for affirmation.
“I don’t know, big guy,” I tell him. “Those are higher family mathematics for me.”
“That’s crazy,” he barks, his face exerting a whole new level of stress. “Chloe’s dinosaur is my baby sister. Not Tobie.” He shakes his head emphatically before hoisting himself back into the ball pit.
“There you have it,” I say. “Next gen love triangle is all figured out. Nathan and Barron warring it out over Tobie of all people.”
“He’ll outgrow it.”
I tick my head to the side. “Chloe never outgrew you, and now look at you lovebirds?” I offer him a congratulatory slap on the shoulder. “And no take backs. You chose to lie down with a viper and made her the mother of your child. Godspeed.”
I stand up as Skyla heads this way, her face glowing, her hair blowing back in perfect golden coils. I hold out my arms and she falls into them effortlessly. If only I would have held her tight to begin with, none of us would be in this mess. But the boys. They were needed. And if anything, they make all this madness worth it.
“Gage, would you mind watching the boys for a few hours? I have something very important to do with Skyla.”
“Ooh.” Her eyes grow wide. “Please tell me this involves sushi.” She makes a face because she knows it doesn’t.
“It will in about eight weeks.” I glance to Gage. “We’ll swing by and pick them up at your place?”
He exhales hard. He’s not doing a lot to hide his frustration with me these days. “I’ll take them to your place—the Landons’. I wanted to talk to Em. Besides, I think they’re tuckered out. They’ll be ready for bed soon.” He drags his eyes toward Skyla as if it were impossible for him to look at her these days, painful, and I’m sure it is. “I’ll bathe them.”
“Thank you.” She shrugs almost indifferently at him before hugging my neck. “Logan Oliver, take me away.”
And I do.
* * *
The butterfly room at Whitehorse is a castle compared to the thimble of the original. Skyla takes off her shoes as if we were standing on holy ground before tipping her head back and groaning.
“Oh, the peace, the tranquility, the lack of Legos and diapers. The boys can never know about this room.”
A dull laugh rattles in my chest as I pull her as close as her belly will allow.
“We won’t be here for long.” I land a simple kiss to her lips, and the room, all of time, wobbles in and out of focus until we’re standing in another butterfly room, the original, staring down at the teen versions of the two of us. Skyla sits next to me with the look of absolute adoration written on her face. If I didn’t see it then, I see it now clear as day.
“Do you forgive me?” the younger version of Skyla asks my younger self.
“That day.” She sighs, wrapping her arms around me tightly. “Logan, we look like kids, and it was just a few years ago we were having this conversation.”
“I know,” I whisper as if they could hear us.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” the younger version of me is quick to declare. “Skyla, I want to tell you everything.”
Skyla—this one, the one in my arms, chuckles. “It would be a very long time until you told me everything.”
“Do you forgive me?” I don’t mind parroting the younger version of her.
“You bet.” She gives my chin a quick scratch as we watch this play out.
The younger version of me nods. “Chloe was a Celestra, too.”
