My heart sinks when I get to the kitchen and don’t find her there waiting for me. My brows pinch.
I messaged her. She knew I was coming, she?—
Movement in the living room catches my eye, and as I look over, my chest tightens.
Freya is napping on the couch with Charlie snuggled next to her, head lying on her stomach. But he’s not asleep; his eyes are firmly on me. I just can’t decide if he’s excited to see me or warning me to back off his woman. Honestly, I think I’d prefer it if it were the latter. I knew I could trust these guys with her.
On the floor next to the couch sits Buddy. His entire body is trembling with excitement, but he’s fighting it, also holding court, protecting our sleeping beauty.
I know I should probably let her sleep, especially with what I have planned for her now I’m back, but I can’t. Selfishly, I need her too much.
Buddy stands as I move closer, his ass wiggling out of control. The second I’m close, he launches forward to greet me.
“Hey, bud,” I say softly, patting his head. “Have you been a good boy?”
Charlie’s eyes remain locked on me, but his body is also losing the excitement battle because he’s beginning to wiggle.
As I drop to my haunches in front of Freya, he finally lifts his head for some attention and rouses her.
She groans as she shifts in her sleep, and the moment her eyelids flicker open, a shriek spills from her lips.
“Oh my god,” she gasps, her hand covering her racing heart. But then her panic gives way to the most incredible happiness. “You’re back. Oh my god, you’re back.”
As she pushes from the couch, I lean forward and drag her into me.
“I’m home,” I breathe into the sweet warmth of her neck as contentment washes through me.
Now, with the lady of the house awake, Buddy and Charlie go berserk beside us.
We bring them into our embrace, and it only makes me feel more complete.
This is it. This is what family feels like.
When Freya pulls back, tears pool in her eyes.
“We missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too, baby.” As if he can understand, Buddy nudges my arm. “Aw, I missed you both, too, boys.”
Freya laughs, the sound lighting up the entire room. It’s everything I needed to hear.
I pull her into my arms again, holding her tight to me as my heart pounds out of my chest.
Killer was right.
I love the fuck out of this woman.
I just…how the hell am I meant to tell her?
“Are you okay?” Freya asks softly as I continue clutching her.
“I’m amazing, baby.”
“Last night…” she hedges, making me squeeze my eyes closed as pain and regret flicker through me.
Last night wasn’t good. I beat myself up over the loss, and by the time I got to talk to Freya properly once we were back at the hotel, the first question out of my mouth was to ask if she was leaving me because I fucked up.
Not my finest moment, but fuck…that’s what my early life taught me.
