“Sounds like a question you’ll need to ask him,” Paloma said. “And while I’m not defending his choice, he was young. Young people often listen to their parents.”
“As good a job as you’ve done talking through the original sticking point and breakup, there still seem to be things you two need to work out,” Ida Jane said.
“I get the sense there’s more to the story than possibly even Naese knows,” Paloma said, watching me carefully.
I’d wondered the same thing. It just seemed odd that once Paxton and I had gotten serious, likemarriageserious, his dad had started pushing for us to break up. I knew Mr. Naese and my mother didn’t get along, but that shouldn’t have had any bearing on my relationship with Paxton. I worried my lower lip.
“I think you need to know what that is so you can decide whether or not you can forgive Naese for his choice,” Millie said.
“And if I can’t?” I looked over at Ida Jane. “That’s why I left after the game. There doesn’t seem to be a point to building a relationship with you all—as wonderful as you’ve been—if I’m going to lose you.”
“That’s not how the CATS work,” Paloma said. “We’re a tight-knit group. Afamily. And we still support our CATS, even if they divorce or break up.”
“It can get awkward if the new partner shows up at the same event as a former partner, but I don’t think we’ve had any serious issues,” Keelie said, glancing around to confirm. The others nodded.
“I’m the quiet one,” I said. “I don’t make friends that quickly or easily.”
“Neither do most of us, contrary to how we may seem,” Naomi said. “A lot of us have our own trauma, our own reasons not to trust easily. I think that’s a big part of why we can be so welcoming.”
Brooks started to cry, which set off Bree. Both Keelie and Millie moved away to deal with their babies.
When they all headed out, with apologies, a few minutes later, all I could do was exhale in relief. Paloma caught me doing so and smiled. “We’re a lot, I know, but our hearts are good.”
“They are,” I agreed.
She gave me a friendly side hug and then she, too, was gone.
I stared around the large, empty house and sighed. “Well, time to clean up.”
By the time I’d put everything away, I was too tired to climb the stairs. I settled on the couch and tucked myself in.
“I’ll move my stuff to the guest room tomorrow,” I mumbled as I closed my eyes.
I have no idea how long I’d been out when a set of warm arms slid around me, cuddling me to thick pectoral muscle. “Pax,” I mumbled, snuggling closer to his familiar smell and solid bulk.
“Right here, baby.”
He carried me up the stairs and helped me into bed. He smoothed my hair from my face. I lifted one droopy eyelid and offered him a smile. Pax grinned back. He knelt next to the bed with a soft, happy expression. “Ah, Hana, I’m glad you’re here, in my house, in this bed, where you belong.”
I bit my lip because in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to belong to him. I clasped his wrist as he lifted his hand from my temple. “Stay with me?”
His smile turned dazzling. “Nothing I want more.”
I buried into the pillows, lulled into slumber by the softness. He slid in behind me and his arm wrapped around my middle, his nose buried in my hair.
“I love you, Hana,” he said. His voice cracked. “I’ve missed youterribly.”
And for the first time, I truly believed him.
Chapter20
Paxton
Holding Hana in my arms again was a dream come true. She was warm and soft and smelled delicious—like Hana. I slid into a deep, welcome rest and woke more refreshed than I’d been in months, possibly years…and with a raging hard-on nestled between Hana’s slender thighs. I yawned as I snuggled my hips closer. Hana whimpered, pressing her cute butt against my groin.
Awake now, I rocked forward again, groaning at how good the friction felt against my dick. Much to my surprise, Hana wiggled her ass and arched even closer.
“You feel good,” I murmured.
