Koa hummed in agreement. “Too long.”
Some of my memories of it were a little bittersweet. That had been my safe space, my solace when I just couldn’t take another fucking minute in that trailer. But it also was a stark reminder of where I’d come from. That was probably why I hadn’t gone over there in well over a year. Still, it was sentimental, and I wanted that peace again. That time that was just mine and Koa’s without the real world barreling down on us.
Right when I was convinced that the Ferris wheel had gotten stuck and we’d be up here until a firefighter came and rescued us, it began to move again. Storm squealed in excitement. I clutched Koa tightly.
“I love you so much,” he whispered in my ear. “Even you being scared of a ride is adorable.”
I scowled at him but kissed his cheek anyway. “I love you too. Otherwise I wouldn’t be on this damn thing.”
He chuckled and held me tightly until we were finally safely on the ground.
Epilogue
Koa
Six Months Later
Twigs crunchedunder our feet as we walked through the brush. It was a warm day in mid-June, the sun mercilessly beating down when exposed. Luckily, the path to the river was heavily covered, which made the hike more bearable.
Riot walked quietly next to me when the trail was big enough for us to be side by side, like it was now. He was happy, humming to himself and enjoying the rare time with just the two of us. Cara had come over and was watching the kids with Knox and Wynter. She was doing much better but still had her struggles. I’d told her she didn’t have to, but she’d insisted. “I’m tired of feeling like an invalid, and I miss my babies. We’ll be fine.” Knox and Wynter had both promised to keep an eye on things too, so I felt better about it. Riot had had questions, obviously, when Cara had shown up and I’d dragged him out of the house, but he’d kept them to himself. Every once in a while, I noticed him sending me curious looks, but that was it. He wasn’t usually one for surprises, but he seemed to sense how much I wanted this to be one.
Besides, by now at least, he knew where we were going. He had as soon as I’d pulled my truck off the side of the road, near the path he’d always taken to meet me at the river as kids.
“Are we having a romantic picnic, Ko?” he asked, giving me a saucy smile as we finally cleared the brush and found ourselves at the bank.
“That’s part of it,” I confirmed.
“You’re so sweet. Did you bring a blanket?” he joked, since I always brought it.
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously.” I dug in my backpack and pulled out the same blanket I had used all those years ago.
When my aunt had kicked me out, I hadn’t taken much with me. They had given me ten minutes to pack everything I could, and I’d had to leave behind anything they’d bought for me besides clothes, like my computer. But I’d managed to sneak this. It meant too much to me. It had been the starting point of my relationship with Riot. No way was I letting her keep that.
Riot’s eyes widened as he saw the faded, worn thing. “Holy shit, is that . . . ?”
“Yup.” I hadn’t used it since we’d moved in together, leaving it folded in a bin in our closet. But I knew there had to be a reason I’d saved it, and today was it.
I spread it out before taking the cooler and my backpack and placing them in the corner and out of the way. I took a seat in the center and patted next to it.
“Come sit, sweetheart.”
Riot looked like he was going to cry, and I understood. It was nothing, really, but it was everything to us. He flopped down, his head immediately falling into my lap. “At least it’s not as hot over here.” Echoing my sentiments from earlier, he complained, “It’s fucking brutal already and it’s barely summer.”
I hummed my agreement as I ran my fingers through his hair. “Yeah, if this keeps up, I am not looking forward to campthis year.” Light, voluntary practices always started in July, and the second week of August was the beginning of mandatory camp. I tried my best to keep practices early or later in the evening, but even then it could become intolerable.
“You would think I’d be more used to the humidity by now.”
“I’ve still yet to experience this dry heat you’ve been talking about for twelve years.”
I ran my other hand over his shoulder and down his chest. Riot was wearing a white tank with blue shorts that came to mid-thigh and were insanely sexy. “One day we’ll take the kids to the West Coast, where I grew up. Maybe even Hawaii.”
Riot tilted his head up to look at me. “You never talk about Hawaii.”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t even born there. I’ve never been. And for some reason my aunt got really fucking weird when it was brought up. But I knew Dad always wanted to take me back, show me Mom’s home and her culture. He just never got the chance.”
Riot grabbed my arm and squeezed. “We’ll go there one day. I swear it.”
I smiled softly at him, tears forming in my eyes. “I’d really like that.”
