30
RILEY
Age 10
I was tired. So tired. The last few days were catching up with me and all I wanted to do was sleep. I wanted to lean my head against the window but knew I wouldn’t fall asleep. I wished I could have stayed with Mom’s friend after the funeral, but she said she wasn’t fit for having kids long-term. Whatever that meant.
“Almost there,” the guy in the front seat said. I forgot his name, but I didn’t like him anyway. He was old and kinda mean.
I hugged Blakely to my chest as the car bumped down a dirt road. Up ahead, I could see a large two-story house with several windows and some of them were lit up from the inside.
When the car came to a stop in front of the porch, I saw a couple standing there in their pajamas, both of their eyes locked on me. I looked away. They could be the kindest people in the world, but they weren’t Mom. I missed her so much. Even though she hadn’t been the same the last few years since Preston died, I still missed her. And to know I wouldn’t ever see her again…
I glanced up as lightning flashed, admiring the stormy night sky. I saw a face in the window above me, looking down in my direction. The boy had a thick blanket wrapped around him, his nose pressed up against the glass. He smiled and gave a small wave when he saw me. Something about him calmed me. At least I wouldn’t be alone here.
The driver opened my door and introduced me to the adults after I climbed out, but I barely paid attention. A moment later, when we entered the house, I saw the boy from the window standing at the bottom of the stairs. His dark hair was messy and his smile a little crooked, but his eyes were the kindest, warmest eyes I’d seen since Mom died.
“Hi, I’m Beckett.” He held out his hand, revealing two small red pieces of long candy. “Do you like Twizzlers?”
***
I was restless. It had been a long day in my workshop and I hadn’t heard from Beckett at all, but I’d expected that. He told me yesterday he’d be busy doing some final cleaning in his apartment so he could come home this weekend.
Home.God, it felt so good to hear Beckett refer to my house ashome.It gave me all sorts of gooey feelings. It was funny, really. I’d lived in this building for four years and only now that Beckett was making arrangements to come live with me did it finally start tofeellike a home. I’d always loved it here, but there always seemed to be something missing before. Now I knew what that something was. Beckett Quinn Sanders, the love of my life.
I couldn’t wait to show him the small TV I’d installed in the living room, just for him. I already added doors to the closet in our room, too, as well as a few shelves so there would be more than enough storage for both of our things. I also ordered the materials we would need to erect a wall in the middle of the huge loft to add two more bedrooms, and I’d arranged for a plumber to swing by for a quote to add an additional bathroom. These were things I’d meant to do since I first moved in but hadn’t had a reason to until now. I was turning my house intoourhome. I hoped he’d feel as comfortable here as I was.
I also hoped he’d be coming back soon because I was missing the hell out of him. Talking on the phone every day just wasn’t cutting it. I needed to feel him in my arms, to see all the different colors of his eyes as they changed with his moods, and feel the deep rumble of his voice tickle my ear as we lay in bed together.
Beckett hadn’t told me if he’d talked to Tosh yet about them coming to visit, but I hoped they would. Neither of us had fully forgiven her and I knew Beckett would have likely waited at least six months before talking to her again, but I refused to let him cut her out of his life. I knew he’d regret it in the long run if he did. We’d get through it. All of us. I knew we would.
I tossed my paint-stained clothes in the washer before heading to the bathroom. I needed a scalding hot shower to relieve my aching muscles from a day of hard work. The six-foot-long armadillo I was making for a college in Texas required multiple layers of metal to make the intricate detailed scales. It was tedious, heavy work, but I was proud of what it was becoming. Another three weeks and it would be ready. I wondered if I’d have a little more muscle definition after lifting so many stainless-steel plates the last few days. Nowhere near Beckett’s heart-stopping physique, of course, but maybe some.
I got a little nervous thinking about the project I had been working on late at night, too. It was a surprise for Beckett, something that had taken me four days to complete. It had nearly killed my arms to form the wings of the two tanagers with that stubborn-as-fuck piece of metal Beckett liked, but I finally got them finished. They were beautiful, probably one of my favorite pieces.
Freshly showered and dressed in warm sweats and a long-sleeve shirt, I made my way to the kitchen. My phone rang just as I pulled a pizza from the freezer.
I grinned like a fool when I saw Beckett’s name on the screen.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey,” he said, his voice tired but happy.
“How’d cleaning go?”
“Fine. How’d work go?”
“Fine,” I echoed. “Just finished a little bit ago.”
“Good. Hey, did you take Lady out today?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because she’s looking at me through the shop’s window like she needs to go outside or something.”
I furrowed my brow and looked around for my dog. She was nowhere to be seen. Quinn was alone on their bed near the window, watching me with careful eyes.
I dropped the pizza box as his words sank in.
