But this sideshow with the paparazzi was a sign of things to come. A sign of things that had no place in Wood Hollow.
CHAPTER 24
COOPER
The real world appeared in the guise of fast-talking, slick hipsters driving high-end cars and wearing fancy clothes. I was reminded of the first time I’d met Silas and I had to laugh. He truly did come from a different place. I’d known all along that he was passing through, but damn, I wasn’t ready to let him go.
Not that I had a choice.
The dad part of my brain was mindful of Ivy and Chase’s reactions. They’d been as dazzled as everyone else by the cameras and the polished air of outsiders who’d deigned to watch them run around a field for an hour. This wasn’t normal and they knew it. Just as they knew sad good-byes were inevitable.
Theirs came in the early evening in front of the house. Sarah and Frank waited in the van for Chase and Ivy, who were currently attached to my lover like a couple of barnacles, sobbing their hearts out.
“Just stay here. You don’t have to go,” Ivy cried.
Chase wiped at tears, sniffling as he went for the brave approach. “He’s gonna visit, Ive. He said so, right, Silas?”
“Yep.” Silas kissed the tops of their heads and straightened, flashing a slightly wobbly smile at me. “Boston’s not that far away.”
“And we’ll go to your games,” Chase added, his voice cracking with emotion.
“You will, buddy. We’ll make it happen.”
“Can we text you?” Ivy asked.
“Of course. Hey, come on now. No more tears. Gimme a hug.” He sank to his knees and crushed them to his chest. “You two are the coolest kids ever, and I’m so glad I got to meet you.”
They clung to Silas like Saran Wrap for another minute, then reluctantly grabbed their backpacks and slumped off to the van.
I set a hand on his hip because I couldn’t bear not to touch him as we waved good-bye.
We stood side by side long after the van had turned the corner.
I traced Silas’s spine with the pad of my thumb and kissed his cheek. “You okay?”
“No. That sucked. And I can’t even fucking think about tomorrow.”
“Don’t think about it.” I pulled Silas to face me and pressed my lips to his. “We have tonight.”
We didn’t do anything exciting. We ate dinner on the deck and hung out by the firepit with a bottle of wine. We stuck to neutral topics, laughing about the five missed catches in the end zone and the kid from Elmwood who’d refused to play without his lucky ball cap…even though it smelled suspiciously like dog poop.
Eventually, we headed inside and made love.
We’d been here so many times and knew each other’s bodies so well. It would have been easy to give in to lust, but the need to hold and savor was stronger. It made every thrust, everysigh more poignant. I was overwhelmed with the desire to be connected…body and soul. Me inside him. Silas inside me.
He panted my name, his cock slipping out as he collapsed beside me. “So good.”
I guided his head to my chest and ran my fingers through his hair. “Yes.”
We lay quietly in the dark. And just when I’d thought Silas had fallen asleep, he whispered,
“What am I gonna do without you?”
I didn’t think I was meant to hear, and if I was, I couldn’t have answered. Tears welled in my eyes and fell silently.
In the morning, I made coffee and breakfast, and walked next door to help Silas pack his Jeep.
He closed the trunk and met me at the driver’s side, tossing his keys nervously.
