And in that tender, quiet little space between us, with her hands holding onto me and her blue hair brushing my cheek, I felt like I had found my home.
When we pulled up to Becca’s, the front door burst open, and Leo came flying out like shot confetti.
“DID YOU MAKE THE TEAM?!” he shouted before she even stepped out of the car.
Eleanor laughed as he wrapped himself around her waist. “We won’t know until later this week, buddy.”
Ava appeared behind him, clipboard tucked under her arm. “We require updates.”
“You’ll have them,” Eleanor promised.
The kids chattered all the way back to the porch as Eleanor and I sat on the porch swing.
Then Leo gasped dramatically. “Can we have a sleepover?”
Ava’s eyes widened. “Yes. Can we?”
Eleanor and I spoke at the same time. “It’s a school night.”
Both kids groaned.
“But,” I added, exchanging a look with her, “the first weekend of summer? We can do a big sleepover then.”
“A beginning-of-summer celebration,” Ava said thoughtfully.
“With pancakes!” Leo added.
“And haunted houses,” Ava said.
“And popsicles!” Leo shouted.
They ran inside toward Becca before any adult could add conditions. Probably for the best.
Eleanor turned toward the driveway, brushing her hair off her forehead. “We should go help them clean whatever . . . chaos they created.”
“Absolutely,” I said. Though if I was honest, I wasn’t in a hurry to move.
She took two steps toward the house, and I couldn’t help myself. I reached out, gently catching her hand and tugging her back toward me. She stumbled right into my space, right into my warm breath, right into every reckless thing I wanted.
I kissed her again. I just couldn’t get enough of her today.
When I pulled back, she looked a little dazed.
“So,” I murmured with a smile I couldn’t hold back, “maybe . . . when the kids have their summer sleepover . . . we could have one too?”
Her breath caught instantly.
The fear flashed across her face so fast that I stepped back without thinking.
“Hey—hey,” I said softly, hands lifting in apology. “Sorry. Too fast. Forget I said anything. Really.”
“No.” She pressed her hand to her chest—trying to steady herself, maybe. “No, I . . . I want to.”
I froze.
Her eyes were shiny, honest, and wide. “I really want to. I just . . . ” Her lips pressed together. “It would be the first time since Ethan.”
That landed deep.
