Their patience has never been their strong suit, but today, they’ve been amazing. Patient. Well-behaved. Tuxedo-clad little gentlemen who’ve waited through photos, a long dinner, and rituals I’d never expect them to understand.
I glance at Beckett. He’s grinning, but there’s a tightness still lingering in his jaw.
Well, it’s not like we can sort anything out right here. “What are we waiting for?” I say, maybe just a little too brightly.
A faster song kicks in as we let the boys pull us back onto the dance floor, and I just… let go.
It feels reckless.
Too much, too fast, right on the heels of what Beckett just said.
But maybe that’s the point.
Maybe it’s exactly because we don’t know what’s coming next that we lose ourselves in this moment. Before it slips through our fingers.
And for a while, it’s a blur of little feet, wild arm flails, and Max attempting some kind of slide that nearly takes out Rocky’s ankles.
We dance as a four-person unit, our weird little constellation. Max spins until he’s dizzy, Blakey claps offbeat, and Beckett does this ridiculous shoulder shimmy that has both boys howling.
Only a few songs later, the twins are panting, cheeks pink, hair sticking up in sweaty cowlicks.
“I’m tired,” Blakey declares, leaning heavily into my side.
“My legs are noodles,” Max groans, flopping against Beckett.
Mom appears beside us with Babs, both of them clearly winding down, their lipstick a little smudged and hair a little less perfect than it was at the start of the night.
“Time for us to head back to the ship,” Mom says. “These two look done.”
“They are done,” I agree. The adrenaline that’s been propping me up all day is starting to thin out, too.
I glance over at Beckett. “Tay and I need to help with the breakdown.”
I promised Luna we’d make sure nothing was left behind when the ship set sail later tonight, and we have tons to do.
As per ship rules, our luggage needs to be placed outside our cabins by 11 pm. I’d meant to get it together after lunch today, but…
Beckett seems to read my mind. “I’ll help your mom pack up the boys' stuff and then work on our suite,” he says immediately.
I hesitate. Part of me doesn’t want to let him out of my sight, especially after the little bombshell he dropped during our dance.
This is for the best, though. Divide and conquer. “Okay,” I say. “I’ll come back on the last shuttle with the others.”
Max looks between us, suddenly worried. “Don’t be late, Mom. The ship waits for no one.”
I crouch and smooth his hair back from his forehead. “I’m never late, kiddo. I’ll head back as soon as I can. Somebody’s gotta make sure Aunt Luna’s presents don’t get left behind.”
He nods, accepting that as a sacred mission.
Blakey yawns so wide his jaw pops. God, it’s been a long day for all of us.
Mom and Babs start herding the boys toward the shuttle area. Beckett hangs back for a second.
“Hey,” he says softly.
I turn.
He steps in close, one hand sliding around the back of my neck, and…
