I pushed a tendril of honey-blonde hair back behind her ear, asking, “To us?”
Her hand found mine, fingers interlocking as she rested on my chest. “To unfinished stories.”
I kissed her hair, the scent clinging to me like memory. And for the first time in thirteen years, I didn’t feel lost anymore.
I was finally home.
With her, wherever she was, I’d be home.
twenty-five
KIT
Rubber Band Man (with hozier) - Mumford & Sons
“Is it too hot?” Jonah asked over the sound of moving water, the level rising as I sunk into the perfect tub.
“It’s perfect,” I practically moaned, sinking deeper as steam curled around my face. The lavender bubbles clung to my skin, heat loosening every knot in my shoulders.
We’d had a busy Christmas Day yesterday, Scottie and Nico staying over for the holiday, some of our other friends coming over for food. Jonah took over the large kitchen, working hard all day to serve up one of the best festive dinners I’d had in averylong time.
Then, in the evening, when it was only the four of us, we’d retreated to the comfort of the living room. With the TV on in the background playing reruns of old Christmas movies, the four of us played board games, the competitive athlete side of the others coming out a little too much during one particular round of Ludo. Jonah’s laughter was the loudest in the room, his eyes catching mine every time Scottie tried to bend the rules.
Those same eyes were on me again as I lay in the bath, only softer and heated.
“Do you want to get in? It’s nice.” I tempted. For the past few months, he’d been all over the place, training with Scottie as she continued the tour. I missed them both, but the reunions made it worth it. I kept busy when it was only me in London, but stepping back from the agency enabled me to chase him around the world, surprise visit him during tournaments, and live the life I never got used to believing was mine.
“No.” Instead, he simply plucked a grape from the platter he’d brought me and placed it into my waiting, open mouth. “I’m enjoying the view.”
I’d complained all Boxing Day, a holiday hangover in full swing, every muscle in my body aching. When Jonah offered to run me a bath and feed me food? How was a girl to say no?
“You like watching me in the bath while you feed me?” I teased, sinking further down the bath, the water running over my chest. “Is this a new kink I’ve been unaware of? Because I could be on board.”
He reached over, and at first I expected a kiss. What I got was even better: a small sourdough cracker paired with a smoked cheddar. “I like taking care of you,” Jonah said, his voice low and rough. I was pinned under his gaze, suddenly exposed in a way I only enjoyed with him. “Even more so, I like seeing you wearing nothing but the present I bought you.”
Without a second thought, my hand floated to the necklace resting against my damp skin. The trio of flawless diamonds caught the bathroom light, scattering tiny sparkles over the water. Jonah’s gaze followed, lingering, and I had to swallow hard against the lump in my throat.
It wasn’t just jewellery; it was a promise. The three of us, a family. Jonah, Scottie, and me.
The way it couldn’t be thirteen years ago.
Jonah’s thumb brushed the damp skin above the necklace, careful and reverent. The rough pads of his fingers lingered there, as though he was grounding himself in the fact that I was real, that we were here, now.
“I kept thinking about this,” he murmured. “How I want to be around you all the time. It hurts when I’m away. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve already lost so much time with you.”
My chest tightened. He was leaving tomorrow, flying halfway across the world to begin the run of tournaments in Australia. I’d fly out later in January to watch Scottie’s run in Melbourne, but it was weeks without them.
It had been hard, the long distance, but this time it could work. We knew what we wanted, and that was each other. Life could get in the way, but we had the freedom to make it work this time.
“I hate it too, but Scottie needs you as much as I do,” I admitted. “And after her father…” I trailed off.
I couldn’t imagine her trusting anyone as easily as she did Jonah. Not after what her father had done, the history there. The more I’d learned about growing up with Matteo, training with him, the more I hated myself for letting him walk all over me.
I thought I’d done the best thing for her, but I was wrong.
Almost as if he could read my mind, Jonah’s hand caressed my face, pulling me from my thoughts. The water sloshed as I reached out, pressing my hand on top of his, losing myself in the feel of him.
I pushed the thoughts away.
