Her lips parted, yet she didn’t interrupt him.
“That’s on us, too,” he continued. “We wanted something that felt normal so badly that we all agreed it made sense for you to go without protection for the trip.”
She swallowed. “It’s not your fault, so don’t feel bad. We agreed that walking around with a security detail drew more attention. I never suspected I was causing more problems by doing my own thing.”
“Hey,” I cut in. “If you won’t let us blame ourselves, you can’t do that either. We all wanted the same thing. But maybe it’s time we stop pretending we live in a world where no one pays attention to us.”
Faye’s gaze shifted between us. “You’re right. I guess a part of me has been wondering whether you’d stick around if the media started scrutinizing you the way they do me.”
I lifted her chin and brushed her lips with a gentle kiss. “What did we tell you at that gala? Nothing is going to scare us away. We love you, and that hasn’t changed. If we become the subjects of news stories, I think I speak for both of us when I saywe won’t care. Nothing anyone says about us will ever change how we feel about you.”
Faye exhaled slowly. “Nothing can change how I feel about you either.”
One of the agents finally opened the door, signaling it was time for her to leave. We climbed out, gathered her luggage, and walked her to the secured entrance.
“Call us as soon as you land,” Jase said, then bent down to kiss her goodbye.
I stepped in next and pressed my mouth against hers.
“Go take care of what you need to,” I told her quietly as I pulled away. “But after that, we’re going to figure out how to stop hiding.”
She smiled. “I like the sound of that. I won’t be away long.”
Jase let out a breath. “That’s good. It doesn’t feel right when you’re not with us.”
For a moment, the three of us just stood there, pressed together in the early morning quiet.
Then the agent cleared his throat.
Time.
Faye stepped back, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. “Love you both.”
“Love you too,” we replied in unison.
She smiled, and then she was gone.
It wasa comfortable seventy-eight degrees when we landed in Portland, but despite the perfect weather, all I could think about was Faye on the opposite coast.
Between the chaos of the night before and the early-morning rush to get her on a flight, neither of us had thought to call ourdads to tell them we were getting in a day early. That meant no one was waiting for us at arrivals. It was just Jase and me, rolling our bags through the sliding glass doors toward the passenger pickup area.
Jase walked beside me, his hat pulled low, his jaw tight. He hadn’t said much on the flight. Neither had I. We’d spent most of it staring out the window or checking our phones, as if she might suddenly text to say she was already back.
“Just ordered a rideshare,” I told him as we reached an empty bench.
He nodded as if he’d already known I was going to take care of that.
This was our home now, even if it didn’t quite feel like it yet. We’d already been in college when our dads moved to Portland, but with the Seawolves trading for us, this was where our future would take shape.
The ride to the house passed in silence, but not the comfortable kind. No music. No jokes. Just the city passing by as we drove into the suburbs.
As the driver pulled into the driveway, the front door swung open.
Chase stepped out first, already grinning, wearing a T-shirt and sweats as if he’d been relaxing for once. My dad followed close behind, his hair damp, likely coming straight from the shower, his smile just as wide.
“Our boys are home,” Chase announced, spreading his arms wide.
Jase had barely grabbed his bag from the trunk when Chase was there, pulling him in with one arm and slapping his back with the other.
