While he dries off and gets ready for bed, I drain the tub and put out the candles. I put away everything else that I had gotten out.
He grabs my hand, pulling me towards the room. I follow him willingly, Mocha already asleep on the edge of the bed.
We climb under the covers and turn on the TV. He hands me the remote, and I pick a random movie that I know he won’t make it very long into.He pulls me into him, our limbs tangling together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“I’m so glad to be home.”
“Me too.”
I’m sure that when he said it, he meant the house. I know that I meant him, because Beckett Hayes is myhome.
38
BECKETT
The sun is high in the sky by the time I wake up in the morning. I feel significantly better. I’m not sure what was in that drink, or maybe it was the bath, or possibly it was just her presence beside me. I slept better last night than I have in a long time.
I pat the bed beside me, and it’s empty. I frown and reach for my phone on the nightstand.
My eyes widen when I see that it’s almost ten. I haven’t slept in like this, probably since I was Sloane’s age.
I stretch my limbs and slowly drag myself out of bed. I grab some sweats and slip them on, running a hand through my hair before walking out of the room.
There’s soft music playing from the speaker in the kitchen.
Sloane holds Mocha in her arms as she dances with him. She smiles at him as she sings, and he looks like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.Just soaking up every ounce of affection she offers.
I know the feeling, bud.
She has this way of just making you feel like you’re everything to her. Her heart is so big, and the way she cares isway more than I will ever deserve. But she’s mine, and I’m going to fight to keep her.
I take my phone out of my pocket and snap a picture of the two of them, and just watch them for a few minutes.
She made this house feel like a home.
When the song ends, she kisses Mocha on the head before setting him down on the ground, going back to whatever she was cooking on the stove. I roll my eyes at her ability to just space the rest of the world out when she’s in a moment.
I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, burying my face into her neck. She jumps slightly before relaxing into my arms.
“Sorry I slept so long,” I whisper, gently kissing her skin.
God, she tastes so good. I feel like I’ve been starving. She’s the only thing that can ease the hunger inside of me.
“It’s ok, you needed it. Considering you got more sleep last night than I think you’ve gotten the last two weeks.”
She might have a point there.
“What do you want to do today?” I whisper in her ear, gently nipping her earlobe.
“I was thinking that maybe we could go for a drive up the canyon and have a picnic, just the three of us. Find a place with no service and where we can just relax.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“I’m glad you think so,” she says, flipping the bacon.
I need her. Not just physically, but I need her soul, to just be near her, to surround myself in her and never leave.
I’ve never experienced the ache of missing someone like I have the last few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I miss Mason every single day, and I pray that he’s ok. Afghanistan is a scary place, and I hope he comes home in one piece.
