“When did he join the Marines?”
“Right after graduation.” I sighed. “I was so proud of him, I still am, but he—” I swallowed hard before continuing. “He was all I had.”
“He’s not all you have anymore,” Travis replied resolutely. It was a moment before he asked gently, “What happened today?”
“Ry called—said he has to go off the grid for a while. He’s my baby brother, you know?” I said hoarsely, hoping he could understand. “I know he’s in danger all the time, but having it put so bluntly and knowing he won’t be able to check in for a while was hard to take.”
He kissed my temple. “I’m sure that was tough. And I can relate. I’ve had to go off the grid more than once. Sam has been in your shoes before. It’s never easy, but I always came back in one piece. He will, too.”
Something about him saying that, despite knowing there was no way he could know for sure, eased the ache in my chest a bit.
“Thanks,” I replied, tensing slightly with my next question. “Will you have to go off the grid again?”
His fingers paused their movements through my hair before starting back up again. “Maybe. It will never be my choice to do that, but I don’t want to lie and say it could never happen.”
I craned my head to look at him. “I’d rather you be honest.”
He offered a gorgeous smile. “Believe me, Em. Having you to come home to won’t have me volunteering to travel.”
“Don’t you think we’re moving sort of fast?” I asked cautiously.
He shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve waited over thirty years for you. Doesn’t feel fast to me.”
My heart quickened its pace. He’d been so open with me, something I knew didn’t always come easily to him. I wanted to do the same. “There aren’t many people I’ve been close to in my life. Men in particular; it was just always too complicated, it didn’t feel right. It was easier to bury myself in a great love story in one of my books.” I swallowed hard, working up the courage to finish my thought. “But I told myself if I ever found that man—the one who made me want to open up, who made me feel, well, the way that you do, that I’d give him everything and never look back. And in case you haven’t gathered, you’re that man.”
I looked down, unable to meet his eyes after laying myself bare. He didn’t allow me that, and instead tilted my head up in that trademark gesture I’d come to love.
“Are you scared to death?” I squeaked.
A slow smile spread across his handsome face as he slowly shook his head.
“Are you going to say something?” I demanded.
“I’m going take you upstairs and prove I’m as yours as you are mine. I’ll ask my questions later.”
He didn’t have to prove anything, I already believed it, but I was more than happy to let him try.
****
“It’s why you work so much,” he stated hours later as we lay wrapped up in each other in his bed, with Able at the foot and Buster nestled in the curve of my back. “Because your parents left you.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “The money that they left ran out when I graduated. I put myself through school, and I’ll be paying my loans until the day I die.” I laughed darkly. “And I needed to support Ryan through high school. He hated it, got a job to try to help out, but he was just a kid. He needed to focus on school. He’d have to be a man soon enough. That day came so quick.” I trailed off thoughtfully.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” he marveled, kissing the top of my head.
“Not amazing,” I disagreed. “I’m—”
“I know, I know. Just doing what anyone would do, right?” he finished for me. “Someday I’ll get you to see how special you really are.”
I liked the idea of someday, so decided not to argue, simply burrowing closer. We lay quietly, the only sounds the rustle of Able and the distant murmur of the ocean.
“You want me to find them?” he asked finally, shocking me.
“What? My parents?” I asked, horrified.
“Yes. I could, pretty easily I’m sure.”
I’d never considered the idea, but only had to think about it for a minute. “No.”
