Page 173 of Puck Me Back to Life

I can see it. Not because he's lived my life. Because he's looking at me with that heartbreaking mixture of sadness and recognition.

“My grandfather got me out. My mom's dad.” I smile despite myself. “He never asked me to explain anything.”

“He just…” I laugh quietly. “…showed up.”

The memory still feels warm after all these years.

“He picked me up. Told me to grab my things. And when I got in his truck, he looked at me and said, Let's go home.”

I hadn't realized until years later why that sentence mattered so much.

Not…

“Let's go to my house.”

Not…

“You can stay with me.”

Home. Like I belonged there already. Like it wasn't something I had to earn.

I blink hard.

Apparently talking about him still does that to me. Kai quietly sets his wine glass on the table. Then he reaches across and takes my hand. Neither of us says anything for several seconds.

Finally, he squeezes my fingers. “I'm really glad he came for you.”

The sentence is so simple. So genuine. That it almost undoes me.

“So am I.”

Kai studies me for another moment. “Can I tell you something?”

“Always.”

“I think…” He smiles softly. “He'd be really proud of who you became.”

I laugh under my breath. “You've never met me angry.”

“I've met you protective.”

“That's different.”

“I don't think it is,” I argue as I shake my head.

His thumb brushes lightly over my knuckles. “You protect people. You take care of people. You make them feel safe.” His smile grows a little. “I think he taught you better than you realize.”

I can't remember the last time somebody said something that made me feel so completely seen.

Kai quietly stands and walks around the table. Before I can ask what he's doing, he gently takes my wine glass from my hand and sets it aside.

Then he climbs into my lap. Like it is the most natural thing in the world. One arm slips around my shoulders. The other settles lightly against the side of my neck. I instinctively wrap both arms around his waist.

He studies my face for a long second. “Thank you for telling me.”

I nod once, rubbing my face into his neck.

He smiles sadly.