Page 123 of Home Ice

He says it so easily, with so much conviction, that I believe it too. My smile tugs at my lips. “You better go.”

“I better go.”

“Before I don’t let you.”

He laughs, leans in for another, final kiss.

“Fuck, I love you,” I mutter against his lips.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” His forehead touches mine. “I love you so much I’m dangerously close to not getting on that plane.”

As much as I’d love that, I know it can’t happen. I pull back and give Hawke a little shove toward security.

Then I have to watch him walk away again.

Knowing that this time, he will definitely come back.

Chapter Forty-One

JENSEN

Iwalk into the cafe, and it instantly feels different in a way it never has coming home before. There’s music playing, laughter explodes from a back corner where Ben is talking to a table of people, and when I scan the room and my eyes land on Barrett, every cell in my body settles.

He’s already watching me, and when I approach, he shoots out of his chair like he can’t stay put anymore. The same need is flowing through me. It’s been a long couple of months, and I never knew I could miss someone so much. I’ve missed him before, but it’s a special kind of torture to have him but not have him.

As soon as he’s close enough, I pull him to me and slam my mouth down on his. Immediately, summers and the smell of ice and dancing together and long talks wash over me, and I’m exactly where I need to be.

Someone whistles at us, and Barrett breaks away with a laugh. “Maybe we should have met at my place.”

“Agreed. Let’s go.”

He grabs me before I can turn around. “I’ve already ordered for us. We’ll eat and then go.”

I sigh, burrowing my face into his neck and breathing in the scent I’ve missed so much. “I hate how efficient you are.”

I don’t want to let him go, but I also don’t want to maul him in front of the entire cafe, so I peel myself away from him and drop into the chair.

“Your dad looks like he’s doing well,” I say to keep the conversation as non-sexy as possible.

Pride lights up Barrett’s face. “He is. The two days a week here has given him a real boost, and he even made a start on that artwork for Belli.”

“And how are you handling it?” Even though we’ve already talked about it, I want to see his face as he answers.

“Good. Obviously, it’s hard to let go of the worry, but my therapist has given me some good coping mechanisms to help me handle it.” He reaches over and takes my hand. “You need to stop worrying about us here. Everything is good.”

Our breakfast arrives, and my gaze catches on the bright red plate and green mug. “Looks like Belli got everything replaced,” I say, tapping the saucer.

“Yeah …” Barrett echoes the movement. “They’re unbreakable.”

“What?”

“I asked her why she changed everything, and that’s what she told me.”

“Smart choice.”

His eyes meet mine. “She did it for Dad. So that when he gets tired and drops things, he doesn’t feel bad about breaking them. Knowing that she has his back helps me worry a lot less.”

“We got to grow up in a pretty cool place.”