Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kade wanted to talk to Elijah together about moving in, and I think that’s a great idea. But first, I suggested we had a fun day out together. All three of us. Since Elijah and I are on winter break still and Kade is off today, I suggested we go to the aquarium in downtown Kansas City.
Something Elijah and I have in common is our love for science—animals and fish included. I can’t wait to take him to the zoo, and on the drive up to Kansas City, we actually make plans to do just that during spring break.
When we get into the aquarium, Elijah and I are both completely enthralled, getting lost in conversations at every exhibit. It’s clear Kade is here mostly for both of us, but still, he seems to be enjoying himself. Listening to us talk.
When we get to the stingrays, Elijah is all too excited to get to pet them. He and I wind up on the opposite side of the large pool of stingrays from Kade, but he doesn’t seem bothered by that.
It gives Elijah and me a little bit of time alone—which I think is what Kade wants. “How are you doing with everything, kiddo?”
Kade was worried the nightmares would come back after Bowen’s accident, but so far, it seems Elijah has been handling it well with no nightmares. “I almost got one!” He giggles, and I realize he probably thinks I was asking about the stingrays.
“Good job,” I praise. “But I mean with your Uncle Bowen and his accident. Being on break. You know... life in general?”
He gazes up at me with those big adorable eyes, his nose scrunched, looking a lot like his father in this moment. “Uncle Bowen is fine. He didn’t die.”
I grin. “No. He didn’t.”
Elijah goes back to trying to gently pet a stingray, and I realize he really does seem to be okay.
It doesn’t mean his fear is gone completely, but I think he’s had time to process it.
I think it was a good call—Kade bringing him to the hospital.
He knows he has support, and he’s going to be surrounded by people who love him.
Still, there’s a need inside me to make sure he knows it.
“Well, if you ever need to talk about it—you can always talk to your dad. Or Uncle Bowen. Or your counselor. Or me.” I reach down to try to pet a stingray too. “You’re very loved, Elijah.”
His head turns to look over at me. “You love me?”
This. Kid. I swear. I look over at Kade, sensing his eyes on me.
I’m not sure if he can hear us—it’s pretty loud in here with a lot of kids packed into one area—but I just smile at him before looking back at his son.
His son, who yes, I can see being my son someday.
Who I care about a great deal already. Who is my student—but isn’t only a student to me.
He’s my boyfriend’s son and an incredible little human.
“You’re very loveable, kiddo.” I smile, and he’s beaming back at me.
“Do you love my dad?”
Again. This kid. I love how he can just ask that though. That he’s not afraid to say whatever is on his mind. I look over at Kade again—seeing the joy in his eyes and knowing he can in fact hear us.
I look back at Elijah and nod. “I do.”
He’s grinning from ear to ear now. “Are you going to marry him?”
I let out a laugh, not at all surprised that’s where his mind went. “Would that be okay with you?”
It’s way too soon for that—but of course it’s been on my mind.
We’re planning to move in together—it’s not like we aren’t fully committed already.
And I don’t really need the piece of paper to prove that—but part of me does want it.
“Of course.” He shrugs his little shoulders like it’s the easiest answer in the world.
But then his nose scrunches up again, and I know his little wheels are turning. “Do I get to wear a tuxedo?”
I laugh and see Kade walking over toward us, his hand going to Elijah’s little shoulder. “Do you want to wear one?”
There’s that little flutter in my gut again when he asks that. Because it seems to me, he’s completely on board with this too. And that just does something to me. Elijah nods his head exuberantly. “Yeah! And a bow tie!”
I laugh, meeting Kade’s eyes before his hand goes to Elijah’s hair, scrubbing over the top of his head playfully. “Then you’ll get it.”
Elijah does a cute little fist pump and dance. “Oh yeah.”
Kade’s eyes meet mine, and I see the silent question there. I nod my head because I think the timing is more than right. He looks down at Elijah, whose attention seems to be back on the stingrays. “Hey, buddy, what do you think about us moving into Spencer’s house?”
His head snaps toward Kade’s direction, but his hand is still in the water. “Both of us?”
“Of course,” I say. “You’d have your own room.”
“Yeah. I like your house,” he says decidedly. But then he looks a little sad. “What about Uncle Bowen?”
Kade handles this one. “You can go and stay with him when you want, but I think he wouldn’t mind having his house back. Though I know he’ll miss you. He’ll be there in an instant any time you want him.”
That seems to satisfy Elijah as he nods and then finally gets to stroke the back of one of the stingrays. “I touched it!”
I laugh and stand at Kade’s side, his arm going around my waist. “Well, I think we have his approval,” I say.
He leans into me. “Did you really have any doubt?”
I look at the sweet kid who stole my heart as quickly as his father did and shake my head.
“No doubts here.”
He kisses my temple, and I smile.
We’re a family.