Chapter 58
58
BEN
Rex sprawls out on the living room floor between Seb and me as we enjoy a cold beer to celebrate my birthday. His eyebrows rise and fall as his eyes move between us. The stark white bandage on his shoulder is due to be changed in a couple of hours, and I need to clean his cone. He sighs loudly as Seb taps the neck of his bottle against mine. “Happy birthday, old man,” he says with a snicker.
I chuckle with my lips around the opening of my beer. “Oh yeah, a whole nine days older than you.”
He shrugs. “Still older.”
I take a drink, savoring the slide of the cool liquid down my throat—a sigh escapes unbidden, like a natural reflex, whenever I enjoy a cold brew. It’s been a huge week.
Even though I’ve had time off work, I had to go in on Monday to hand in my resignation. It’ll take about a month for it to be finalized, which gives me some time to work out my next steps. Nix has already offered me a job, but I’m considering the idea of learning how to train service dogs. I’m not sure, but maybe I can balance both.
“Any plans tonight? You need me to stay here and watch Rex for you?”
A smile curves my lips, and happiness unfurls in my chest. Life is good. No, life is fucking fantastic. “Hope and Evan are coming over. She suggested we stay in so we could monitor Rex. You can stay if you’d like. I’m gonna grill some chicken breasts, and she’s making salad and potato bake.” I point my bottle at him. “You need to taste her potato bake, man. So freaking good.”
He pats his stomach. “Only if you’re sure she won’t mind. I don’t wanna be a fourth wheel.” A knock sounds through the house. “Sounds like she’s here.”
I glance at the time with narrowed eyes. “It’s too early, and she knows they can just walk in. They don’t need to knock because I gave them a set of keys.” They’re my family now.
He raises his eyebrows, looking at me with pride. “Things are serious. I mean, I figured they were since you quit the force.” He shakes his head with a smile. “Still can’t believe it.”
I climb to my feet when there’s another knock at the door. “Can’t get any more serious,” I tell him as I drag open the front door. Maybe we can tell him our other news over dinner.
It takes me longer than it should to make sense of what I’m seeing. Hope is holding a fancy homemade birthday cake, while Evan has a bunch of brightly colored helium balloons secured in one hand. Keeping with the party theme, both of them are wearing outrageous party hats, but it’s the numerous cases and boxes surrounding them that don’t compute.
“Happy birthday!” they both cheer, wearing grins at least a mile wide. Their eyes sparkle with happiness and I want to see that same sparkle every single day.
Pleasure and happiness explode in my chest as I feel Sebastian at my back. How did I get so damn lucky? I step out of the house, studying the boxes and luggage. “What’s all this?” I wave my hand around.
“Your birthday present,” Hope says, as if it’s so obvious I should already know. She must read the confusion written all over my face, because she grins at Evan. “We thought we’d give you us for your birthday. We’re moving in!”
My heart thuds to a stop. Sebastian’s intake of air fills the silence, then my heart takes off at a gallop. My long-time friend slaps me on the back, and I smile so wide, it takes up all the real estate on my face. I rush forward, carefully taking the cake from Hope to hand to Seb, then I scoop her into my arms and spin her around. Hope’s giggles ring out and it’s a sound I want to hear every day. I carefully place her on her feet and pull Evan in for a hug. “This has to be the best birthday gift I’ve ever received!” I announce.
Sebastian laughs behind me and collects a box to carry inside.
“I have a few requests,” Evan tells me in a serious tone.
I step back with a nod. “Hit me.”
“We need to be allowed to put up photos of my dad.”
“Done.” As if he needs to ask.
“I need to switch out the door frame from my bedroom to this one.” He waves his hand toward a piece of timber leaning against the porch railing. “It’s where Dad measured me as I grew.” My heart splinters and bleeds for everything he’s lost.
“Done.”
He nods stiffly and his bottom lip trembles. He holds up one finger. “One more thing.” I nod for him to continue. “You can’t die.”
Fuck!
Hope’s gasp cracks the air like a whip, Sebastian freezes, and I cup the back of Evan’s head to drag him into me. Tucking his face into my chest and kissing the top of his head, I hold him tight. He has to feel my heart thumping heavily as his hands grip each side of my sweater. His body trembles against mine, and I draw in a deep breath.
“I can’t make that promise, Ev. Nobody can.” I wish I could. I hate that it’s even something he felt he needed to say. A promise he’s so desperate to have. “But I promise never to put myself at unnecessary risk. You have my word. I’ll do everything I can to be here for a long time. I don’t want to leave you guys. I love you so much.”
He nods against my chest and pulls away. His tear-stained cheeks and red eyes reach into my chest and punch a hole right through my heart. “I know you can’t promise, but I don’t want to lose you, too.” He smiles a shaky smile. “Sorry to ruin your birthday.”
I pull him back into me and hold my other arm open to invite Hope to join us. She burrows into my side, wrapping one arm around me and one around her son. I can’t imagine how hard it was to make the decision to leave their family home behind and move in with me. They’re leaving behind their memories as well as a major connection to Wyatt.
“You haven’t ruined anything. This is the best gift you could ever give me. This family is my world. I’ve wanted us to live together for a while. This works perfectly.”
By the time we pull apart, Evan’s more composed and Sebastian has most of their things stacked neatly in the living room. I get the grill hot and cook while Hope prepares the rest of the food.
The cold air is biting against my exposed skin, but I barely notice it with the absolute joy I’m feeling. The back door opens and closes, and Sebastian hands me a beer, tapping his bottle against mine with a smirk.
“Life’s pretty great right now,” I comment.
He nods, his eyes twinkling in the fading light. “I can see that.” He lifts the bottle to his lips, then points it at me. “You ready for this?”
Shaking my head, I chuckle. “More than you’ll ever know.”
Raising an eyebrow, he takes a drink. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
I turn over the chicken. “I’ll fill you in over dinner.”
We’re all quiet as we dig into the delicious meal; the only sounds in the room are the utensils as they strike the plates. Seb’s watching us closely, and I can read the questions behind his gaze. He’s being unusually patient, waiting for us to spill the beans. His gaze flicks between Hope and me as he finishes chewing, clears his throat, and picks up his beer.
It’s sorta fun keeping up the suspense, but I should put him out of his misery.
I nudge Evan’s foot with mine to get his attention. I tip my chin toward Sebastian. “Do you wanna tell Seb our news?”
“Please, someone tell me already. I’m dying over here.”
Hope chuckles. “Quick, Ev. You’d better tell him. We don’t want Seb’s death on our hands.”
Seb turns as white as the counter behind him. “Shit! Sorry, I didn’t mean anything …”
Wearing a grin, Hope waves off his concern. “We know.” She turns to Evan and raises her eyebrows.
Evan’s smile is magnificent as he puffs up his chest. “I’m gonna be a big brother.”
Sebastian blinks several times, frozen in place, as if the words don’t compute. Slowly, a grin grows, and he jumps up from his seat, rounding the table to pull Hope out of her chair. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifts her from her feet in a bear hug, placing a kiss on her cheek. Her laughter is free, and her smile is broad, making my heart skip a beat. She’s so damn beautiful. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” she says between chuckles.
He gently places her back on her feet, then moves to Evan. They perform the complicated handshake they were working on while Hope and I made dinner. Then, Seb drags me from my chair and engulfs me in a bear hug—one I’m surprised doesn’t leave me with cracked ribs. “Congrats, man. I’m thrilled for you and the future you have spread out in front of you.” He pulls away and looks at the three of us. “In front of all of you.”
“Thanks, man.”
He jabs his thumb into his chest. “I’m gonna be the best damn uncle.” He looks at Evan. “I mean, I’m already pretty great, right?”
Evan grins and nods his agreement, realizing Sebastian already considers him to be family.
We finish our meal and clean up, then Hope sets her homemade birthday cake on the table. I can’t even remember the last time I had a cake for my birthday. Probably before we lost Tahlia; she used to bake them for me. My heart constricts a little at the thought of her. I think she would have loved Hope and Evan, and I know she’d be thrilled we’re having a baby together. That I’m creating a family of my own.
Sebastian nudges me. “This beats a couple of beers at the pub to celebrate your birthday.”
“It certainly does.” Satisfaction and a sense of peace roll through my body. It’s a feeling that’s been happening more often lately. At first, it was unfamiliar, and I couldn’t place it, but I’ve come to realize the feeling is contentment. I thought my life was satisfying. I thought it was everything I wanted … until Hope and Evan. They showed me how empty my life was.
They all sing to me, I blow out the candles, and then Hope cuts pieces of birthday cake for each of us. I watch Sebastian with my family, how seamlessly they fit together, and I’m grateful I was the one to answer the call when Evan was caught shoplifting.
That call changed my life.
It saved me from loneliness. It’s given me a family to call my own. Sebastian’s always been the brother I never had, but now I have more. So much more. And I hope, one day, he has this, too.
I raise my drink. “To spending birthdays with family.”
Sebastian tips his chin to me as he raises his beer. “To family.”
Hope and Evan follow suit, and then we all enjoy the delicious cake Hope lovingly baked and decorated for me.
Leaning into Hope, I whisper. “I need to take Rex out. Back in a minute.” She nods, never taking her eyes from the television. I kiss her temple, then head through to the back door with Rex.
The cool night air hits me square in the face as Rex hobbles out into the backyard. I take the steps down to the grass and dig my hands deep into my pockets to keep them warm, then look up at the stars. I organize my thoughts and clear my throat. “You can rest easy, Wyatt. I’ve got them now, and I won’t let anything destroy their happiness.” I blow out a long breath. “I’m sorry for what happened to you and for everything you’ve lost, but I promise to love and cherish your family the way they deserve.” An arc of light shoots across the sky as if Wyatt’s giving his approval. “Thanks, man.”
Rex wanders up to me and barks, nudging his muzzle into my thigh. When I turn to go back inside, I freeze at the sight of Hope standing at the base of the steps. Shit, I wonder how long she’s been out here.
She smiles softly and swipes at her cheek. I guess she was out here long enough. I walk straight to her and wrap her slight frame in my embrace. She buries her face against my pecs and slides her hands beneath my sweater until her chilly hands rest flat against my shoulder blades. “Thank you,” she mumbles against me.
I kiss the top of her head. “I love you.”
She looks up at me, a smile touching her lips. “I love you, too.”
I take her hand in mine to lead her inside, rubbing her bare finger. I still can’t believe she took her wedding rings off. “Are you sure?” She knows what I’m asking.
She shrugs. “Absolutely certain. It was time.”
“I love you, Cookie. I hope you know how much.” I lean down to kiss her soft lips.
“I’m pretty sure I do.” She presses up on her toes to return my kiss. “I hope you know how special you are to me, Ben Taylor. I love you.”