Chapter 43 #2
Then Xander turned and began the cute little toddle down to the bank of the pond.
Asher quietly followed as I stepped back and pulled the stroller further away from the two of them.
At first, neither of them said anything as Asher unzipped the baggie and placed a few grapes into Xander’s outstretched hand.
I watched as the ducks came gliding over and eventually a giggle left Xander’s lips as the birds dove at the treats he scattered in front of them.
Asher squatted down beside our little boy, slowly handing him the grapes from the baggie, and quiet words danced across the breeze.
What he said to Xander wasn’t something I was close enough to hear, but as the sun rose higher, and long after the bag was empty, even I felt the stiff tension between my toddler and his dad dissipate into the wind.
Xander stood directly next to Asher and twisted some fabric of Asher’s joggers in his little fingers. He squealed as two ducks practically ran across the surface of the water, then shot into the air. Asher pointed at the two of them leaving and said something to our son.
Time passed, but how much, I didn’t know or care as I settled onto the grass and let the warm sun beat down upon my skin.
I simply watched the two of them wander along the small bank, looking at the different cattails and brush scattered around them.
At one point, Asher attempted to help Xander build some sort of sandcastle that didn’t stay upright at all.
Xander laughed and stomped through the oddly shaped pile, destroying what little evidence was left of the misshapen structure.
My heart swelled as warm and sweet as honeysuckles in summer.
How had I been so selfish to let Xander and Asher miss out on two years of this kind of love and joy?
Yes, it was clear Asher understood why, and deep down I knew too, but there was a part of me watching this innocent scene unfold that had me wishing I could go back in time. Why hadn’t I been braver then?
If I could give Asher back just a moment of time with his son, I would do it. But I couldn’t. All I could do was give him what he was asking for now.
Asher grabbed Xander by the waist and hoisted him in the air. The little boy screeched and giggled as Asher pretended to fly him around like an airplane. He kicked his little feet, sprinkling drops of water from his wet shoes that had found the edge of the pond a few times up to this point.
I smiled, and leaned back against the palm of my hands, my ass long since numb from sitting on the ground and watching the two people I loved the most lost in their first shared moment.
Quickly digging into the pocket of my leggings on the side of my thigh, I pulled out my phone and snapped some pictures. I’d never seen Asher smiling as brightly as he did as he plopped his son on his waist and Xander clapped his hands in glee.
Then a pair of eyes met mine. Light brown, twinkling as vibrant as sunset orange, Asher’s gaze locked onto mine, and his smile deepened even more.
I quickly took a final picture as tears misted my vision.
This was exactly what I needed. This was exactly what Xander needed, and dare I assume, what Asher needed.
“Stay,” I mouthed. “Please.”
His eyes widened as his brows rose, and the music that played in my mind was the most beautiful orchestra of love and freedom.
Asher carried Xander up the little pathway as I rose from the grass.
He paused beside me, still holding the happy toddler.
Xander tucked his head against Asher’s shoulders, and his lashes fluttered up and down slowly.
“If that’s what you want,” I quickly added.
He tipped his head as Xander grabbed a fistful of Asher’s cut-off and twisted it tightly in his hand as if in an attempt to tuck in tighter for comfort.
That was what I needed to see to truly know that Asher would never use anything in our past as a weapon, that he wanted to protect us and take care of us.
“What do you want?” he asked.
I offered him a cautious smile. “You. This.” I stepped forward and placed my palm on Xander’s back. “Us as a family.”
A little hand grabbed my arm and pressed against me. “Asher hold me,” he mumbled through tired, slow breaths.
I dropped my hand from Xander’s back and looked directly at Asher. “He’s only two, though, so—”
“He needs stability. I know, Princess,” Asher inserted. His gaze lingered on the toddler whose eyelids drooped. “We can make this our home. I’ll slow down on tours, spend more time in the studio and focus on releasing songs. I think the rest of the band wouldn’t mind slowing down a bit anyway.”
His eyes sparkled as he grinned and looked at me. “You know that Nova and Ava have kids and that Elysia is—”
“Pregnant? Yeah, I didn’t talk to them yesterday, but I saw them when I briefly showed up at your rehearsals.” I smiled as he stepped even closer to me.
“Shit!” He suddenly gasped. “Rehearsals. What time is it? We’ve got sound guys and all that are coming in today to put the final touches before the concert tomorrow.”
I glanced at the clock on my phone. “Twelve-thirty.”
“Okay.” His shoulders slumped in relief. “We don’t need to be there until two. How about some lunch while this little man naps?”
“Together?” I asked, hope surging in my chest.
Asher pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. “You know, that’s usually what a family does.”
I grinned and winked. “Come on.” As I turned toward the stroller, Asher’s hand shot around my wrist, and he spun me back around to face him. Before I had a chance to fight or resist, he jerked me into his side and slammed his lips against mine.
It was wet and sticky, messy and absolutely devouring.
His mouth taking mine, the sweetness of his velvet taste mixing in with a hint of salt from the heat of the noonday sun.
Sweaty drops that I didn’t care about at all, as I eagerly placed my hands around his waist while he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me as tight against his body as he could.
He briefly broke the kiss. “Cosette, promise me you’ll always be mine. You’re what I need. You and Xander and however big our family eventually grows.” His lips brushed against mine as he spoke, and I tipped up onto my toes.
With my eyes still closed, I nodded yes and felt his lips drift up into a smile.
“You made the music come back,” I whispered and felt a warm tear of relief slither down my cheek.
“I’m not afraid anymore. If people find out I’m Duvaldi, then fine.
If Danny or Sydney or Tera try to come after me again, I’ll be all right. Because I have you.”
Lips brushed against mine. “I’ve got you. And Xander. But I think the publicist can help keep Duvaldi under wraps and steer…us in whatever direction we want. We’ll put out statements with just enough information to curb curiosity but to keep you and Xander out of the spotlight.”
I raised a brow and pecked his lips that still lingered against mine. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeated and captured my mouth in a kiss once again.
“Oh!” He pulled away this time far enough that I opened my eyes in slightly annoyed curiosity.
“I did something.” A mischievous grin widened on his face as he hoisted up a side of his hoodie to reveal the brand-new inked design I hadn’t been close enough to decipher yet.
“You didn’t!” I placed my hands over my red cheeks as his smile widened.
“Fuck yes, I did.” He wiggled his brows as I stared at the rather incredible tattoo of me. Well, a silhouette version of the dirty music poster I’d made him with the word Duvaldi etched below my feet and the piano bench.
“It’s really well done,” I muttered, studying the incredible art.
He scoffed. “You think that my most important piece would be done by some shady dude in a back alley?”
I giggled. “I sure hope not.”
And his lips met mine again. I stepped tightly against his body as his fingers threaded through my hair and then slid around my shoulders again.
There was a lot of uncertainty ahead, but it no longer scared me. I was free. Because of him, I felt like I could fly.