Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
CHRISTINE
It’s late by the time we leave the cemetery, and neither of us is up for the four-hour drive back to Sweetspire, so we find a hotel for the night. I wait in the car to call Casey and tell him goodnight while Fletcher goes inside to book a room.
It’s the nicest place we could find around here—which isn’t saying much. It’s a glorified motel, at best.
I text Fletcher’s mom while I’m at it to let her know I found him, he’s all right, and we’ll be back tomorrow. She sends me a string of what I’m assuming are excited emojis—a smiley with hearts around it, fireworks, three thumbs-up, a rose, a peace sign, and what I think is two people hugging. I smirk at the screen, and it softens into a smile as I catch sight through the windshield of Fletcher heading this way.
I don’t know his mom all that well, but I know that I like her. A lot. After everything he’s been through, I’m so glad he ended up with someone like her.
He offers me a tired smile as I climb out of the car and meet him halfway in the parking lot. And that smile…even on a day like today, even after watching my fresh start literally burn to the ground before my eyes, this feeling of unwavering peace washes over me, and I know everything’s going to be okay as long as he keeps looking at me like that.
I follow him to our room at the end of the line and take the second key card he offers. Despite the slightly scary exterior, the room itself is fine, if a little plain and outdated. It’s not a far cry from the place I used to work.
Fletcher seemed okay leaving the cemetery earlier, like having a proper chance to say goodbye to Lucy had lifted at least some of the weight from his shoulders. But after driving here in separate cars, I’m having a hard time gauging his mood. I can’t tell if he wants me to talk to him or leave him to his thoughts.
He silently takes a seat at the foot of the bed and hangs his head between his shoulders.
I hesitate before sinking next to him and laying a hand on his thigh. He immediately puts his hand over mine.
“I’m so sorry, Chris,” he whispers.
I tighten my hand around him. “Fletcher?—”
He flattens his lips into a tight line and shakes his head. “Your house . And after you put so much effort into trying to have a fresh start for you and Case?—”
“Fletcher—”
“This is all my fault. I didn’t think ?—”
“ Fletcher. ” I frame his face with my hands and force him to look at me. He stares back with sad, pleading eyes that cut straight through my chest. “Stop,” I say quietly. “Everything in there was replaceable. It’s just stuff. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“The house…”
“I hated that house.” I let out a small, pitiful laugh as I realize how true it is. “It’s been falling apart since the moment I bought it. I was starting to think the Realtor had it out for me.”
He chuckles too, and his expression sobers as he meets my eyes. Something about it has me holding my breath.
“I wouldn’t survive it,” he whispers. “If something happened to either of you. I wouldn’t survive it.”
“I know the feeling.”
He closes his eyes and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m going to say something, and you’re going to think I’m crazy, so just don’t respond right away, okay?”
My eyebrows fly up.
“I want you and Casey to move in with me.”
I stare at him. Usually my brain is running a million miles an hour, but right now, it goes completely blank.
“I know it’s fast,” he continues. “And under different circumstances, I wouldn’t…but you guys need somewhere to go, and I have the space. At least until you can figure out what you want to do. Figure it out with me.”
I swallow hard. With the whirlwind of the past few days, I hadn’t even begun to think about next steps. I don’t think I’ve even really started to process the fire. Casey can’t stay at Liam’s forever. And the last thing I want to do is give Julian an opportunity to swoop in and take Casey for an extended period of time.
But something about it has my entire body feeling clammy.
Fletcher’s eyebrows tug together as he searches my face. “You hate the idea.”
“No. No. I just…” I trail off, not sure what to say. Not sure what I’m even feeling right now.
Fletcher’s expression softens like he’s figured it out though. “This isn’t anything like that.”
I frown. “Like what?”
He tilts his head. “Like your mom.”
Like my…
That’s exactly it, I realize. My mom’s Band-Aid for every problem growing up was always to find a man to move in with. There were so many I lost count.
“Isn’t it?” I whisper.
His grip on my face tightens. “No. Chris, you are more than capable of finding another solution, I know that. I’m not offering you a handout. You’re not taking advantage of me. I’m not some random guy who only wants you and doesn’t give a shit about your kid. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you since that first night at the bar, I think. And I love Casey. And I’m asking you because I want you there. I want you both.”
I blink rapidly to get rid of the building tears.
“Chris…”
I bite my lip and look down.
A few moments of silence pass before he releases me. “I won’t push you on it. But the door is open.”
My eyes flick up as a wave of déjà vu washes over me.
Another night. Another hotel. His final words to me before he slipped out the door, and I wondered if I’d ever see him again.
His gaze is trained on his hands in his lap now. There’s something so much softer about his face from this angle.
“You won’t like living with me,” I murmur. “I’m messy. And I’ll take up the entire closet. And I always forget my hair in the shower.”
He stills. Looks at me.
“And you can’t keep candy in the house or I’ll eat it all. I don’t have any self-control,” I continue, my voice getting wobbly.
His hands weave into my hair and pull me close.
“But Casey likes to have fruit snacks around. I know they’re not the healthiest, but they’re his favorite. And I’m not above bribing in some situations?—”
Fletcher crushes his lips to mine.
“And I always forget my key?—”
“I will hide as many spares as you need,” he says against my mouth.
He kisses me slowly, deeply, the kind of kiss that makes my head spin.
“I’m a terrible cook?—”
His lips curl into a smile against mine. “I love cooking.”
When I say nothing else, he pulls back an inch and waits. He lifts an eyebrow. “Anything else?”
I sniffle. “That’s all I can think of right now.”
“Thank God.” He pulls my mouth back to his.