Chapter 33 #2
“You weren’t. You were upset, and that’s totally fine. I’m glad you told us what was hurting you.”
“Is it bad that I’m happy we don’t have to see him anymore?”
“No, sweetie. It’s totally normal to feel that way when someone disappoints you.”
“Will you guys stay with me until I fall asleep?”
“We will,” Carson said as he sat on the bed, next to Cresley. “We’re right here.”
Cresley doled out a series of kisses that looked to be a familiar routine for them.
Ty giggled when she kissed his neck.
“He’s very ticklish on his neck, Carson.”
“That’s good to know for when I’m back to wrestling strength.”
“Why’d you tell him that, Mom? Now he’ll use it against me.”
“That’s right, I will.”
“You’ll have to figure out where he’s ticklish,” Cresley said.
Ty smiled. “That’s a good idea. I love you guys.”
“Love you, too,” Carson said gruffly.
“Love you more than the whole world, buddy,” Cresley said when she kissed him.
“Love you more than the whole universe.”
“He always has to get the last word,” Cresley said, laughing.
Ty was smiling when he turned on his side.
Cresley rubbed his back.
Carson took hold of her free hand and gave it a squeeze that she returned.
He saw tears sliding down her face, every one of them gutting him.
At some point in the past couple of weeks, these two people had become his whole world, and he couldn’t wait to talk to her about what was next for the three of them. She’d be rattled after the incident with Ty, so tonight wasn’t the time, but hopefully soon.
“He’s asleep,” Cresley whispered a few minutes later.
“Will he be scared if he wakes up alone?”
“He won’t wake up. Swimming wears him out like nothing else, and he’ll be out cold until the morning.”
They each gave him another kiss before they tiptoed from the room.
In the hallway, she turned and wrapped her arms around him, moving carefully so she wouldn’t hurt him. “I just want to say that if I hadn’t already been in love with you, I would be after the way you cared for my baby. You said all the things he needed to hear, and I can never thank you enough.”
“Oh… I… You’re in love with me?” Did his voice sound squeaky?
She laughed. “Did you hear anything else I said?”
“Not really. Say the good part one more time so I can make sure I heard you correctly.”
“I am completely and totally and helplessly in love with you, Carson. I know it’s not what you wanted, and I’ll understand if it’s too much, but—”
He kissed her. “It’s not too much. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed until I had you two. I’m in love with you, too, and I was going to tell you that as soon as I got the chance.”
She curled her arms around his neck and looked up at him with those big, expressive eyes, and all he wanted was to drown in their depths every day. Their next kiss was unlike any other that had come before it, with her or anyone else, because she loved him and knew he loved her.
They strained to get closer, with her hand ending up under his T-shirt and his buried in her hair as his tongue tangled with hers in an explosion of desire and need.
His ringing phone had them pulling apart. He wondered if he looked as stunned as she did. “It’s Julian.” He put it on speaker. “Hey, Jules.”
“Just checking on Ty. Everything okay?”
“I think so. A lot of feelings coming out. We had a good talk with him, and he’s asleep.”
“I’ve never seen him behave that way, even during the terrible twos,” Cresley said.
“I had a feeling it was a reaction to recent events,” Isla said. “We’re glad to hear he’s better now.”
“I need to find him a good therapist,” Cresley said.
“I’ll send you the name of the one who’s been seeing Theo since his dad passed away. She’s wonderful.”
“Oh, thank you. That would be great.”
“Tonight was fun,” Julian said. “Let’s do it again soon.”
“Ty is my kids’ favorite new person,” Isla added.
“We’ll definitely do it again soon,” Carson said. “Remember how Gramps loves when we use the pool he pays to have cleaned weekly.”
Julian laughed because Spencer said that exact thing all the time.
“We’ll let you get some rest,” Julian said. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks for checking in,” Carson said. “We appreciate it.”
“Tell Ty we’ll see him soon,” Julian said.
“I’ll tell him,” Cresley said. “You guys have been such a tremendous support. It’s nice to have made some new friends in the midst of the madness.”
“We feel the same way,” Isla said. “We’re here if you need us.”
“Likewise,” Cresley said.
After they said their goodbyes, Cresley rested her head on Carson’s chest. “It’s amazing how so many positive things can come out of something so upsetting.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I made two new friends in your brother and Isla, and you found out your brother has exceptional taste in women, and now you understand why he loves her.”
“I see what you did there.”
“Am I wrong?”
“Not at all. She’s special, and I can see that much more clearly now. Those kids are adorable, too.”
“They really are. Did you see how good Julian is with them? Tending to whatever they needed before they needed it?”
“I noticed that and how he seems so happy to do it. That stood out.”
“Let’s get you off your feet.”