Chapter 22 #2
“You fought for every single minute. And now look at what’s happening.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jordy is moving here.”
“That’s for the courts to decide,” Moore said, feeling weaker as the topic changed.
His parents shared a look across his hospital bed, a gaze that sent dread rumbling through his gut.
“What?”
“Uh, well…” his mother stammered, her affect unusual. “It’s confirmed. Jordy is moving in with you.”
“Grant confirmed it? Already?”
“You won’t have a tough legal battle this time,” his father said in a mysterious voice. Was he… crowing?
“Say it straight out, Dad.”
“Jordy confronted Cammie. He must have something he’s holding over her, some information we don’t know. She caved. Instantly. He’s free to move here. She just wants visitation.”
“Whoa.” The room swam. Exhaustion filled him, competing with elation.
“Sleep, darling,” his mom said, kissing his cheek as the pain meds kicked in. “Sleep. We love you so much.”
Her hand slipped into his, palm against palm.
“Hey there, sleepy guy.”
Hearing Colleen’s hushed, comforting voice made him open his eyes, her bare face smiling, blonde hair pulled into a practical ponytail. She wore a Love You Cupids pink hoodie and was holding a coffee in her other hand.
Inhaling slowly, he found the aroma delightful.
“I remember caffeine,” he said, pretending to be sad. Implementing his closest expression to puppy dog eyes, he mooned for a sip.
She obliged, bringing the to-go cup to his lips.
“Shhh. Don’t tell the doctor.”
“Lying at work. I love integrity in a nurse.”
She smacked him lightly, grinning wider.
“I see your brain is truly recovering.”
“I don’t know. But my stomach sure is.” It growled as if he’d cued it. “When can I get a loaded brownie from Greta’s?”
“When you’re back home.”
“Jordy leaves tomorrow,” he said, suddenly remembering. “Doc says I won’t be out of here before then.”
“Leander and Francine have it all covered. And you heard the custody situation is all clear?”
“I heard. How the hell did Jordy blackmail his own mother?”
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“I like your mouth.”
“Are we flirting? Recovery has reached that point?”
“I don’t know. Are we?”
“Is it time for this conversation? I thought we’d wait until you’re discharged and at home.”
“I don’t think there’s a better time to talk than now.”
“Fine. You start.”
“Okay. I love you. I’m sorry. Can we make up and put this all behind us?” He was intentionally direct, knowing it would shock her.
He was right.
“You don’t mince words. At all.”
“After that fall, I’m lucky to have words. At all.”
“That’s it? Just… you love me, you’re sorry, let’s have a future together?”
“What more am I supposed to say?” He squeezed her hand. “That’s all there is to say.”
And it really was that simple. Moore had decided during his middle-of-the-night insomnia that this was how he wanted to clear the air with Colleen.
Like a grown up.
“I love you,” he said again, the words feeling so good in his mouth.
“I love you, Moore.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Of course I do!”
“You can’t love me more than I love you.”
“I was saying ‘I love you, Moore.’ Like if you said ‘I love you, Colleen.’”
“Ah! Then we love each other.”
“We do.”
“You were right in front of me all along.”
“I was. This feels too easy,” she said, kissing him, completely in control. His body was still broken, brain healing, tissue knitting itself together, swelling needing to be controlled.
In more ways than one.
Their kiss was chaste, his bandages too cumbersome, and as she kissed him again, he felt wetness on her jaw, his fingers tracing the fine lines of her face.
“You’re crying.”
“I almost lost you just as I found you.”
“And I almost lost you because I couldn’t get over myself.
You’ve been the best thing that’s ever happened to me, aside from Jordy.
My best friend’s sister–we grew up together.
I grew attracted to you. We had a misunderstanding and I took Cammie to homecoming, and it changed my life forever.
But you stayed. You helped. You helped me so much those first five years of Jordy’s life and I didn’t even know.
You’ve been a silent partner all along, unrecognized and loyal. Loving. Stable.”
“I was being a friend.”
“No, you were being a life partner, but without any of the romantic benefits.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would! And I’m so grateful. I’m so sorry I never saw it all in full until now. And now, I want an us. Before I fell, you said you didn’t know what us is. I do know. Us is this. Being there for each other, cheering each other on. Making a life together.”
This time, their kiss was one big, long yes. A yes that covered all their years together, all the unacknowledged longing, and all the hope that lay before them.
“I love you,” they said in unison.
“Jordy approves, you know. He says it’s gross, but he says if he had to pick someone for his dad, it would be me.”
“Smart boy.”
“Wonder where he gets it from.”
Moore pointed to his chest, to a spot over his heart. Colleen rested her head on it, carefully edging onto the bed with him, cuddling up.
Where they fell asleep together, wholly relaxed.
And together.
Forever.
:)