Page 68 of The Heart of Moonlight Falls

“What’s happening?” James jolted, almost knocking his forehead into Sebastian’s.

“Whoa there.” Sebastian steadied him. “I’m free to go.”

James beamed, his smile so bright it was almost blinding, and pulled Sebastian into his lap. “Wonderful.”

“Yes, it is. I’m all better, so you can quit worrying so hard.”

“I wasn’t worrying hard, just a very reasonable amount.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Sebastian wiped a bit of drool from the corner of James’s mouth. “Now, take me home, please.”

James tangled a hand in Sebastian’s curls and brought their lips together. “That’s exactly what I plan to do, sweetheart. But let’s make a little detour first.”

After leaving the hospital—Eli and Parker had brought James’s truck and some fresh clothes down for him—James drove Sebastian to the burrito place they’d meant to go to what felt like a lifetime ago.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Sebastian couldn’t say he remembered the last time he’d been in the truck, driving from Storm House to Parker’s. He didn’t even remember leaving the Storm House property. The final events of that night had taken on a nightmarish quality in his mind and didn’t seem entirely real, but Sebastian didn’t mind it feeling like a fever dream. He would rather focus on what came next and how happy he was it was all over than the fight it took to get here.

He was free. Completely, and unlike when he’d first escaped Storm House, his feelings weren’t complicated. Sebastian felt light and giddy. He was no longer scared of his future. He wasn’t scared to be happy or trying to push away his feelings for James. He was all in for what life had in store for him.

The burrito place was packed when James pulled up so Sebastian opted to stay in the truck while James ordered for them. His social anxiety seemed to be here to stay, and while he was game for going into the restaurant next time, when he wasn’t fresh out of the hospital, Sebastian wasn’t angry about his reactions like he had been at first. He didn’t mind if he did things differently now than he had before.

James returned with a brown paper bag and two sodas. “Think you can hold off eating a bit longer?”

Sebastian looked longingly at the bag. The food smelled amazing. “Potentially.”

James started the truck. “I promise it will be worth it.”

Sebastian picked up his drink. “Are we going somewhere special?”

“Yeah.” He threw Sebastian a sweet smile. “Put on some music.”

Sebastian connected his phone to the truck’s Bluetooth. “You need to learn the lyrics to this album, just FYI.”

James laughed. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when you hear me sing. It’s not going to be pretty.”

Sebastian couldn’t figure out where they were going at first. He hadn’t been past Apple Valley in this direction since high school. By the end of the album, he figured they had to be getting close to the coast.

James pulled onto a dirt road. Sebastian rolled down his window and smelled the fresh salt air.

“We’re going to the beach,” Sebastian said in awe, like he’d never been there before. It had been so long this might as well have been his first time.

The ocean came into view and Sebastian drank in the sight. The sea breeze ruffled his curls, and he was tempted to stick his head out the window.

James pulled over in a turn-out and backed up so the rear of the truck faced the ocean. “It’d be better if I had some blankets.” He jumped out and opened the tailgate.

Sebastian followed with the food and James’s drink. He’d already finished his.

James arranged a drop cloth he must use at work sites in the truck bed and patted it invitingly. “Hop on up.”

Sebastian did so. “This is perfect.”

“Yeah, it is.” James leaned in for a kiss before sitting next to Sebastian.

They reheated the food with a quick spell and ate, watching the waves and birds pecking around in the sand. The air was so fresh. Sebastian had no idea how much he’d missed the sea. He’d never been a huge beach person, even in San Diego, but being here at this moment felt so right. Nothing said freedom like looking out at the vast expanse of water.

Sebastian dug into his food. “This might be the best meal I’ve ever tasted.”

“I have to agree. Though everything feels so good right now that I think I’d have said that even if I was eating dirt.”

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