Page 96 of Love Finds Home

He leaves with loud boots but no words and I turn Elle and myself to Tiny, who still can’t decide if he wants to kill something or cry.

“Pix,” he starts, already sounding choked up. “We have to stop having crazy shit happen to our family.”

“Par for the course, isn’t it?” She gives him a sad smile. “I’m surprised the whole family isn’t here right now.”

“They’re dealing with the mess in the Cove for you. Bash is at the studio with Jorge and Michael. Nolan and Christopher are at that piece of shit’s house.”

“Oh. Do we need to go there?”

“Nah. Not tonight,” he assures her. “This is what they do, remember? Figure shit out and fix it? And Mom said she’d be here tomorrow, but she wants an update.”

“We’ll call her when we get home,” I tell him. “I’m sure she’d feel better hearing from you,” I turn to Elle, “right?”

“And where is that? Home?”

“With me.” I pull her face up to mine and give her a quick kiss.

“Your house?”

“My house. Our house. Your house. Doesn’t matter. Home is where you are and if you decide it has to be a hotel, that’s home tonight.”

“I love you, Jonathan.” She throws her arms around my shoulders and wraps herself around me.

“I love you too, Elle.”

“And I’m going to be sick.” Tiny fake gags in the background. I flip him off, making him laugh. When I look up, I see Elle flying the birds her brother’s way, too.

“Let’s go home,” I say, starting to walk out of my station, not even bothering to put her down.

“I’m waiting here until the tarp gets hung outside,” Tiny reminds us.

“Thanks, baby brother. Love you,” Elle lifts her head long enough to say. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I get out to the lot and put Elle in the passenger side of the truck and buckle her in, kissing her as I do. The jog around the front of the truck is more time away from her than I want at the moment, and I don’t breathe again until I’m sitting behind the steering wheel. I look at Elle, who has her head laid back on the seat and her eyes closed.

“I’m here,” is all I say.

“I know.” She rolls her head my direction, a small smile on her face, but her eyes remained closed. “Let’s go. Please.”

I pull out of the lot and head towards my house. I’ve never had a woman in this house, but it feels right that the artist I love is the first one allowed through the front door. I have plans for her. The first is a bath to wash the night away. The second is getting all her shit and moving her in. The third will have to wait for as long as she needs, but one day, she’s going to have my babies. If she wants those.

“Your house is…” she trails off once we’re inside.

“A complete wreck that I’m going to rely on you to make a home.” I smile, sitting her down in the bathroom.

This room I’ve fixed. The tub seats two, the new stand-up shower has been installed and there’s a new vanity. Elle can pick the decorations. I am a man, and I’m that man. One towel, no wall art, and no color. I need Elle to bring her color into my life.

We get in the tub and I wash her, gently verifying for myself that there at no marks on her body.

“You done with the examination?” She smirks at me.

“I guess,” I chuckle. “Just needed to see for myself.”

“Jonathan?”

“Yes, Elle?”

“Will you take me to bed?”

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