Page 59 of Forever Golden

“How can you be so sure?”

“What’s not to love?” he reasons, which has me grinning like a child.

“Guess I’ll just take your word for it.”

He yawns before speaking, which makesmeyawn. “Relax. The best part is, no Vin.”

The very idea of that has me feeling lighter. “Thank God for small favors.”

“I’d consider that abigfavor,” West counters.

He isn’t wrong.

The line goes quiet again and I imagine he’s deep in thought like I am, maybe going over all the B.S. we won’t miss while we’re away from this place.

“Fuck it,” West seems to say to himself, which makes me snort a laugh. “I’m just gonna say it, and if I scare you, just forget I brought it up, but I think we should make a pact.”

“You had my attention at‘fuck it’,” I tease.

“It’s no secret that we’ve both got shit parents,” he begins. “With the exception of my mom, I guess. Maybe. Anyway, I think I came up with a plan. Way,wayin the future, we should agree to have a shitload of kids and just be the best fucking parents ever.”

I’m laughing again, and also a little shocked. One, because he’s planning so far ahead for us. And two, because this is the first time he’s ever mentioned wanting a family in the future. I guess I just didn’t realize he made plans beyond college and football.

“I like that idea,” I answer, feeling my cheeks warm at the thought of it—us spending our lives together,parentingtogether. “But what exactly do you mean by a‘shitload’? Because, as the one who’d have to push out thisshitload,I’m a bit concerned.”

“Don’t be,” he reasons. “Seven or eight should do it.”

I cough out a laugh before remembering Scar’s asleep down the hall. “No way, buddy. Three’s the limit.”

“Four,” he counters.

My smile broadens. “If you promise to wait on me hand and foot through it all, you have yourself a deal.”

He doesn’t even pause to think about it. “That’s easy. Deal.”

My heart flutters just imagining it, being with him forever, having a family together. For half a second, it makes me sad because I’m still seeing our circumstances as an obstacle we might not overcome. But then, this dream of a future gives me something I don’t expect.

Something more to fight for.

“I love you, West Golden.” I say it simply because it feels like I’ll explode if I don’t.

“I know,” he counters, “but nowhere near as much as I love you.”

Staring at the ceiling, I’m still fantasizing about this picture he’s painted in my head when he speaks again.

“Just as a heads up, when we get to my grandfather’s place, I plan to tell himeverything,” West admits.

I’m admittedly curious why he’s decided this.

“You really think that’ll make a difference?” I ask.

“Well, there’s no way of knowing for sure, but he’s pretty well connected, and he hates Vin. So, at the very least, he’ll be motivated to help if he can. I just think it wouldn’t hurt bringing him up to speed, then hearing his perspective.”

I’m quiet, but only because I’m thinking. “Okay. If you think that’s best.”

“I do. The worst thing that could happen is he doesn’t know anything more than we do.”

“I trust your judgment,” I say, yawning into the receiver.

---