Page 90 of Wild Nights

"You're all I need," I said.

He gazed down at me with so much love in his eyes. "That's what I like to hear."

"As long as I'm with you," I murmured.

"I don't want to spend any more nights without you."

"Now we never have to be apart. Or at least not for long." I still planned to travel here and there. It was in my blood, but maybe I could convince Oliver and Joey to come with me.

Oliver gathered me to him. "Thank you for loving me."

"I could say the same thing about you." I was eager to spend more time with Oliver and Joey as a family and make new traditions.

Epilogue

OLIVER

We spent a few days in Maine helping Carolina get her house ready for sale. Then we arranged for all of her things to be shipped to Colorado, including her car. The night before we were due to leave, we ate dinner with her family at her mother's house.

I was nervous to meet them, even though I had Joey was with us to act as a buffer.

"You have nothing to be worried about," Carolina said as she knocked on the door.

"I haven't met a woman's parents in a long time." I met Tina's parents after I'd gotten her pregnant, and that was a different sort of stress. They seemed relieved that I was the dad. They probably knew that Tina wasn't up to the task of parenting.

Carolina squeezed my hand. "They'll love you."

The door opened. Her mother had long gray hair and wore a sweater and slacks. "You're here."

Carolina hugged her, then stepped back. "Mom. This is Oliver, and his son, Joey. This is my mom, Sally."

Sally focused on Joey first. "It's so nice to meet you."

Joey stood a little behind me, probably nervous about meeting new people.

Her gaze moved to me. "And you as well. Come in and meet everyone."

We stepped inside, taking off our coats and hanging them on the hooks. Then Sally led us into the living room. "This is Harold."

The living room was warm and inviting with framed pictures covering every available surface. The furniture was worn but homey.

I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Harold nodded, and a younger woman rose to greet me. "I'm the sister, Ginny."

I shook her offered hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

Ginny held my hand while she said what she needed to. "We want the best for Carolina. She's always been there for us."

"I do too." I had a feeling Ginny and her mother had taken Carolina for granted. They assumed she'd always be there for them, and our relationship might have come as a surprise.

We sat in the living room, the Christmas tree still blinking from the corner while the news played on the TV at a low level.

"I'm hungry," Joey whined.

"You want some juice and crackers?" Harold asked Joey and, at his nod, led him into the kitchen.

I blew out a shaky breath. Joey was no longer a buffer for me. I had a feeling this was when I'd get the hard-hitting questions.

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