Page 110 of The Falcon and the Foe

They couldn’t get out of the booth, so they held out their hands for Leo to squeeze.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s fine. Great. My career is just on the verge of going up in flames.” Leo ran to his twins to kiss them goodbye, then darted out of the bar, Vernita close behind.

* * *

Leo’s dramaput a damper on the party, and we all left shortly thereafter, giving Buzz and his family our final goodbyes.

Cal and I drove back to my house with the boys, where we made spaghetti and meatballs. As the kids played video games in the living room, Cal clasped my hand and walked me onto the porch, which butted up against a stunning view of the woods. Thousands of leaves bristled in the wind. The tops of the trees started their descent into fall, pinks and purples filtering down.

It was a sign. A new season. Things changing. A new chapter with Cal.

Cal wrapped his arm around me. He looked out at the forest.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Better than okay. I’m happy.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “I felt like I’ve been silently struggling for years, but with you, I can breathe.”

“And to think, you hated me once.”

“I didn’t hate you. We just weren’t friends.”

“You maneuvered to have me pushed out of the PTA. That’s hate.”

He had me there. “Leave it to you to be a drama queen.”

Cal pulled me into a kiss to shut out this disagreement. We still bickered, but at least now, it usually ended in kissing or sex.

“The boys have got me thinking about spring.” I swirled my finger on the wood of the railing.

“For ziplining.”

“That, and spring is the best time to put one’s house on the market.”

Cal did a double take. “What are you saying? Isn’t that soon?”

“Like I told you, Cal. I don’t have time for bullshit. I see myself being with you for the long haul. We are a family.” I nodded my head at the living room. “This is still months away, but if things keep going well between us...you put your house up for sale in the spring, you and Josh move in over the summer, and things are all settled before they start up school in the fall.”

“Dang, you really don’t have time for bullshit.” Cal leaned on the railing and let out a big exhale. “I am so glad Josh wanted to join the Falcons.”

“Me, too.”

“And you know that I have some issues with cleanliness, right?”

“Oh, that has been well very established. And yet, I still want you and Josh to move in.” I felt eerily confident about this plan. It was another piece meant to click into place.

“I have to sell my house. And pack it up.”

“I’d help you on both fronts.”

“You’d just throw all of my stuff out.”

“Notallof it.”

“And what about my recording studio?”

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