Page 119 of The One for Me
“Nothing.” I shake my head, trying to not think about the possibilities of the future.
“Sean, come on, talk to me. I’m your sister.”
“I’ve gained a few of those in the last year.”
She laughs. “Yes, you definitely have. I’d like to think you’re excited about it.”
“Definitely.”
I love them both. Ellie is the perfect complement to Connor and Syd has always been Declan’s counterbalance.
“Then talk to me,” she encourages.
“Yes, tell us all your feelings so we can fix them,” Jacob chimes in.
“You watch it.” She points at him. “I have to talk to you about something too.”
“Oh, please, talk to Jacob,” I insist.
She smiles at me and then turns to him. I really do like my new sister-in-law. “There’s a new kid at the school who is having a rough time. His dad was a SEAL who was killed in combat.”
Jacob glances to me. He doesn’t have to say it, I know what he’s thinking . . . it’s what we feared would happen to Connor. Each time the phone rang while he was deployed, a part of me wanted to puke. The three of us hated the fear.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Ellie reaches for his hand. “I know you’re very good to your fans, and it turns out that he’s your biggest one. His mother took the new guidance counselor position at the school, and when she found out I was an Arrowood, she asked if maybe you’d just come meet Sebastian. I didn’t promise anything.”
Jacob lifts his other hand. “Say no more. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. I’d be happy to help a kid whose dad is a hero.”
She lifts up and kisses his cheek. “You are a good man, Jacob Arrowood.”
He pulls her in for a hug. “Better than these fools combined.”
“Yeah right,” Devney says as she walks into the room. “You are a charmer with a silver-tongue, but you’re not fooling anyone.”
I throw my arm over her shoulders, bringing her close to me. Right where I want her. “God, I love you.”
She beams back at me. “I love you too.”
“And . . . I’m going to vomit.” Jacob makes a gagging noise.
“You wait, Jacob. One day, you’ll meet a girl who will knock you on your ass, and I can’t wait to see it,” Ellie says before nodding at Devney.
“And when it does happen,” I say, not taking my gaze away from Devney, “I hope you’re half as lucky as I was.”
She rests her head on my shoulder, and I pray I can hold her close enough to keep her.
* * *
“This is the best day after Christmas ever!” Austin says, and I wish I could see the park through his eyes.
As a kid, there were no family vacations or even the mere idea of coming to Disney. Our trips were out to the pasture to camp, which was fine for us, but when I got out of Sugarloaf, I wanted to do it all.
The day after I moved to Florida, I came to Disney for the first time.
“I’m glad you’re excited,” I say as I touch the top of his head.
“You’re the best, Sean.”
