Page 91 of Up in a Blaze
“I was not,” Sawyer said as he approached. Henri held out his arms, and Sawyer moved in to hug him.
Reaching out, I messed with his hair. “Hey, kid.”
He quickly brushed his fingers through his hair, fixing it, and smiled. “Hi. You know we don’t have to go shopping. We don’t?—”
“Please, chéri. I need this time with you both after everything. I like spending money. It makes me happy, and I want you both along for the trip.”
“You’ll probably have to carry bags,” I told them.
“I’m good at it,” Arlo announced.
Henri smiled. “Perfect, chéri. Are Miss Cora and Loyal coming?”
Sawyer glanced over to Loyal, who was talking with Country, but Loyal’s gaze was already on the boy.
Sawyer blushed and faced us, shaking his head. “Miss Cora stayed at the unit, which she thinks is amazing, and Loyal has some things to do around here.”
Henri curled an arm around Sawyer’s waist. “This is good. it will mean more room for bags.” The kid chuckled. “But first, I promised Rommy I would see her today. Have you noticed her around here?”
Before he could answer, the kitchen doors flew open, and Rommy walked out with Saint. “I’m telling you, if you just tried doing it the way I said, your baby will run smoother.”
“I ain’t no mechanic. You got time to show me what you mean?”
“Hell yes. I’d be glad to get my hands on her.” She noticed us and smiled brightly. “Hey, hi, hello.” She grabbed Saint’s arm and shook it, announcing, “It’s Henri and his big man,” as if Saint hadn’t already seen us. She skipped over as everyone watched her. Hugging Henri, she said, “It’s so good to see you. My family should be arriving later. Will you be here to meet them?” She moved over to me, and I stiffened when she embraced me. I caught Tech and Country snickering. Even Henri was grinning at me. She pulled back and added, “Sorry, I’m a big hugger. I think I scared Eve earlier from it. But I’ll get her to warm to me. Anyway, I’m gonna try to get my parents to stay around for a while. Like a little family holiday. It’ll be so cool. You’ll love my family; they’re the best. I wish you could meet everyone, though.”
This woman needed to breathe more.
“So do I, chéri. And we may not be here later, but if they do stick around, I will have the pleasure of meeting them another day. Blaze and I are taking the boys shopping.”
“These your boys? I remember you on the ship.” She quickly hugged Sawyer and then said to Henri, “But I didn’t pick up that he’s your son. And who are you, little man?”
Arlo wasn’t looking at her. He stared up at Henri and me. “Are we?” he asked.
“Arlo, you can’t—” Sawyer started to say until Henri placed his hand on his arm, stopping him.
Henri stepped closer to Arlo. “What are you asking, Arlo?”
His jaw clenched. The kid was fighting his emotions as he briefly glanced around at everyone while a blush rose.
“Kid, don’t look at them.” I moved to his other side, blocking him from the people in the common room. “Just talk to us. We’re always gonna listen no matter where we are or who’s around. If you’ve got something to say and want to, you just say it. Yeah?”
He bit down on his bottom lip and sniffed but nodded. In a whisper, he asked, “Are we your boys? You and Blaze?”
Christ.
In that moment, I fucking knew I would move fucking hell if I had to for them.
Henri’s eyes welled, and before he could say anything, I did. “Yes. Fuck yes,” I told him and then looked to Sawyer. “Know it’s fresh and new, but we already know that if you and Arlo would have us, we’d like to be the ones to help you through life. I’ve already looked at some houses this morning. They’re close to Arlo’s school and the Playhouse, so once we check them out, and if you both agree, this shit is happening. It’s real. You belong with us, and we’re a fuckin’ family.”
“Mon amour,” Henri uttered, tears running down his cheeks. Sawyer and Arlo also sported wet and red cheeks.
“Do you agree?” I asked, and all right, it did come off a bit snappish, but I was fucking pissed at what these boys had been through. Obviously, their parents were crap ones to begin with, if they left the boys to deal with that much debt. And I doubted their parents showed them an ounce of care in their lives.
“Yes,” Sawyer whispered.
“Please,” Arlo cried before he pushed his face into my gut and hugged me.
I patted his head. “Good.”
