Page 68 of Run to Me
“I’m sorry you didn’t hear me say all these things when you needed it the most. I’m sorry I didn’t see what I needed to see sooner.” She pulls back from me, her eyes pointing down, and she takes my other hand.
“You’re saying them now and that’s what counts.”
“I want you both here every holiday, okay? And any other time you feel like coming home. I want you to call me every week and I want . . . I want to know my son more.”
“I want that too.”
Sniffling, she hugs me again and returns to where my dad is standing to wave at us from the porch as we drive off. Nate holds my hand, leaning his head on my shoulder as I turn up the music and begin my long drive back to Missouri with the man of my dreams in tow. He loaded the trunk and back seat with everything he felt he couldn’t live without, and plans on getting a Pod for the rest later. He hasn’t decided whether he’ll sell his house yet, but we both decided we’ll take it one day at a time. His boss is fine with him doing video calls only in the meantime.
We stop for food several times, and eight hours into our drive Nate switches places and pulls me into a kiss as he slides into the car. “I can’t wait to be back on the futon with you.”
I laugh, sweeping hair from his face. “You’re the only person who’d ever feel that way, that’s for sure.”
“And the only one who matters,” he says, sounding so sure of himself as he pulls back onto the road.
“You should want better than sleeping in that smelly old barn.”
“I want exactly what I’m getting.” He tangles his fingers in mine.
“And what’s that? A bad back and the possibility of waking up with a duck shitting on your chest in the morning?”
A soft chuckle escapes him and he shakes his head, bringing the back of my hand to his lips as he briefly looks into my eyes. “Fully getting to be a part of your world and everything that’s you. Bringing me home is your way for me to be a part of it all and I’m lucky I get to be the only one.”
“You call that luck and I call that karma you must owe somewhere.” I shoot him a cheeky smile and he elbows me in the arm, facing the road.
“No, me having to suffer through your bad jokes is probably karma.”
“And you planning all the ways you’re going to decorate the barn when we get settled is no doubt mine.”
We both laugh and I kiss his cheek, dragging his hand into my lap and knowing damn well that of the two of us, I’m the one who’s lucky. I’ll gladly have him turn my whole home orange if it means I get to be right there with him during it all. As long as it means I get to be with him.
Thirty-six
Jace
One month later
I sneak into bed behind Nate after my short shower. He turns around, rubbing his face into my neck. “You’re home.”
“I am.”
“Did you do it?” He glances up at me, nervousness evident in his voice.
“I did.” I kiss his forehead and he nods against me, lifting the covers higher on us.
“Good.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too.” He smiles into my chest, tossing a leg over mine. Feeling him against me helps my heart and brain settle. As I begin to drift, I think of how Glen—or Devin—must look right now after the cops barge into his house on an anonymous call, finding a man tied up in his trunk and evidence of all my crimes spread throughout his garage.
I fall asleep with a smile on my face, knowing he’ll not only be taking the fall for me, but that there’s enough there to guarantee he’ll be going away for a long time. He wanted so badly to have what I had. Well, in a way, he got his wish, while I got to keep the best of it all for myself.
Epilogue
Nate
One year later
