Page 67 of His Wild Storm
When we step back into the living room, a few people look over at us with concern written all over their faces, but no one rushes over to me to demand answers. It puts something in me at ease.
Before we can wade back into talking to people and all the holiday cheer, Wilde comes running up with a huge smile on his face. “Mommy,” he exclaims, “can I spend the night with Ridge at his house? He’s the bestest friend I’ve ever had.”
My heart does a strange flip inside of my chest as I look down at my son. He has no idea that the man who helped give him life, our monster, is gone. I don’t know how or when I’m going to tell him, but I do know I don’t have to figure it out tonight.
Etheridge, Amelia and Beckett’s oldest son, comes rushing up to us with a hopeful look on his face. I notice Amelia and Beckett making their way over as well. Beckett is holding their youngest, Henry, who turned one not long ago. The little one is resting his head on Beckett’s shoulder and looks like he’s about to lose his battle with falling asleep.
I gently ask, “Did either of you ask if it’s okay with Ridge’s parents? You can’t make plans without having the okay first. We don’t know their plans,” I inform Wilde.
His face falls, and I’m not surprised. This is the first time he’s ever asked to spend the night at someone’s house. He never really had the chance before—there weren’t friends to speak of, and we kept to ourselves in our neighborhood. For the last year, it wasn’t really a possibility, not like this.
When Amelia reaches us, she smiles down at the boys. “How about you two go and get a drink for me and Haven?” She rubs her neck and swallows audibly, “I’m very thirsty.”
Beckett coughs to cover up his laughter and Wilde turns toward him, “Do you need a drink too, Mr. Beckett?”
“If you’re grabbing it, I won’t say no,” Beckett tells him with a smile on his face.
“You got it,” Wilde chirps and the boys head off together. I watch them for a moment, but I’m not worried about either of them. If they need help, there are plenty of adults around who treat all the kids like they matter. Wilde has been included without anyone thinking twice about it.
“It really would be fine if Wilde spent the night with us,” Amelia keeps her voice low. “We’re planning on sleeping in tomorrow and making brunch because I have a feeling some people will wander over to our place before too long.”
“Oh,” Troy slides in next to Amelia and wraps one of his arms around her shoulders, “did I hear brunch is at your place tomorrow?”
I blink at them as Beckett eyes Troy’s arm, the threat written all over his face. Even after Troy glances toward Amelia’s husband, he’s unbothered. When I look over at Knox, the look he shoots me says it all—see, this is what I was talking about.
“No,” Beckett growls, “that is not what she said.”
“It’s what I heard,” Troy crows. He glances at me and flashes me a charming smile. If I hadn’t already met him and seen his flirty ways, I would be nervous. But it’s just who he is, and it all comes from love. The man is head over heels in love with Ellie, it’s obvious whenever he looks at her. “Ethan and Mason have already told me all about how cool they think Wilde is.”
“Then they should come over for a sleepover too,” Amelia offers and Troy’s eyes light up while Beckett says somethingunder his breath I can’t catch. She looks at me, her expression encouraging. “Of course, that’s if Haven is okay with it. We’ll make sure you have all our numbers and addresses,” she offers like she’s not one of the most trustworthy people I’ve ever met.
I glance at Knox and then look over to where I can just get a glimpse of Wilde and Ridge as they finish grabbing cans of soda, their movements oh so careful. “There’s no way I can say no,” I tell Amelia honestly. I bite my lip, uncertain for a moment, but before I can stop myself, I tell them honestly, “He’s never had a sleepover.”
Amelia’s eyes go soft, and she slowly reaches over and gives my forearm a squeeze. “Not to worry, he’ll be fine and if he wants to go home, then we’ll take him home. It’s not a big deal if he isn’t comfortable.”
“Are you sure?” I look between Amelia and Beckett, hoping they aren’t doing this because they feel sorry for me or Wilde.
“We’re family,” Amelia tells me simply.
“And that’s what family does,” Beckett adds and winks at me when I look over at him while Henry pulls on his hair while babbling about something only he understands.
“Don’t forget about brunch tomorrow,” Troy adds on before turning and searching for his oldest set of twins. Yeah, Ellie had two sets of twins; the woman is a goddess. “Mason,” he calls out, “Ethan.”
The boys come running up to us at the same time Ridge and Wilde return with our drinks, handing them out carefully with their eyebrows pulled together in concentration. It’s adorable.
“Do you two want to spend the night with Ridge and Wilde at Amelia and Beckett’s house?”
Mason and Ethan’s eyes go wide, their expressions identical, before shouting, “Really?”
“Does this mean you said yes, Mommy? I can spend the night?” Wilde is prancing on his tiptoes, pure bliss filling his face.
“Yup,” I pop the p and run my fingers through my son’s hair gently, “you can spend the night.”
Knox kneels down to get on Wilde’s level. “There are a few rules over at Amelia and Beckett’s house,” he tells him softly.
“I need to be a good listener, be kind, and clean up after myself,” Wilde says solemnly knowing those are three rules that are always in place, especially when you’re not in your home.
“You’re good,” Knox tells him with a smile before his face turns serious. “The other important thing is that if you want to come home, at any time and for any reason, you just need to let someone know. You are always allowed to come home. If Beckett can’t drive you home then I’ll come and pick you up. No matter what and that will be true no matter how old you are or where you are.”
