Page 81 of Coming Home to You
Leave it to Erin to make me laugh and ruin a perfectly sentimental moment.
I stand up and she does the same, pulling me into a hug, her arms wrapping tightly around my body, the two of us stand like this for what feels like forever.I’m not sure what I would do without her.
With all the support I’ve received throughout all of this, from Erin and Finn and Pop, Beck and Ryan and my staff at the inn, and the way the entire town rallied around Beck and me, I can’t imagine ever leaving any of it behind for a life somewhere else.
I can only hope Beck feels the same way.
Chapter Thirty
Beck
After Kelsey leaves, I take Bella out for a walk along the beach, enjoying yet another day of not having to work and knowing my girl is safe.These past two weeks haven’t been the easiest; the fall-out from what happened with Jason, almost as bad as what came before.
Kelsey has been plagued with nightmares ever since it happened, and it fucking killed me that first week, being stuck in the hospital while she was at home without me.Luckily Finn stepped in and spent each night with her, making sure she felt safe, even if the fucker was now dead.
I can’t say I’ve been sleeping that well either, waking almost every hour just to check she’s really okay and still lying safely beside me.After we found out just how fucking nuts this Jason guy was, it really hit home to me that I could have so easily lost Kels in all this.
The docs at the hospital told me I might experience some post-traumatic stress after getting shot, but I hadn’t really believed them.Funny thing is, it’s not so much been about me getting shot, but more about not being around to protect Kels.
Which is what’s made my decision to quit the Boston PD and move back to Rockport that much easier.After everything that’s happened, I can’t imagine not being with Kels.I can’t imagine not falling asleep beside her and waking up next to her each day either.
I want to be around if and when she has another nightmare, to hold her and comfort her until she falls back to sleep again, safely wrapped in my arms.And I want her to know that I meant what I said about not leaving her again.I love her; I love her so fucking much that no job in the world is worth the pain of being apart from her.
I know I still need to call my captain and explain it to him, and Ryan’s probably going to shit about me not coming back either, but I feel good about my decision.For the first time since I left this place, I know I’m doing the right thing.
Now, I just need to convince Kels and Pop about what happens next.
“Come on girl,” I shout to Bella, as we walk back to the house.I put out a bowl of food and change her water before grabbing my keys and making the short walk into town.Kelsey has been using my truck since her car got blown up.I can’t drive anyway, so it doesn’t really bother me, although I’m probably going to have to get her a new one soon.
I walk into Pop’s pub just as the clock strikes noon, smiling as he looks up at me.
“Beer o’clock?”he says, already pouring me a pint.
I laugh.“Beer and lunch if I can,” I say, taking a seat at the bar.“And some of your time, too.”
Pop grins as he hands me my drink.“Kitchen’s open, what would you like?”he says, handing the limited menu to me.“And you can always have my time, Son,” he says, his voice softer.I glance up at my dad and see him watching me, a look of concern on his face.“You doing okay?”he asks.
I nod.“Yeah,” I say, taking a sip of my beer.“Getting there anyway.”
“How’s Kels doing,” he asks, wiping down the bar.
“She’s getting there too,” I say.“First sleep without a nightmare last night, so…” I trail off, knowing it’s going to be a while before either of us is sleeping comfortably.Last night was definitely a step forward, but I get the feeling we’ll be taking a couple of steps back sometimes too.
“Good,” Pop says.“Must be nice having you home from the hospital,” he adds on.“How’s the shoulder doing?”
I glance at my still bandaged shoulder.“It’s okay,” I say.“Still sore, but I’ve still got a couple more weeks of rehab.Doc said it was going to take a while, the bullet tore through the muscle pretty good.”
“Guess that means work is out of the question for now,” Pop says, stopping his cleaning and giving me a look.
I meet his stare, my hands wrapped around my cold beer.“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say, letting out a deep breath.
“Oh?”Pop says, crossing his arms in front of him.
“Yeah,” I say, taking another quick drink.“I’m staying in Rockport, Pop,” I blurt out.“I can’t leave her, not again,” I say.“It’s just not possible for me to walk away when I love her this much.I don’t want to and no job is ever gonna be worth being without her.”
Pop stares at me for what feels like forever.I’m about to open my mouth and tell him that I’m positive this is the right move for me.I’m sure he’s thinking I’m being rash, rushing into a decision when I haven’t really thought it through.The truth is though, I’ve been thinking about this ever since I first came back into town.
Finally Pop smiles at me.“That, my boy,” he says, clapping me on my uninjured shoulder.“Is the smartest decision you’ve ever made.”
