Page 105 of Tapped

My family forces Chase to give them hugs and kisses followed by more from me and handshakes from Micah.

Except for my mother. She forces the man who gives good orgasms into an awkward hug.

My father saves Micah and the rest of us from a more delayed goodbye. “That’s enough, Irena. They need to leave.”

They finally exit the plane, and it’s just the three of us.

Chase points to the elephant in the room. “Is he coming too?”

I realize that Chase isn’t prepared for this, and I’m not either. Hell, I’m not even divorced yet. I’ve never once given any thought as to how I would introduce Chase to a man, no matter how that man came to be a part of my life.

For the second time, I watch Micah hold a fist out for Chase to bump. “I am. I’ll be your tour guide.”

Chase looks so small standing between me and Micah, looking up at the man I do delicious things with. “Where are we going?”

Micah looks to me. I give him a small smile before putting my hand to Chase’s head. When he turns to me, I answer, “Montana.”

* * *

Micah

I’m usedto kids in small doses.

Brian Cruz is my Godson, but that doesn’t mean I spend more than a few hours with him at a time, and never without his parents. I’m like the fun uncle who gives really good birthday presents and dumps a little bit of money into a college fund in his name. I give him candy when Brax and Landyn aren’t looking, and I always have gum and quarters.

Eventually, Brian will move from quarters to fives and eventually twenties.

The point is, he’s a cool kid and he loves me.

Even if I do buy his love most of the time.

What I’ve never done is fly from one corner of the country to the other with him.

Chase is a year older than Brian and has had my undivided attention for more than four hours. I’ve never answered so many questions in my life. It was like taking the polygraph when I applied to the DEA all over again.

The kid is a machine gun of curiosity. I was fucking riddled for hours.

But my first experience on a cross-country private flight did not completely suck. The mini bar is fully stocked. I don’t care what time of day it is, Evie and I put that thing to use.

You can tell they’re used to traveling above first class. Chase ate half a jar of maraschino cherries, and Evie nibbled on the lunch that was waiting on us. Then she decided to consume her daily serving of vegetables in the form of Bloody Marys.

I wonder if it’s possible for us to fly around in her father’s private jet forever. She’s relaxed and smiling. I have a feeling part of that has to do with being reunited with her son.

It took Chase three hours and forty-nine minutes, but he finally fell asleep just before we landed.

Evie is sitting across from me with her bare feet propped on my thigh. She changed into a loose dress that hits her above the ankle. She even put on some makeup. Cadence was tasked with going back to her house and packing, and by the number of suitcases and bags that Evie dug through, we could stay for weeks if we wanted.

I’m considering it.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers as she drags her fingers through Chase’s hair. His head is resting on her lap. “You’re like a new toy, and he hasn’t seen me in a few days. I swear, he’s not this overwhelming all the time.”

I shake my head and wrap my hand around her foot. It’s impossible to not touch her all the time. “He’s a talker, but he’s a good kid.”

She smiles. “He is. I’m sorry to say that this little nap will energize him. You might need to brace for the rest of the day.”

I look down at the boy who favors Evie. “He’ll have plenty to do. We’ll wear him out.”

“I still can’t believe you did this,” she says. “I took you up on this trip so fast because I’m desperate. But now you’re away from your case. Away from work, and right when Brax and Landyn are about to have a baby. The fact you’re doing this for me—for us—means a lot. More than a lot. It’s everything.”

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