Page 37 of Saving You

She wraps her arms around me as much as she can and squeezes. I bury my nose in her hair and inhale her scent, allowing it to ground me from the anger that wants to take over my entire body for what these two have gone through. Bailey comes back into the room, and Charlie climbs off my lap and plays with her toys. I check my watch and see it’s already almost 7 p.m. and decide I should head home and allow them to enjoy the rest of their night. I’m sure Finn would like his evening walk.

I pat my hands on the top of my thighs and push off the couch.

“I should head home,” I say.

Charlie jumps up and wraps her arms around my legs. I run my hand over the top of her head and say, “I’ll see you soon.”

She nods and returns to her toys.

Bailey walks me to the front door but before she can open it, my hand goes to the back of her head. I pull her close and kiss her. She melts into my body as my tongue invades her mouth, wanting to taste every inch of her. Her hands fist in my shirt, and it takes everything in me to not push her against the door and take her right now.

When we break the kiss, we are both panting, working to catch our breath. I rest my forehead against hers.

“I have a game tomorrow afternoon. Will you come?”

She licks her lips before nodding. A breathy, “Yeah,” escapes her.

I kiss her forehead and make my way out the front door and to my truck.

When I get home, it feels empty. The walls aren’t full of pictures. There’s no mess of toys in my living room, and there isn’t a feminine smell filling the air. The sound of Finn’s claws on the hardwood floors seems to echo more. I never realized I was missing anything until recently, but I wasn’t missing just anything.

I was missing Bailey and Charlie.

I take Finn on his walk. Coming home, I make myself a quick and easy dinner before settling on the couch and watching the game. The minute the game finishes, I feel restless. I text Grayson to see if he’s up for a beer. When he responds, I head out.

Ipush the door open to our favourite sports bar, and the smell of stale beer fills my nose and the sound of music fills the bar. I find a couple of empty stools at the bar and take a seat, ordering a pint of a local pale ale. I watch the sports highlights as I wait for Grayson to join me. I’m pulled out of my concentration when a hand comes down on my shoulder, and I look over and see Grayson grinning at me.

“Hey, man. Thanks for joining me. I needed to get out of the house,” I say as he pulls out the stool next to mine and waves down the bartender.

He orders, and when his drink is delivered, he goes right for it. “So, what’s wrong?”

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” I ask.

“Man, you’re only this desperate to get out of the house when something is wrong. So spill. What’s up?”

My shoulders sag as I release a sigh. “I’m kind of freaking out. I’m falling for Bailey and Charlie and I’m worried that if we do this, she’s going to leave me, or I’m going to fuck it all up.” I take a large sip of my beer before continuing. “She kissed me the other day and every kiss I’ve had with her has been the best kiss of my life. She does something to me. I’ve held off from sex, but I’m not sure I can any longer. Last night she accidentally sent me a voice message, and let’s just say there will be no getting that out of my head anytime soon.”

We sit in silence for a minute before I turn and look at my best friend. He’s just grinning at me like an idiot.

“What?”

“I’m going to win that bet,” he says, taking a sip of his beer. “You’re going to marry that woman.”

The thought goes through my mind. Being able to come home to both of them every day, growing a family with them, watching Charlie go to prom, graduate high school, decide what college she wants to go to, what she wants to major in. I want that, but I don’t know if I can have it.

It feels so out of reach. I always thought I’d settle down and have a family, but being told by a partner that they can’t handle certain parts of you does something to you. It flipped a switch in me. Even after we’d both said I love you, she just packed a bag one day and left. That had me deciding I wasn’t going to try again because what’s the point?

Grayson pats me on my shoulder. “See, I told you. Just enjoy it, man. If you have something good, explore it, see where it leads, and have fun.”

We sit in silence for a while, and after we finish our beers, we each throw some cash on the bar and make our way outside. On the way home, I let Grayson’s words sit with me. Maybe he has a point and this is worth exploring. I can’t help but feel light, like a major weight has been taken off my shoulder and I can breathe easier at the thought of having Bailey and Charlie in my life permanently.

I decide I’m going to give this my all and see where it goes. I want that life with Bailey and Charlie, and I’m going to fight for it.

The next day, I do my own household chores before grabbing my bag and heading to the rink. As I’m walking towards the dressing room, I hear Charlie call my name. She runs at me with a Build-a-Bear house in her hands. I drop my bag and crouch down. She drops the box in front of me, wrapping her arms around me, and I hug her back.

When she pulls back, she grabs the box and thrusts it at me. “You forgot your bear last night. Mommy said I could bring it to you today,” she says.

“Thank you, Little Bear.”

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