Page 150 of The Prodigal Son

After a moment of heavy silence, Isaac looks into my eyes. “Did you get all the time you need? How are you feeling?”

It makes me smile to see how empathetic he is. “I am much better. I wouldn’t have come back to you if I wasn’t ready, I promise.”

“I’ll do whatever you need,” he replies. “Anything.”

I settle him on my chest and rest my chin on his head. “Right now, this is all I need.”

Forty-Five

Isaac

My house is packed to the brim. It feels like I move from one conversation to another all night. If I turn away from one of my brothers, I walk right into a bandmate. And it’s like that for hours.

Jensen stays close all night. I don’t know why, but I’m afraid if I let him out of my sight for a minute, he’s going to slip back out of my life, which is ridiculous. He’s here to stay. I know it.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asks over the sound of music and people talking.

“Just a Dr Pepper,” I reply, making his brow furrow. As he stares at me, I shrug. “I sort of…cut back.”

Which is true. I could feel myself slipping over the last year, indulging in alcohol to escape. Using it to numb the pain. Turning into my father. Quitting has given me some of that power back, and I don’t know if it’s forever or not. I just know…I don’t need alcohol to feel good, especially not in this moment. I’m ecstatic without it.

He kisses my forehead before escaping to the kitchen and coming back a moment later with two sodas in his hands. As I sip my drink, I mentally jot down some lyrics I could use for an upbeat song I’ve been working on.

You take the edge off when you take your clothes off

Chuckling to myself, I laugh at the cheesiness of it. I could still make it work.

During a brief break in conversation, I ease out of my living room and into the bathroom downstairs off the main living room. On my way out, Jensen snatches my wrist in the hallway and presses me against the wall.

He kisses me so hard my knees get weak. God, I’ve missed this.

“What do I have to do to get you to ditch this party and come upstairs with me?” I ask as I pull his weight against me.

“Just ask,” he replies while kissing his way down my jaw.

“Let’s go,” I say without hesitation. He laughs against me before brushing a curl off my forehead. “You earned this party. Stay here and celebrate. I’m not going anywhere.”

Moaning, I pull him closer and kiss the soft skin on the side of his neck.

“Fine.”

He takes my hand and pulls me back into the party. It goes on for at least two more hours. Sadie gets so tipsy she starts a Theo Virgil karaoke contest that is both humiliating and hilarious. I have video blackmail of Adam singing that I will hold on to until I die. Sitting next to Jensen on the couch, we watch everything cuddled close.

It’s past two when the last of the guests finally file out of my house. When I lock the front door, I turn to find Jensen is nowhere to be seen. Heading up to the second floor where my bedroom is, I turn the corner and hear the shower running in the en suite.

As I enter, I smile at him as he prepares the shower for both of us. Well, I assume both of us. I hope he knows I’m not getting in there alone.

It’s so surreal to have him back in my home. There’s a sense of gratitude in my mind alongside the fear. We were so close to losing this. While I’m so grateful beyond words, I acknowledge that there’s a version of us in an alternate reality where I’m mourning him instead of holding him. And my heart breaks for that version of us.

When he sees my gaze turn soft and contemplative, he pulls me into his arms and kisses my cheek. It’s like he can read my mind.

“I’m here,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’ll never be able to undo what I did to you, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, but I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as I squeeze him tighter. “Good,” I whisper. “My life is infinitely better with you in it.”

He kisses the side of my head. “Likewise.”

I tug my T-shirt over my head as he pulls off his button-down. We each shed our pants and boxers until we’re both naked. He holds my hand as he pulls me into the shower.

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