Page 69 of Fractured Grief
Pulling back, I gazed into his eyes and loved the way they sparkled. “Show me off?” he whispered, a beautiful blush coloring his cheeks.
Atty and Bodhi both chuckled beside us as Indy’s cheeks darkened.
“At least Seb’s being honest that it can be quite a large gathering. Unlike Atty, to me. We rocked up, and the street and lawn were full of cars. I almost made a run for it. I wasn’t used to crowds or that many people, but I had Atty by my side, so I pushed through, and it was fun. Everyone was lovely. You should come.” Bodhi smiled warmly at Indy before nodding towards Hazel. “There are also plenty of cousins, so there’ll be lots of kids for Hazel to play with.”
Smiling shyly at me, his blush still blooming. “I’d love to go.”
My heart warmed at his ready acceptance.
Chapter 34
Indy
Meeting Bodhi and Atticus had been nice. Seb had such a big, loving family, and seeing him in his element with his big brother was very different than seeing him get exasperated with Lyric. You could tell Seb admired Atticus. He looked up to him.
I loved being in on the secret that Bodhi and Atticus were planning to have a vehicle modified as a surprise. I’d made Bodhi promise to let me be there for the big reveal.
After a little bit of a catch-up, we let them get back to work, said our goodbyes, and made our way back towards town.
Hazel skipped along ahead in her own little world.
“How do you feel about Elpízo for lunch? I’m sure Ma and Yaya would love for us to drop by,” Seb asked.
“Sounds good. I’d love to see your family’s restaurant.” I’d loved all the food Lyric brought us the other day and would kill for more of that Moussaka.
We made our way to the restaurant, which wasn’t very far. The town was small but eclectic and friendly. So many people smiled, waved, or stopped to say hi as we walked down the block.
Stepping into Elpízo was like stepping across the world and into a beautiful Greek coastal building. The walls were whitewashed stone that was bright and airy and had deep blue ornate trim made up of unbroken, interlocking patterned mazes.
The counter and even the tables seemed to be made from stunning white marble, and the walls had many different coastal paintings featuring the iconic Greek coastline and the picturesque Mediterranean Sea.
Behind the serving counter was a stunning mural with Greek gods and goddesses, and the Parthenon and similar buildings all over it. The mural wasn’t large, but it was incredible. As we approached, flecks of gold became noticeable throughout the painting. I was captivated by the artistry.
“It’s stunning,” I whispered, truly in awe.
“Thank you. My sýzygos painted it with my sons a long time ago.” Yaya popped up out of nowhere, and I flinched.
“So, you’re together now,” She said as a statement, not as a question, but I’d come to expect this sort of bluntness from this formidable woman. “It’s about time. I think those charms have worked a little too well.”
“Yaya,” Seb whined. “Yes, he’s my boyfriend. Please be nice.”
I lifted on my tiptoes to pull him in for a kiss, right there in front of Yaya. He had to lean almost in half to kiss me, but every moment with Seb’s lips on mine was worth it.
We pulled back from the kiss as I rested my forehead against his, stroking the hair that had escaped his bun. Little arms wrapped around my leg and Seb’s. We both looked down at Hazel joining in.
In that moment, I knew–he was it for me, and this was our new family. I couldn’t wait to build a new life with Seb by my side.
His gaze snapped to mine in alarm. “I can feel her touch behind my knee. It’s like sparks under my skin,” he whispered.
Ever the medical professional, I changed gears and knelt to poke and prod at his knee and leg. “Can you feel this?” I asked as I touched different parts of his thigh and around his knee.
“Sort of. It seems delayed as you touch me, but I can feel it on the back of my leg. It’s like the back of my leg was waking up, but the front was still asleep.” He was pensive as he gazed down at me.
“This is a real turning point, Seb. The pathways and nerves are healing and talking to your brain again. This is what we want to see.” I was so happy for him; I was vibrating with excitement.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer as my arms flew around Seb in a tight hug. Hazel joined in, and I didn’t think this moment could be more perfect.
Pulling back from our hug, I was a little overwhelmed at the possibilities of our future.
