Page 51 of Property of Riptide
TWENTY-SIX
Van
Last night was one of the most magical moments of my life.
I now get the difference between infatuation and deep-seated love.
We haven’t said that word to each other, at least not yet, but it’s what I’m feeling and I don’t want to hide it. Not from him and not from anyone else. The day I met Rush, it’s as if the universe held out its hands with him cupped inside and said, “You deserve this after all the bullshit we’ve put you through.”
Throughout breakfast, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. The way he is with my son causes my heart to leap into my chest. He looks at him as if he’s his father and not a man who came into his life recently—the bond growing between them is beautiful and mesmerizing to watch.
“Hello,” Rush laughs, waving his hands in front of my face. “Earth to, Van. Where’d you go?”
“Just thinking about how lucky I am to have found you,” I admit, my face flaming with embarrassment. “Sorry, did you say something?”
“I did,” he conveys. “Several things as a matter of fact. But the most important question I posed was me asking if you’d like to take a tour with me of the property. I’d like you to be familiar with everything so you don’t get lost.”
“I’d like that. It’ll be good to stretch my legs after that long car ride yesterday,” I tell him.
“We also have a lot to talk about. You had questions after your talk with Zoey but we got distracted when we got back,” he says, his tone husky remembering what that distraction was.
“I do have questions,” I inform him. “But they don’t have to be answered all at one time. We come from two different worlds, and it’s going to take some adjusting on my part to get used to all of this. As long as you’re patient with me while I navigate my way through this new lifestyle, nothing is going to scare me away and make me run. I’m in this for the long haul, Rush.”
“Nothing?” he asks, cleaning the remnants of eggs off of Gagey’s face.
“As far as I’m concerned, yeah. Nothing.”
“That’s a pretty bold statement, Van.”
“It’s an honest one. I realized something last night, something important,” I state.
“Wanna share what that realization was?” The entire time he’s talking to me, he’s making silly faces at my boy causing him to laugh. It’s a symphony to my ears and momma heart. Once again, I’m flustered. “Van? Baby girl. You alright?”
My hands lift to my cheeks where I hold them in my palms to hide their pinkness. I’m not usually the one who loses track of her thoughts and is thunderstruck by another person so this is an entirely new endeavor for me. “I’m good, Rush. Happy.”
“And your happiness is the only thing that matters to me,” he promises. “I’ll make it my life’s mission to keep that dreamy look on your face.”
“Fuck, Rush. You say things that throw me for a loop. The way you treat me and are with my little guy, are things I thought were only written in fairytales. You are my prince.”
He chuckles before saying, “As long as you don’t prick your finger on a needle or eat a poisonous apple and fall into a comatose-like sleep, I’m good with that reference.”
“Let me slip my shoes on and then we can go for that tour,” I say, needing a minute to catch my breath.
“I’ll run upstairs and freshen little man’s diaper then we’ll meet you in the living room. Does his diaper bag have enough diapers for reinforcement?”
“Reinforcement,” I snicker. “I think that’s the best term I’ve heard for a blowout. Yeah, he’s stocked with everything we’ll need. Can you grab his sling out of his bag for me? I don’t want to push his stroller and it’s easier to carry him in that than in my arms.”
“Yeah, I’ll grab it but we’ll be doing a lot of walking so I’ll attach it to me.”
I feel like a broken record when I ask, “Are you sure? He may not seem like he weighs a lot, but when you have him strapped toyour chest and are carting him around, you realize he’s heavier than he appears.”
“One day, you’ll come to understand that these shoulders can bear a lot of weight, baby girl. It’s a privilege, not a burden, for me to carry him.”
“Okay,” I blubber, tears forming in my eyes, hindering my sight. Not because I’m sad, but because he’s giving me memories to cherish.
“Van. Baby, don’t cry. Dammit, I didn’t mean to make you shed tears.” He lays Gagey on the floor where there’s a blanket spread out and hotfoots it over to me. Rush wraps his arms around me like bands of steel and tucks my head into his chest. “Did I say or do something wrong?”
“No, Rush. Everything you’ve said and done is perfect,” I mumble into his pecs.
