Page 102 of Ablaze

I lay a kiss on his cheek before placing one on his closed fist. When I look up, I feel a set of lips on my temple.

I’ve been sitting between Dean’s legs on the ground, while holding my sleeping nephew in my arms, while Rohan and Samantha cuddle on one couch and Malcolm and his girlfriend, Denise, take the other.

I tilt my head up and Dean answers with a kiss before moving his mouth to my ear. “I can’t wait.”

A crease forms between my eyes and I whisper back, “What?”

His gaze falls to my nephew’s head on my chest before it comes back to meet mine. We’re locked in a silent exchange when the music to Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers starts, and I faintly recall we’re in the middle of the movie.

My eyes drag to the scene on the screen, my breaths heavy for an entirely different reason.

I watch as Molly, played by Demi Moore, sways with the ghost of her boyfriend, Sam, played by Patrick Swayze. And even though I’ve seen this movie before, the moment is so heartbreaking between them, it’s hard not to feel that constriction in my throat, the longing for them to somehow be together again.

But maybe some stories are destined for tragedy. Maybe some stories are more beautiful because of their tragedy.

It’s a scene that has Rohan shifting in his seat, and right when the tightness in my throat seems almost unpalatable, I hear Malcolm’s sniffles.

At first, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back my impending sob, but the way he shakes his head in his hands has my mouth lifting upward.

My gaze flies to Samantha’s, who is pinching her lips in between her teeth, before it finds Denise. I’m not sure that she’s been in Malcolm’s life long enough, which is why her expression is a mixture of both panic and discomfort at the sight of him breaking down.

I should feel like an asshole, but I can’t help the muffled chuckle that escapes my lips, only to transform into an all-out laugh. I try not to let my shoulders shake so as to not awaken Sage, but my smile stretches almost painfully.

Malcolm pinches the bridge of his nose after wiping the bottoms of his eyes. “Man, fuck this shit.” He sniffles, peeking through his hands at the TV, like he can’t help himself, before shutting his eyes and shaking his head again.

He finally opens his eyes and turns with a finger pointing toward me. “You.”

I cackle softly, hoping not to wake up Sage.

“You’re never ever allowed to pick movies. Always picking the worst shit. I can’t sleep for days after–”

I laugh harder and feel the rumble of Dean’s laugh against my back.

“You’re sick in the head. Watching all this sad shit. What’s wrong with you?” He quickly turns to his girlfriend as if just realizing she’s there. “Baby, you know I’m not like this. I’m fucking hard–tough as nails. Stony interior and exterior, you feel me?” He shrugs. “Just had a tough week, that’s all. It all caught up with me, and this movie got me in the feels.”

Denise rubs his back. “I understand. Need a tissue, sweetie?”

Malcolm nods with a frown. “Yeah. Just give me the whole box.” He brings his accusatory glare to me while I put my hand on my mouth to hold back more of my laugh.

In all the time I’ve been back, I haven’t thought of LA once, not even for half a second.

Why would I when everything I’ve ever wanted is here, in this room?

* * *

“So, you’re telling me dogs and humans can eat these?” Bella stabs a corner of the mini peanut butter cake with her fork and hums around the bite. “This is fucking delicious, Mala.”

I nod over my crossed arms atop the bone-shaped bistro table at the café, feeling pleased with our new concoction. “We’re coming up with new recipes every day.”

“I could probably even get Darian to eat one of these.” Rani wipes the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “I swear, the man has no appreciation for stress-eating or dessert in general. He eats rabbit food all day.”

I nod at her empty plate. “Well, it does have carrots and apples in it, so technically, it could be considered rabbit food.”

Bella came into town a couple of nights ago with Garrett. She and Rani are actually cousins and have an incredible bond–one much like sisters would–though they have very different personalities, with Bella being more cautious and guarded and Rani more lackadaisical and bubbly.

Either way, they’ve always been really warm and friendly with me. I can’t recall when I first met both of them–some Meyer family event, perhaps–but it wasn’t until Grams’ funeral that I got to know them better. We even chatted about the Meyer brothers and their . . . unique personalities and antics. Despite the occasion and the weird tension between me and Dean at the time, I actually laughed quite a lot in their company.

And when Dean and I broke the news to all of them about us working things out and becoming a couple, both Rani and Bella had similar reactions, saying something like, “Well, it’s about damn time!”

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