Page 69 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

We cleaned everything up, it made me a little sad. My baby only turned two once, and it just never felt like enough. Finn and Aaron were sucking the helium out of the bunny balloons and saying stupid shit to each other.

“Men.” Bell huffed.

I laughed, “Men? More like boys.”

“Hey! Who you callin’ boys?” Finn shouted in the high pitch whine of helium. He and Aaron doubled over in laughter, and we couldn’t help but to join them.

Jolene and Sutton had done all the dishes by the time Bell and I got everything else cleared and walked into the house. Atlas was shouting, “mama!” every time Penelope asked him to say “P”, and she was cracking up.

“Atlas.” I sign-songed, “Do you want me or daddy to read you a book tonight?”

It was way past his bedtime, and he rubbed his little eyes as he pulled his blankie behind him over to me. “Paw!”

Sutton lifted his fist in victory. “Atta boy!”

He scooped him into his arms and carried him up the stairs to get him ready for bed. I was exhausted, and thankful for the extra hands tonight.

“We’ll have him ready for bed in no time.” Jolene patted my shoulder as she walked by. “Enjoy some alone time with your friends.”

I heard the tub start up, and the patter of feet as Atlas ran down the hall, when he passed the top of the stairs I saw his naked little butt turn and run away from Jolene, right back into Sutton’s grip if the squeals of delight were any indication.

My heart swelled at the pure glee in my son's voice as he made memories with his grandparents. Memories that I hoped lasted a lifetime.

I saw Finn’s tattooed hands before he placed them on my shoulders. “I’m sending everyone home, Firecracker.” The fresh ink on his left ring finger flashed in my peripheral as he gripped my neck and bent it back so I could see him. “You’re all mine tonight, baby.”

His lips ghosted over mine, a sinful smile pulling them away.

“Bell, Pen, you gotta go.” I said playfully, hooking my thumb toward the door.

They laughed and we hugged as we said goodbye. Then it was just us, standing in our home with our child splashing water everywhere, and Finn’s parents pretending to be upset about it.

Finn chuckled and pulled my body into his by my hips, I looped my arms around his neck and we stood like that, enjoying the sounds of our life. Enjoying the little moment of peace before we kissed our little man and let him sleep.

“Come with me?” He whispered in my ear.

“Anywhere.” I answered.

We walked hand in hand to the bathroom where Atlas had indeed gotten water everywhere and was standing in his little red robe while Jolene combed his curly hair. Sutton handed him his toothbrush and helped him brush what teeth he had.

“Teef!” Atlas said when he finally noticed us standing in the doorway.

“Teeth, buddy.” Finn agreed. “Goodnight book?’

“Paw!” He pointed at Sutton.

I bent down and I opened my arms, Atlas threw his toothbrush and bolted into them. I wrapped him up tight and kissed his cheeks, and nose. He kissed my mouth, openly of course, and scrambled out of my arms toward Finn to do the same.

Running the back of my hand over my lips to get rid of the strawberry flavored slobber, I turned. Watching Finn love on Atlas was one of my favorite things to do. This big, tattooed, muscled man held our little boy with so much love I almost teared up.

Jolene wrestled him away from Finn and said, “Time for your bedtime story, wild one.”

Sutton cleaned up the bathroom while Jolene put Atlas in his pajamas, and Finn and I headed toward our bedroom.

When the door closed behind Finn it felt like a whole new world. Finn had the foresight to have our room soundproofed during the time I’d debated moving in, and it was the best thing he could have done.

We couldn’t keep our hands off each other, no matter how tired we were. Our magnetism never wavered, thank God.

Finn stood with his back against the door, “Strip for me, Firecracker.”

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