“You took your rings off,” Dillon says the following morning as we are finishing breakfast. Easton is in the playroom watching cartoons on the TV. Dillon stares at my empty ring finger, as my hand gravitates to my neck.
“I did. It was time.” I cried removing my wedding and engagement rings after I got out of the shower earlier, but it was the final cleansing I needed to do. “I’ve given you my commitment, Dillon. I’ve told you I’m yours. I can’t continue to wear Reeve’s rings on my finger when I’ve promised to give myself to you fully.”
My hand curls around the two necklaces I’m wearing. “I’m hoping you don’t mind if I wear them around my neck.” I put the rings on a silver chain I had ordered for this day, and I took the claddagh necklace Dillon gave me for my birthday in Ireland out of the memento box I’d kept hidden from my husband.
Now I’m wearing both.
Side by side.
Existing in tandem like my love for both twins.
Dillon stares at the necklaces, looking a little dazed.
“If it bothers you, I can take it off.”
Slowly, he lifts his gaze to mine, shaking his head. “I told you I’m fine with you remembering Reeve. I don’t want you to erase him. Wear his rings around your neck. Keep your photos up. Whatever it is you need to do, I’m good. I’ve made my peace with everything.”
“Thank you.” I reach across the table, threading my fingers through his. “You don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that.”
“You kept it,” he whispers, his eyes lowering to my neck once again.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t really think about it, but I’m glad you did.”
“I must be a glutton for punishment because I kept all the stuff I have of yours, and all the things that reminded me of Ireland, in a box, hidden in my closet. I couldn’t bear to part with any of it.” I have photos, some of Dillon’s T-shirts, some Toxic Gods merch, and tons of souvenirs from our many trips.
“Come here. You’re too far away over there.” He pushes back his chair, the legs squealing across the tile floor.
I get up and drop onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. Our mouths move as one, meeting in a passionate kiss I feel all the way to the tips of my toes. Dillon hardens underneath my ass, and I break our kiss, quirking a brow. “I thought I exhausted you last night,” I tease, squirming on his lap.
“Don’t you know me? I’m insatiable.” He nips at my earlobe. “Insatiable for you.”
“Uncle Dillon!” Easton shouts, bounding into the room a few seconds later.
Dillon groans, burying his head in my shoulder. “He has the worst timing.”
“Or impeccable timing.”
“What’s up, buddy?” Dillon says, keeping his arms around me.
“Will you play in the treehouse with me?”
“Absolutely.” Dillon never refuses him anything.
“Awesome. I’ll meet you outside!” he says, racing out of the room like a tornado.
* * *
“I see someone got laid,” Ash says, grinning, a few hours later when she arrives for our lunch-slash-yoga date.
“Jesus, Ash. Tone it down, would ya?” Dillon points to where Easton is sitting at the kitchen table drawing pictures of Reeve and Lainey with the angels in heaven.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t see the little munchkin. All I saw was Viv’s radiant glow.” She waggles her brows.
“You know what you need to do, Auntie Ash,” Easton says in a singsong voice, sliding off his chair and walking toward us. He slaps out his palm. “Hand the goods over.”
Dillon chuckles, beaming at his son as his sister removes a dollar bill from her wallet and hands it to E. “I’ll be coming to you instead of the bank for a loan soon.”