LUCAS
Here we are again. In some ways, it feels like I never left.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Corium if we weren’t in the apartment ten minutes before an email came through on my phone.
It’s Brittney, and I’m not the only recipient. I leave Delilah, who’s unpacking, and read the message away from her. I can’t escape the sense of needing to protect her, though I’m sure she’d interpret it as trying to keep secrets.
Brittney: I need to see you all. Privately. As soon as possible.
The email went to Aspen, Xander, and Quinton, too. I had planned to reach out to Aspen anyway despite the late hour, if only to let her know I’m here. No sense in waiting until morning if everyone’s still awake.
I hit the reply all button and type out a quick reply.
Me: We’ve arrived and are settling in. Feel free to join us whenever you can.
I send it off before returning to the bedroom.
“We’re going to have company.”
“So soon?” Delilah questions, surprise written in her features.
There’s no good reason that should make my chest swell with pride, but not much of how I react to her has a logical explanation.
“Brittney has something important to talk about. She wouldn’t say what it is over email.”
“I can hang out in here if you want. You can tell them I’m tired after the flight—”
I silence her with a kiss that ends with her wrapped in my arms. Until now, until her, I was never much for the concept of people being meant for each other. Finding the perfect partner, all that happy horseshit. And that was what I thought of it, too. It was a joke made up to sell cards and candy in February.
I know better now. Not many women could handle the ups and downs, the sudden changes. At the end of the day, all she wants is whatever works best for me. She would hide in here if I asked her to, thinking that might make things easier.
“You will absolutely not stay in here unless you want to,” I murmur, pressing my lips to her forehead. “I would rather have you with me, but do what makes you feel comfortable. I know Xander can be difficult.”
As if she wasn’t already perfect. She screws up her mouth, narrowing her eyes. “Please. Like I’m going to hide from that jerk. That’s what he’d want me to do.” Fuck, her stubbornness turns me on.
She rests against my chest, her eyes moving over the room. “This is where it all started.”
“It feels like a long time ago.”
“Like a lifetime ago. I was a different person when I came here.”
“So was I, when you get down to it. So much has changed. I can’t look at this room the same anymore, and it’s only been what? Three weeks since we left?”
“Don’t act like you haven’t been counting the days. I know it’s been eating at you.”
“I didn’t know I was that obvious.”
“I probably wouldn’t have said anything, but somehow, it’s easier while we’re here.” I know what she means.
This is familiar. This is where we built what we have now. Our new apartment, though comfortable and everything, is new. We’re learning to live together as two regular people—something neither of us has ever had much experience with.
Here, I know who I am. I might have gone off the rails for a while, but I have someone worth pulling my shit together for.
Two someones, in fact. My heart leaps at the knock on the door. I have to remind myself it could just as easily be Brittney or Xander visiting alone. Better to get my expectations in check.
But it is Aspen, accompanied by Quinton.
“Dad’s on his way down,” he explains. He’s limping and wearing a sling to support his right arm.