Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Chase wiped at tears, sniffling as he went for the brave approach. “He’s gonna visit, Ive. He said so, right, Silas?”
“Yep.” Silas kissed the tops of their heads and straightened, flashing a slightly wobbly smile at me. “Boston’s not that far away.”
“And we’ll go to your games,” Chase added, his voice cracking with emotion.
“You will, buddy. We’ll make it happen.”
“Can we text you?” Ivy asked.
“Of course. Hey, come on now. No more tears. Gimme a hug.” He sank to his knees and crushed them to his chest. “You two are the coolest kids ever, and I’m so glad I got to meet you.”
They clung to Silas like Saran Wrap for another minute, then reluctantly grabbed their backpacks and slumped off to the van.
I set a hand on his hip because I couldn’t bear not to touch him as we waved good-bye.
We stood side by side long after the van had turned the corner.
I traced Silas’s spine with the pad of my thumb and kissed his cheek. “You okay?”
“No. That sucked. And I can’t even fucking think about tomorrow.”
“Don’t think about it.” I pulled Silas to face me and pressed my lips to his. “We have tonight.”
We didn’t do anything exciting. We ate dinner on the deck and hung out by the firepit with a bottle of wine. We stuck to neutral topics, laughing about the five missed catches in the end zone and the kid from Elmwood who’d refused to play without his lucky ball cap…even though it smelled suspiciously like dog poop.
Eventually, we headed inside and made love.
We’d been here so many times and knew each other’s bodies so well. It would have been easy to give in to lust, but the need to hold and savor was stronger. It made every thrust, every sigh more poignant. I was overwhelmed with the desire to be connected…body and soul. Me inside him. Silas inside me.
He panted my name, his cock slipping out as he collapsed beside me. “So good.”
I guided his head to my chest and ran my fingers through his hair. “Yes.”
We lay quietly in the dark. And just when I’d thought Silas had fallen asleep, he whispered,
“What am I gonna do without you?”
I didn’t think I was meant to hear, and if I was, I couldn’t have answered. Tears welled in my eyes and fell silently.
In the morning, I made coffee and breakfast, and walked next door to help Silas pack his Jeep.
He closed the trunk and met me at the driver’s side, tossing his keys nervously.
I smiled. Silas smirked. And then he was in my arms.
I breathed him in, holding on as tightly as I dared. “I’m very grateful you moved in next door—not once, but twice. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a while, Silas. The very best. Boston is lucky to have you.”
“I—”
“And don’t forget, you owe me tickets,” I said quickly.
“Yeah, sure. I…yeah.”
I kissed him again and opened his door. “Drive safe.”
He didn’t budge. “I don’t want to go.”
“You don’t have a choice, Si. Neither of us do. You’ve got a new shot, and I’ve got a lot on my plate, and it’s just the way it is. Maybe it’s a case of bad timing, and maybe it won’t always be this way. But for now…you’ve got a job to do. Go do it, baby.”
Silas worked his jaw, his eyes blazing with unspoken emotion. “I’ll be back.”
“I hope so.”
He climbed behind the wheel and after an agonizing minute, finally started the engine.
Then he was gone.
And with him, a huge piece of my heart.
CHAPTER 25
COOPER
July ended in a heat wave. The electricity went out after a lightning storm and melted all the ice cream at Swensen’s and caused an uproar in town.
Silas texted. He found a condo with a view of the Charles River. He sent pics and emojis with heart eyes.
August was a blur of camps for kids, tears with Sarah, who’d ultimately decided she’d visit every weekend. We all knew that wasn’t feasible, but no one said anything. There was a party in Fallbrook to send Frank and her off…and more tears.
Ivy and Chase started school in Wood Hollow at the end of the month. They loved it. They missed some of their old friends, but they had friends here too. They both texted Silas often.
Ivy sent him selfies with her culinary creations, and Chase made videos of Rhys and Greta’s new puppy and told him they were asking for a dog for Christmas.
Silas sent me updates from Boston via text. It was hot and there were a ton of tourists. He didn’t mention that he’d seen his ex and her famous beau. He didn’t have to. The three of them made headlines at a Red Sox game, and it was all anyone could talk about in town. Our Silas knew famous people.