Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Interjecting, Beckett claps him on the shoulder. “I’ll get you a beer. You look like you could use one.”
But I know Beck well enough to understand—he’s giving us a minute alone. He disappears into the kitchen, leaving Will and me standing in the middle of the living room.
“I missed you so much,” I tell him. I reach for his hand, a swirl of emotions running rampant inside me.
“I missed you too.” His words are lined with gravel. He clears his throat before continuing. “I love you. And I can’t live without you. Every day away from you—away from both of you—felt wrong.”
“What about the campaign? The job? You didn’t enjoy it?”
“I hated it,” he admits. “DC is the most cynical, corrupt place I’ve ever been. I don’t regret taking the job, though. I needed to experience it, to understand why I’m not suited for it. But even if I loved it, I wasn’t about to stay. I can’t be away from you. I need you, Charlie. I need you like air.”
Tears well up in my eyes, and I don’t even try to blink them away. “I missed you every single day you were gone.” I hate how vulnerable I sound, but it’s the truth. “I thought maybe you were done with me. With us.”
“Never.” He shakes his head, his thumb brushing away the tear that’s fallen down my cheek. “I just needed to figure out how to be with you. How to be okay with what we have.”
Before I can respond, Beckett returns, holding a beer. But there’s no tension, no awkwardness. Just…us.
Will turns to him, a serious look on his face. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. I missed you guys.”
Beckett’s gray eyes soften. Then he smirks, handing Will the bottle. “Well, lucky for you, we’ve missed the hell out of you too. C’mon. Have a seat.”
Will glances toward the TV, a slow grin spreading across his boy-next-door face. “So. What are we watching?”
EPILOGUE
CHARLOTTE
I just want to give my blowjobs in peace
THE SUN IS SETTING LOW OVER THE BEACH, CASTING A WARM, GOLDEN glow as Beckett and I stand side by side, watching Helix, our ridiculously energetic Labrador puppy, charge through the sand. His gangly legs can barely keep up with the stick he’s trying to chase, but he’s a determined little thing. He’s also smart as hell, already picking up commands like he’s been doing this for years. Of course, the boys love to think it’s because they’re natural dog trainers. But it’s obviously because of me.
Beckett gives a sharp whistle, and Helix bounds toward us, his oversize paws kicking up sand.
Behind us, Will laughs. He’s stretched out on a towel, still clad in his suit pants from his virtual meeting. The nonprofit he works for is so dedicated to enacting change on a global scale that they hold meetings well into the evening, nearly every single night, even on weekends. We practically had to drag him out of the house to take a walk.
We have a house now, a three-bedroom near the ocean, because three people sharing one office in the apartment had been pure hell and utter torture. Now the boys share one, and I have my own. Although I’ll need to convert mine into a guest room next month because my sister and her girlfriend are visiting.
I’m excited for it—I haven’t seen Ava or the rest of my family since the boys and I went home for Christmas. Three Christmases, in fact, as we had to spend a few days at each of our homes, including Will’s Connecticut estate where his father informed us that he’d held two focus groups to gauge his constituents’ response to his son’s unconventional relationship, and the consensus was mixed. We all pretended to care, and then I went for a walk with Will’s stepmother, whom I adore.
We’re going to miss Christmas this year, though, because the boys and I are going to Seoul for two weeks. I’m excited. I spent so much of my childhood resisting learning about Korean culture because I thought it made me too different, but now I realize that different doesn’t have to be a bad word. Different is good. I can’t wait to learn more about the country where I was born and for my guys to see where I came from.
From his towel, Will watches Helix with an amused look, shaking his head. “How did we end up with the most uncoordinated dog on the planet?”
“He’s in his lanky teenager phase, Larsen,” Beckett argues. “He’ll get better at this.”
“At least he’s persistent, I’ll give him that. But holy shit, does he suck at running.”
“Quit insulting my son or I’ll train him to piss on your leg every time Charlie is giving you a blowjob.”
“Hey!” I object. “Don’t drag me into this. I just want to give my blowjobs in peace.”