Page 123 of As the Years Pass

“Hi, Emmet!” Judy says, smiling a mile wide. Ian comes into the screen, shoving his face right into the camera and smiling. I can’t help but laugh.

“Hi, Judy. And hello, Ian. That’s a great close-up.”

Seeing them makes me so damn happy.

“Back up, Ian! My goodness gracious,” Judy says with so much sass. Ian backs up as Adam comes to my side so both of us are in the image. “Little brothers are so annoying.”

“I hear they are,” I say.

“When are you coming home?”

“Tomorrow,” Adam answers.

“Is Emmet coming with you?”

“I’ll be home too,” I say.

“Are we going to hang out?” she asks. “I’ve been thinking I want to try more pineapple pizza.”

I chuckle. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, and I know I can’t ask Daddy because he doesn’t like it.”

“Hey,” he says, sounding offended. “You can ask me anything.”

“We can hang out, and I will buy you the best pineapple pizza in the city, Judy.” I glance at Adam. “As long as your dad says it’s okay.”

“Of course it’s okay,” he says quickly.

“Oh goodie! I can’t wait.”

“All right, we have to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Tell Ian I love him.”

“I will, Daddy. Love you!”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

“Bye!” She waves and blows us both kisses. My heart aches in my chest as he ends the call. I feel him staring at me, and I want to talk, but I just feel so overwhelmed with emotion.

“You okay?” he asks softly, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I take a deep breath, then face him. “All I’ve ever wanted is a life with you, Adam. A family. From the very first day I met you, I knew you were special. I knew you were it for me.”

“Emmet—”

“You need to understand, Adam. In order for you to make a decision, you need to really understand what I’m saying, what I want and what I need from this. This is it for me. You. The kids. A family that we can build together. It’s what I want, what I’ve always wanted. It’s what I went to Seattle for. I wanted a second chance.” I cup his cheeks, staring right into his eyes. “I swear, I will never leave you. I will never do anything to hurt you or your kids. I want this, us. But I don’t want to beg for it, and I don’t want to have to convince you.”

“I don’t need convincing,” he says quickly. “My concerns have nothing to do with you or us, it has everything to do with the shit in my head. You were right calling me out on being scared. This was never about you, Emmet, it was always about me. And that’s unfair because it shouldn’t be that way. I want this too. Truly, I do. I feel it in my bones, but mostly, I feel it in my heart.”

His hand comes up to grab mine and slides it over his chest.

“I want this,” he says again. “With you, no matter what.”

I let out a shaky breath, unsure if I’m making the right decision this time. “Okay.”

“Fuck yes, okay,” he says with a smile, then leans in to kiss me. He takes my hand and pulls open the door. “So, do we get to tell Dominic and Mikah that we’re a couple?”

“Are you ready for Dominic to handle that news?”