Page 28

ANDY

We both cried when I had to leave to go back to work. I left the last possible minute, leaving an hour before I needed to be in on Monday. It’s Wednesday now and my heart already hurts.

Trevor: I miss you.

He sends me a selfie of him in his dungarees he wears for housekeeping. His hair’s pushed back in a sweatband and he has his headphones around his neck.

Andy: Miss you too, sweetheart.

My office isn’t too exciting, but I send him a selfie of me back.

“Ugh, what have I done?” Kevin says when he plops into the seat across from me. “Now you’re happy and miserable at the same time.”

I chuckle. “We’re going to be okay. He’s coming over when he gets off work. I can’t wait to show him my guest room that I plan to turn into his Little playroom. I think he’ll love it.”

“Okay, I don’t feel so bad anymore. But you’ve looked all pitiful the last few days, and I was concerned.”

“No, we’re good. So good.”

“I’m glad. The two of you were so sweet at the beach. But if he breaks your heart?—”

“He won’t.” I shake my head. And I won’t break his.

Kevin leaves and I catch up on a thousand and one emails.

There’s a soft knock on my door, and I look up.

“Sweetheart.” I push to my feet and walk around my desk.

Trevor jumps into my arms. “I missed you so, so much.”

“I missed you too, sweetie. I got a surprise for you, if you wanna head out?”

“Don’t you need to finish work? I can sit quietly and watch you.” He drops into one of the seats across from my desk, and I cackle when he makes his eyes wide and just stares at my desk.

“I think I’ll pass.” I tug him back to his feet.

We get to the parking garage and I plug my address into his phone incase he gets lost following me.

“I’ll see you in twenty-ish minutes, sweetheart. Drive safe.” I kiss his nose and we part ways for our vehicles.

It’s the longest twenty minutes of my life. He parks behind me in the driveway and looks up at my house. It’s a nice little two-story brick house with a basement.

I take his hand and sling his bag over my shoulder. “Welcome to my place. Please make yourself at home. But I have a surprise for you.”

His head is on a swivel when we enter. I try to see my place through his eyes.

“Daddy has stuffies.”

That I do. A few on the couch take over, but I like it that way.

“Your surprise is this way, sweetheart.”

He follows and his brow furrows when I flip on the light to my extra room. “I want to make you a Little playroom.”

Trevor sucks in a breath and jumps into my arms again. “Really?” He kisses my nose. My cheeks. My lips.

“Really. I want you to have your own space here. We can decorate it however you want. It’s yours.”

“Can we have raccoons? Lots and lots of raccoons?”

“Of course. Raccoons or castles or raccoons and castles. Whatever your heart desires.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

My heart soars so high.

“Daddy, you’re my happy place. Wherever you are is where my heart is.”

I hold him closer. “And you’re my happy place.”