Page 163 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

God, the smile she gives me is the embodiment of sunshine.

“One last kiss?”Before we’re back to being friendly acquaintances?

Wordlessly, Shae leans back over and gives me a long, deep kiss. When we’re done, pulling away from each other but yearning for more—at least, I am—Shae pauses after stepping outside the car.

“I’ll…see you inside,” she says, spinning on her heel and flouncing out the door as if her delicious ass didn’t just wreck my soul.

In more than one way.

“We’re going to figure this out,” I say to the empty car cabin. I just need to figure out how to propel us forward. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck in this same place forever.

THIRTY-SIX

SHAE

Ihave zero reason to be as nervous as I am. Storm hasn’t given me a single cause to doubt his ability to parent, or even to parentwell. Not that I’m a shining example of perfect child-rearing, seeing as I’ve put work ahead of the twins on more occasions than I’d rather admit.

Still, I’m nervous, and I don’t know what to do with this energy.

“I think I know why you’re hesitant,” Yenn says when I call her first thing in the morning. It’s seven a.m., and a super late start for me, especially considering I need to go into the office for the first time in several weeks.

I fell asleep in Storm’s arms last night and didn’t want to get up for anything in the world. But then I got an alert on the baby monitor that there was movement in the twins’ room, so I jolted out of the room like Sha’Carri Richardson sprinting toward a gold medal.

And then, of course, I couldn’t get to sleep until the sun was already rising because my thoughts—memories and what-ifs—wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone.

“Do tell, oh wise one,” I drawl, looking at her on FaceTime as I wash my face over the sink.

“You won’t have any more excuses,” Yennifer says, her voice softening as she delivers her hypothesis. I keep washing my face into a thick lather just to stall for time, because the statement hits me like a brick to the nose.

Since I don’t respond at all, Yennifer continues.

“This is the last…roadblock, for lack of a better word, to being a complete family unit, living together and all. There won’t be any barrier to you following your heart and being with Storm, and that scares the shit out of you.”

I splash my face, squeezing my eyes shut, and I rinse off the facewash.

“You’re gonna have to open your eyes at some point, Shae,” she says, a tinge of humor present, even though she’s reading the shit out of me. I don’t miss the double meaning in her words, either

Turning the taps off, I towel my face dry and take one final moment to gather myself before giving my best friend attention.

“You’re right,” I reply.

Yennifer is visibly surprised.

“Wow,” she says after a beat. “You’re not gonna even try to argue with me about why I’m wrong? Bihhh, you really do have it bad. Sandoval must be dickin’ you down somethingfierce.”

“Girl, bye!” I shout, stepping out of the line of sight to gather my new bottle of French moisturizer.

It’s new, because a few days ago, Storm noticed I was running out. He didn’t even mention seeing this, so when I woke up the next morning with a small box on my pillow and a short, handwritten note, I cried like a goddamn baby.

It’s not even just about the moisturizer.

It’s all the little things, like how he refills my water bottle before bed or restarts the extra fan Imusthave on to sleep,because he knows it’ll turn off in the middle of the night, and I’m grumpy when I’m hot.

It’s the big things like how he’s been true to his word and been patient with me, and how he’s developed a relationship with our children. Even though the one with Tempest is still strained, Raiden hugged me last night and told me Daddy is his best friend.

It’s all of this, and how he sees what I need and want, too.

Storm Sandoval takes care of me—my heart, my body, and my spirit.