Page 66 of Lust in Translation
EPILOGUE
LEO
KENDALL IS PUSHING HIMon the swing. Matching, wide smiles light both of their faces. Nate loves playing outside, and Kendall loves anything he loves. I, well, I just love both of them. More than I knew was humanly possible. Life in Bronze Bay is better than I expected. We both picked up jobs on the Bronze Bay SEAL base in the translation department. I think they wanted to hire her, but we come as a package deal, so they let me tag along. I don’t mind because I can’t get enough of her. I miss her if it’s only been minutes since I last saw her.
My chest hurts when I realize, for the first time in my life, I have something that means everything. Nate and Kendall are my whole world and it’s scary the depths I’d go to ensure not only their safety, but also their joy. Watching through the living room window, I see Kendall lift him from the swing and usher him toward the house, sunlight bouncing off their dark brown hair almost making it look like red fire for a beat or two. I sit on the sofa, next to old man Coal and pet him a few times. Internally I thank him for getting lost during the worst snowstorm the Cape has ever seen. He looks up with his green, tired eyes and lets out a meow. Kendall tells me his voice sounds old and decrepit, like an old man angry he can’t get his free coffee. I grin.
Nate toddles into the room, banging on my knees. He signs, “Daddy” and my heart melts. He pulls himself up next to me using his arms because his core is still nothing but baby fluff. He sits next to me and signs to Kendall for water. She prompts him to use the word please, and winks at me. Manners. Gotta teach that boy manners, I always say. Kendall comes back a minute later with the horrible, misshapen cup that leaks everywhere, and hands it to Nate. She picks up Coal and sets him in her lap as she sits next to me. He meows at her, but she quiets him by kissing his nose.
“You guys were having a blast out there,” I remark. Looking first to Nate because he doesn’t understand my hearing loss yet and will sign before I look at him. When I see he’s too busy drinking, I look at Kendall.
“Yeah, hopefully he goes down for a long nap after this.” She bites her lip.
I quirk a brow. “Again?”
She tilts her head back in a laugh. “Can’t keep up with me, old man?”
I sign. “Oh, I can. But I don’t want to make you sore.”
“I want you to,” she signs back.
“Okay, this is inappropriate conversation for young Nate man. You ready for a nap, big guy?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Nate signs and says. His lips are a little more difficult to read. Kendall says he sounds like a drunk man with a fairy voice, and when he actually reaches human level I’ll be able to understand him better. I wish I could hear him. Wishing doesn’t get you anywhere in this world, though. I appreciate everything I do have.
Nate goes down in his little bed after two books, another glass of water, and seven stuffed animals tucked in tight. Kendall is waiting for me in our bedroom when I click his door closed and cross the dark hallway.
Her perfume permeates the wood in here. Even hours after she gets ready for the day. It always smells like her in here, and for that reason alone, I always linger in here longer than I should. Even after she’s gone. Sitting at the edge of the bed thanking God I get to share this space with her for another day. That after the zig-zagging of our insane friendship bound by grief and old memories, I get to have this with her. Our family. The intense love that will never leave us.
She’s naked, kneeling in the center of our king-sized bed. “You were going to make me sore, Mr. Callaway?”
Narrowing my eyes, I lick my lips before I take off my shirt. I tackle her on the bed, letting my tongue lick a trail up her body before taking her lips with my own. Her breaths are harried, and as the kiss deepens I can almost hear her moans inside the lust we have for each other. Will always have for each other.
This is when I hear her the loudest. When we don’t have to say anything at all.
We are together. The rest is history.