Dance Around - Susi Hawke Page 0,33

head, I scanned all the different bunnies and cats—and we even had a bear present, thanks to Nate.

On my second scan, I realized I'd been wrong the first time. Not everyone had shifted. My parents sat in the middle of the animals, holding Iris and Theo, who were too young to shift. Mom had her camera on, talking softly as she recorded the entire scene. Heart swelling, I turned back to my babies and leaned over the nest to nuzzle Gil.

I wasn’t sure how long we’d stayed put, but after a while, I shifted and sat up. When Gil shifted with me, I smiled and asked if we could take a moment to talk privately.

Gil swallowed and glanced around, then nodded. "Our family will protect our kittens. Besides, they're sleepy anyway."

Rising to my feet, I took a step closer and held up my hands. "Would it be all right if I carry you? I have a crazy need to hold you." Gil's only response was holding up his arms. I cradled him against my chest and smiled when both Clay and Edgar protectively moved over to the nest to take our places.

Mom nodded her approval as I carried Gil past her. Even though I didn't need it, it felt good to know she thought I was finally getting things right. I carried Gil outside and walked into the pool. Thanks to the solar-powered temperature control, it was a perfect seventy-eight degrees.

Shivering, Gil murmured in my ear, "Go shoulder-deep and dunk us, Danny boy. I feel dirty after birthing five kittens, and you’re a sweaty mess too. Then we can go sit on the steps, if you want. The lowest one, though, so we're chest deep. I want to soak and luxuriate in this amazing water."

"What I want doesn't factor in, Blondie. You did the work, so you get to choose how we relax. Although I do like your plan, so I would've been on board anyway."

We sat quietly at first, resting side by side on the deepest step as he requested, letting the breeze wash over us while the warm water lapped at our chests. It was paradise. Home. My oasis from the rest of this crazy world.

And I would leave it in a heartbeat for Gil.

I said as much to him, repeating my apology from a month ago about letting so many years pass without setting the record straight. When I started to apologize for a third time, Gil touched a fingertip to my lips and shook his head.

"We both have a lot to apologize for. I'm sorry, too. I want you to know I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to explain yourself in the past, and I'm even sorrier I picked a ridiculous argument rather than dealing with not wanting to let you go last month. Both of us are stupid proud and way too stubborn for our own good."

Amen. Slipping my arm around his shoulders, I rested my head against his. "Since we can agree we're a pathetic couple of proud, stubborn dumbasses, how about we put the past behind us and start fresh from this moment? Not simply for the sake of our family, but for us as well. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of rehashing my old mistakes every time I close my eyes."

Gil tilted his head back and waited for me to turn my head. As soon as I made eye contact, he shot me a playful wink. "I can be down with your idea, with one exception. We never forget the night we shared on the island. Not only did it give us our babies—my memory is hot as hell. You don't forget such sizzling moments."

Laughing softly, I leaned forward and snuck a quick kiss. "But what do we do about the brood? And my family? How do we settle our old argument? If you want my take, I will pack my shit and go home with you immediately. The family is already adapting and adjusting to the changes over the past nine months or so. Hell, I forget when it all began, but it feels new, and we're still restructuring and figuring out a new normal. Maybe it's time for them to find it without me."

Gil smiled but shook his head. "I love your offer, but relationships require compromise, right? What if we talked to our families about restructuring entirely? Maybe instead of working separately and either stepping on each other's toes or fighting over the same