I put my hand on his head and slid it down his hair to curl around the back of his neck.
“Is Gunny okay?” he asked the room.
“Yeah, baby. Tucker said she made the trip just fine in his truck,” I replied.
He looked up at me. “Mom says you’re gonna come to visit us at Grandma’s.”
I nodded. “I absolutely am.”
“Will you make me Cocoa Puffs?” he asked.
“Yep,” I answered.
“Will Tucker bring donuts?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I answered.
He grinned. “Good.”
“Good,” I whispered, sliding my hand to his cheek.
He tipped his head to the side and asked, weirdly, “Sylvie, do you know what love is?”
I stared into his face and answered softly, “I do, Adam. I absolutely do.”
He stared into mine and replied just as softly. “I do, too.”
That was when I knew.
I knew.
I had to lose Creed and endure Richard so I could have Adam.
And Knight.
And Charlene, Leslie, Theo, Ron, Rhash, Live and everybody.
So that was also when I knew…
It so totally sucked.
But it was worth it.
* * * * *
Sixteen hours later…
I barely got one wheel over the curb in my turn into Creed’s drive before I saw his garage door go up.
The Expedition was to one side in the garage. The sedan was parked out in the drive. Creed was walking out the door that led to the kitchen.
My heart skipped.
I rolled my baby in, turned her off and exited, a stray candy bar wrapper falling to the cement of Creed’s garage floor.
I’d pick it up later (maybe).
That was my last thought before my feet left the ground, an arm around my waist holding me close, a hand shoved into the back of my hair pulling my face down and Creed kissed me.