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Less than an hour from home, the city skyline finally came into view. They had a distance to go yet, but it was a welcome sight. Kelly, his heart, his soul, and his true salvation, was waiting for him there.
“I know first-hand how those missing moments in time must be haunting her.”
His smile fell. One secret still remained. He had to let it go. Turning to the girl who was tattooed into all the best and worst moments of his life, Kodiak took her hand. “I need to tell you what happened between us that night in my apartment. You deserve to know and—”
“Shhh.” Her green eyes gazed into his. “Seth, I know.”
“But Bo told me you didn’t remember.”
He’d always taken comfort in that, at the same time fearing he’d lose her if she ever knew the truth.
“I didn’t at first. Just bits and pieces. But thanks to Monica, with time, I was able to put them all together.”
His eyes filling, Kodiak swiped at them so he could see the road.
“I told you, I understand more than you think I do. Maybe nobody else would, but then nobody else lived our life.”
“How the fuck could you forgive me?”
Her hand landed on his thigh. “I don’t blame you. I will never blame you. Our father was the one at fault. There’s nothing to forgive.”
Gripping the steering wheel, he inhaled and held his breath, his knuckles turning white.
“I love you, Seth.”
And he exhaled.
“I love you, little one.”
“Don’t you see? You’ve been looking out for me my entire life. Even when you didn’t know it, you were my big brother.” Laying her head on his shoulder, Linnea peered up at him. “I always wanted one, you know.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His sister smiled. “And I got the best one I could’ve ever wished for.”
Kodiak made a promise when he was ten. And he’d kept it. It was for Dillon to love and protect her now. But as her brother, he’d be there whenever she needed him.
Park Place was just as they’d left it. Music drifted on the breeze from Kit’s open window, but no one seemed to be around on this late Monday afternoon. Linnea carried Charlotte into the house. Kodiak hauled everything else including that damn box of letters. He didn’t understand why she wanted to hold onto them. Maybe it was a girl thing. Peeking through the French doors into her backyard, for a moment he thought they were in the wrong house. It didn’t look like this when they left.
“A hot tub, Linnea? What the hell have you been up to while we were away?”
“Building a new life.” She grinned.
And that’s what I intend to do with Kelly.
“When Dillon comes back, if everything works out…”
“There’s no if about it.” Smiling, Kodiak tenderly smoothed her hair. “And you know it.”
“Then how would you feel about living next door?”
“Kelly and Dillon, neighbors? Christ, can you imagine that?”
Actually, he could.
Linnea giggled. “Even better, if you marry Kelly and I marry Dillon, they’ll be brother and sister-in-law.”
Her laughter infectious, he couldn’t help but laugh too.
