Page 48 of Every Chance to Stay

They might still fail. But even that lingering uncertainty could drag the smile from his face as he threw his arms around Teague’s shoulders. He was spun into the crowd, swallowed whole by friends and strangers all at once. Joe lifted him onto his shoulders, bouncing him so hard his teeth clacked but he couldn’t stop smiling.

It wasn’t everything.

But it was enough.

For now.

Hours later, when the sky turned dark, Lucky curled in Antonio’s bed alone. His skin was overly sensitive even after he rubbed copious amounts of suncream over his body. Sleep refused to come, leaving him to stare at the faint glow of Antonio’s clock. He was exhausted. Mentally and physically, body aching from too much time in the heat and humidity, but he just couldn’t rest.

When the clock tipped thirteen minutes past two am, he heard the door close heavily downstairs.

Lucky didn’t get up. He dragged his eyes from the clock to the door, waiting. The room was dark, light from the hallway spilling in when the door finally opened. It cut over the bed, over his hip. Antonio was nothing but a silhouette, a sharp cut of black that moved through the light, made it waver and bend around him. He brought the scent of smoke with him, acrid and choking as he moved through the space.

There were no words exchanged. Just the whisper of fabric falling in a trail across the floor. He almost wondered if Antonio noticed he was there, but he didn’t have the energy to speak.

He heard the bathroom door close behind him followed by running water. The bedroom door half closed on its own, leaving just a sliver of yellow light slicing across the room now angled over his shoulder.

He stared at it until his eyes burned.

Time passed. How much, he wasn’t certain. Long enough for him to get lost in the blank canvass of his mind.

“Hey…” The bed dipped and a hand slid over his waist, pulling him into Antonio as the alpha slotted behind him. He still smelled like smoke, but also toothpaste and oranges.

“Hey.” He whispered back, eyes stinging as they finally slipped closed.

“We did it.” Antonio breathed the words against his skin, lips finding the back of his neck. He felt the alpha breathe him in, his own ragged breath escaping as every muscle finally unlocked. When had he grown so tense?

“For now.” A hiccup ripped through him. Everything bubbled up at once. The stress, the fear, the lingering possibility of failure… Was this enough? Was he enough?

“One step at a time, mi amor.” Soft reassurance, crafted with steady hands and warm kisses sought to sooth his racing heart. Antonio slipped a hand under his shirt, dragging it up to rest over his heart. His thumb brushed over his sternum, chasing the anxiety away.

“You saved those kids today.” Lucky found strength to change the topic. Today wasn’t just about him.

“We did; we found them. They’ll have burns… probably a long recovery. But they’re alive. That counts for something.” He felt Antonio’s smile on the back of his neck. “I’m proud of us.”

Us.

They were two people working together to make changes to the island they called home. “I’m proud of us too.” Lucky placed his hand over Antonio’s on his chest, lacing their fingers together.

Lucky didn’t have to face the challenge alone. His family, his friends, Antonio… Whatever awaited them tomorrow didn’t matter. Not when he was able to curl safely into this warmth.

26

Antonio

Lucky was sitting with his legs in the pool when Antonio came downstairs. He could hear the soft conversation as Lucky spoke into his phone, Teague’s deep voice filtering through. It was early, a rare grey morning with thick clouds threatening afternoon thunderstorms.

He busied himself with coffee. Two cups, matching ceramic mugs with marbled glaze like ocean spray. Milk, sugar, a dash of cinnamon, it felt like the kind of day that needed spice to warm the heart. All the stress of yesterday lingered in the cloying scent of smoke and the tightness in his throat when he swallowed. The hot beverage helped.

Antonio braced a hip against the counter, watching Lucky from his view of the pool. His curls were puffed up around his shoulders, messy from sleep. He was wearing one of Antonio’s shirts.

Waves of longing crashed over his head.

He wanted this every day. He wanted to wake up to Lucky existing in his house, wearing his clothes, sharing his life.

Foolish thoughts rolled around in his brain. Thoughts that put even their constant assurance that fast fit them to the test. Thoughts that involved rings. Antonio rubbed a hand over his face, willing his heart to settle down before he did something stupid.

Lucky ended the call with a soft goodbye, placing the phone face down on the stone edge of the pool. That was enough of a signal for Antonio to make his presence known.