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“It was a good pod. God, I hope Monroe gets that confession.” Holden sighed. Things were finally progressing in the Stapleton case again, and Monroe had been granted another interview with the convicted killer suspected of the crime. The task-force investigators were hopeful that a confession might be forthcoming that they could leverage for a plea deal of sorts, avoid a lengthy trial. “And for what it’s worth, I smiled every time I thought about you the whole week you were away.”
“Good. And as soon as I passed the Safe Harbor sign, the RV seemed to move faster. Lighter. Couldn’t get home fast enough.”
“I love that.” He grabbed my hand and swung it lightly. “Love you.”
“I’m going to keep coming home to you, Holden,” I promised, willing him to believe me, to trust me that much more. “There’s no place else I’d rather be.”
“Thank—”
Pulling my hand loose, I held it up. “You don’t get to thank me for loving you.”
“Yes, Chief.” He pasted a suitably humble expression on his face. It wasn’t gratitude I wanted from this man or praise. It was him. His heart. Him in my life. Him at the center of everything. I stared at him, trying to beam that fact into his thick skull, until he nodded. “I’ll always be waiting. How’s that?”
“Perfect.”
And it was. I wouldn’t always make him wait. I’d take him with me when I could, make good on my promise to give him the world. I wouldn’t make him wait too long on those rings either. Life was short, and we had each other. Neither of us was perfect, but we were perfect for each other. Even this cranky old SEAL chief divemaster could see how that was damn worth celebrating.
Epilogue
Sam
I arrived at Holden and Cal’s house with a fake smile and my mom’s famous oatmeal-cranberry cookies, hoping one would make up for the other. Funny how it had been Holden’s house alone for close to a decade, and then Cal rolled into town, and now it was Holden and Cal for everything. House. Car. Their dopey looks. The side of the table they sat on for trivia night. I didn’t see one without asking about the other, and indeed, Holden looked darn near half-naked without Cal hovering nearby as he let me into the house.
“Is Cal back yet?” I asked Holden as he wheeled ahead of me, taking a moment to wipe the sweat from my forehead. I’d walked despite the July heat because trying to find parking on a holiday weekend in Holden’s neighborhood was no joke. I’d passed no less than a dozen barbecues on my walk over.
“No.” Holden harrumphed his way into the house, where Knox and Monroe were waiting in the living room.
“Ix-nay on the ask-kay,” Knox joked, standing to greet me with a back-slapping hug and taking the plate of cookies. He glanced pointedly at Holden. “Someone’s a bit cranky.”
“Good.” I laughed.
“Good?” Monroe frowned, studying me closely.
“I’m not being mean.” I held up my hands. “It’s been nice, the past few months, seeing another side of Holden.”
I probably wasn’t explaining it well, but Holden had been my friend for years, always occupying a particular slot, quick with a joke, loyal to a fault, ready to help, but lacking the emotional depth that made true communication possible.
Not that I was opening up to many these days, but for the first time, Holden was on the list of those I might talk with if I could figure out what the heck I wanted to say.
“Maybe that side’s always been there.” Knox shrugged. He didn’t know Holden as well as Monroe and I did, so, undoubtedly, Holden’s transformation was less dramatic for him. However, to me, love had sculpted Holden, revealing layers and edges.
He was a lucky, lucky man, being cared about the way Cal loved him. Not that Cal wasn’t lucky too, and watching the two of them was so beautiful it hurt. Some days more than others.
“You’re right.” Monroe crossed over to Holden, set a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, but you didn’t miss anything.” Holden quirked his mouth, waving away all our concerns. “It was…easier, being the comedian. The funny friend.”
“Well, I like you better this way, my friend.” I nodded at him, trying to tell him with my eyes how happy I was for him.
“And you’re still funny.” Monroe chuckled as Holden glanced again at the door. “Cute how you keep checking the window.”
“It’s holiday weekend traffic.” Knox straightened his messy man bun before giving Holden a reassuring smile. “He’ll be here.”
“I know he’s coming.” Holden exhaled hard. “And I’ve kept busy with summer classes and the pod. I’ve just missed my guy.”
There was a group awwww as Holden spared a last look at the driveway before leading us toward the back of the house. “Let’s fire up the grill. My mom’s in the kitchen, video chatting Greg and Kathleen.”
