Elliot holds his hands out and widens his eyes. “Things.”
“What things?” Christopher frowns.
“We heard a growl in the bushes,” Eddie says.
Christopher’s eyes widen. “What kind of growl?”
“It was big,” Eddie replies. “Huge.”
“What do you fucking mean, a huge growl?” Christopher stammers. “Like what, like a bear?”
“Like a wolf.”
“A wolf?” He gasps.
I burst out laughing. “Are you serious? There are no wolves in the United Kingdom,” I scoff.
“Are you sure about that?” Elliot asks as he puts his hands on his hips. “It sounded pretty wolflike.”
“Uh-huh.” Eddie nods. “For real.”
“Hmm, pretty sure.” I get my phone out to ask Google.
“Anyway,” Elliot replies, “Christopher, walk me to my car.”
“What . . . me?” Christopher points to his chest in horror. “Why do I have to die too? Walk yourself to the fucking car. You’re a big shot farm boy now. Handle it.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh my god, you boys are pathetic. You deal with the biggest assholes every day at work and yet are scared of a tiny wolf?” I walk out the front door in a rush. “Come on, then.”
Elliot follows me as I walk to his car. “You just need some lights out here. It’s very dark,” he justifies himself.
I look up to the house to see Christopher and Eddie peering around the doorjamb as if scared for their lives.
I giggle, and Elliot laughs too.
“Good luck living here with those two wimps,” Elliot says as he kisses my cheek.
“Thanks.” I wave him off and watch as his car drives away.
I walk over to the bush as I bite my bottom lip to stop myself smiling.
“What are you doing?” Christopher calls.
“Just checking things out.”
“Check them out tomorrow, when it’s light,” he calls.
I walk into the bushes. Elliot is right-it is pitch black out here.
“Hayden . . . ,” Christopher calls.
I crouch down and hide.
“Hayden . . . ,” he calls. “The fuck is she doing out there?” I hear him ask Eddie.
“This isn’t good,” Eddie replies.
I hold my mouth to stop myself from laughing out loud.
“Hayden . . . ,” Christopher calls. “This isn’t funny . . .”
“Fuck, she’s dead,” Eddie says.
“Don’t say fuck,” Christopher replies. “Hayden . . .”
I giggle into my hand.
“Hayden!” he cries.
“Go and find her,” Eddie snaps.
“Me! Why do I have to? You’re supposed to be the tough one. Didn’t you live on the fucking streets?”
“You said you’re the parent,” Eddie argues back.
“And when I find her, I’m going to smack her fucking ass.” I hear him walk down the front steps in an outrage. “Hayden . . .”
I peer through the bushes to see him carrying a broom as a weapon, and I screw up my face to stop myself from laughing out loud.
He gets closer and closer.
“Hayden . . .”
I wait until he’s right near me, and I jump out and scream as if something is chasing me. I run past him at full speed.
“Ahhhhhh,” he screams as he sprints for the house.
“Ahhh,” screams Eddie as he waits at the door.
Christopher runs past me into the house. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I fall onto the front steps laughing so hard.
Christopher sticks his head around the door and glares at me, unimpressed with my joke. “I’m buying a wolf tomorrow, and I’m going to feed you to him, piece by piece.”
The door slams shut, and I sit on the steps and look around the darkness. I hear the wind in the trees and the animals in the nearby forest. I can hear a stream bubbling in the distance.
It’s peaceful and still. A sense of calm falls over me like never before.
I’m home.
CHRISTOPHER
“And these are your clothes. I wasn’t sure what to get you, so I just got the minimum, and we can go shopping together for anything else you need.”
Eddie sits quietly on the bed as I show him around his new bedroom.
“And through this wall will eventually be a bathroom, but it’s not done yet. The house needs some work.”
He smiles up at me as he watches me fuss.
It’s been a big day. Flew across the world. Watched me get engaged. Nearly saw Hayden get eaten by a wolf.
“You okay, buddy?” I ask him. “You’re very quiet.”
He nods, and I can tell he’s emotional.
“I hope you like it here. There’s no wolves . . . I don’t think?” I shrug. “At least I hope not.”
He stays quiet, and I sit down beside him.
“What is it?” I ask.
His eyes search mine. “What if . . .” He stops himself from finishing the sentence.
I look at him, and I see a scared little boy who’s lost everything that he loved.
“What if this doesn’t work out?” I ask.
He nods.
“It will.”
“How do you know?”
I think for a moment. “You know, Eddie, I’ve been thinking about this, and I’ve come to a conclusion.”
“What’s that?”
“A family isn’t just the one you were born into. I told you before that I felt like we belonged together and that we met for a reason.”
His eyes search mine.
“Hayden and I have been talking, and . . . if it’s all right with you, we’d like to adopt you. We’ll return to Spain with you whenever you want, but I want you in my and Hayden’s family. The three of us. And one day there will hopefully be more children, and you will have your own brothers and sisters.”
He stares at me, and I can see him imagining a future.
“It’s not going to be easy, and there will be days when we’ll all drive each other nuts, but I want you as my son.”
His eyes well with tears.
“Would you like that?” I ask softly.
“Very much.” He nods, and I pull him into a hug and hold him tight.
“Thank you, Christo,” he whispers into my shoulder. “Thank you so much.”
I smile as I hold him. “Call me Dad.”
THE END
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Author’s Note:
Thank you to my wonderful readers. I’m thrilled to announce MILES EVER AFTER: the book of extended epilogues for the Miles High series. Waiting for my new books-Mr. Series
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