Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“I’m saying I’m staying instead of preparing to say goodbye. Get used to saying good morning, because we’ll be here as long as you are.”
Mason swallows, reaching with his free hand and taking mine.
“And after that?” he whispers.
“Where you are is where we want to be.” I give his line back to him with a smile.
A harsh exhale pushes past his lips as he slides them along my knuckles.
“No matter what?” His hold on Deaton’s back tightens as he tugs me closer, wrapping us in his warm embrace. “Promise me, baby.”
Reaching up, my palm covers his on Deaton’s back, the other sliding along his jaw and drawing his face to mine. “Tell him, baby boy.” I peek at Deaton with a smile. “No matter what. No matter where. With your daddy is where we want to be.” I meet Mason’s eyes, moisture building in his dark lashes and matching my own. “We promise. I promise. I love you, Mason, and I’m never going to run from that again.”
“Sorry to break it to you, baby, but I wouldn’t let you if you tried.”
“Promise?”
Mason chuckles, but there’s a slight sniffle in there, too, he tries to hide, and when he presses his mouth to mine, it’s with more than just a promise.
It’s a life debt, a blood pact. It’s a pledge of allegiance from him to me.
From him to us, the fractured family he made whole when he didn’t have to.
He chose to.
And me?
I choose him.
Forever. Always.
No matter what.
***