He shrugged.“Why did you come by the house that day?”
“I was just driving…and I ended up here.I thought I saw you.”
“I wish I’d been here.”
I swiped at my nose with my hand.So sexy.
“Will you tell me what happened?”he asked, hesitantly.
I repeated the story, about Cora moving out and Dorian being away all summer.Mom saying Arne could stay with her, helping.Arne wouldn’t be going to camps to learn and have fun but would spend his days helping out my Mom.I was patterning this to my son.But I couldn’t let him lose his dreams like I did mine.So I packed up and left, with no idea what I was going to do but knowing I had to change things.
Somewhere in the midst of that I started to cry.Justin moved to my chair, sitting on the arm and wrapping his arms around me.And for a few minutes, everything was okay.
He grabbed a tissue from an end table and I cleaned up my face.He tugged me to my feet and settled me on the couch where he could hold me.I was used to keeping myself together, not leaning on others, but right then it was perfect.
“That’s why I came.I want to help.”
With my head pressed against his chest, I felt as well as heard his words.“H-help?”I hiccupped.
“You’re making plans.I want to be part of them.”
I rubbed my hand on his arm.“You’re already helping, you and Jess, by letting us stay here for a while.”
“You can stay here as long as you want.I love that you’re fighting for Arne and his future.But I want you to fight for yours too.”
I leaned back.“What do you mean?”
He cradled my face in his hands.“What do you want, Mia?What are your dreams?”
I tried to shake my head.“It’s too late for me.”
His thumbs caressed my cheeks.“No, it’s not.Never too late.You could go back to medical school.Get a business degree.See the world.Whatever you want.”
I was about to argue, but something in my brain sparked.Maybe I could?Not see the world, and probably not even get an MD.But I could take classes, become a nurse.Arne was in school, and outside of what care he required, my time was my own now that I wasn’t taking responsibility for Mom’s place.
But how was she going to cope without me?
I took a breath.It was time she and Bruce worked that out without sacrificing Arne, or me.I was allowed to have a life.I needed to, for Arne’s sake.
And other dreams?Like Justin?Did I dare ask?But he’d come to BC as soon as he knew I needed him.Better to know now before my hopes dug in.“What if you’re one of those dreams?”
His eyes blazed and then he was kissing me.Kissing me with passion and desire and love.A voice in the back of my head said this wouldn’t last.That I couldn’t make up for the past, and I didn’t have enough to offer.But his hands were moving over me and I had no room for thoughts like that.For whatever reason, Justin still loved me, and this time I would fight for it.
He finally pulled away.His breathing was fast and his face flushed.I’d definitely felt him getting hard.“How soundly does Arne sleep?”
I’d forgotten about my son upstairs.“Um, I don’t know.He’s woken up a couple times since we’ve been here, what with it being a new place.”I didn’t want to risk getting any parts naked when he might wander into the living room.
“The basement?”
Memories rushed back—hours we’d spent making out there, before finally taking advantage of everyone being out and having sex for the first time.I clenched my legs.Just the thought… “I’d have to listen, in case he woke up and called for me.”
He grinned.“You’d also have to be very quiet, so as not to wake him up.”
“You too,” I countered.
“Lets go upstairs, so you can check on him and I’ll get condoms.”
Ideas were tumbling through my brain.“Plural?”