Banana (Nana) Bread—the one that got me back in my groove.
M&M Cookies—named after my favorite people.
And finally, the one that makes my eyes burn.
Mae’s Tiramisu—for the woman I never got to meet but who raised two amazing men. I hope I follow in your steps by being a fantastic boy-mom.
Closing the magazine, I shut my eyes because the tears are about to free-fall. Dropping my head back on the couch, I try to steady my erratic breathing.
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but the way I’ve taken it, Miller is coming back.
She’s coming home.
I exhale a disbelieving laugh at the realization, a stupidly giddy smile living on my lips, because for the first time in thirteen days my world feels right.
“Not too concerned about those wrinkles, I see. Smiling like that.” It’s that raspy tone I love so much. The one that I haven’t heard in far too long.
My lips only curve more as I keep my eyes closed, basking in the knowledge that she’s back.
She’s fucking back.
“You should probably hook me up with some of that skin care, Miller, because I have a feeling this smile isn’t going anywhere.”
She laughs that deep throaty sound and it’s then that I finally open my eyes for the confirmation.
There she is.
Miller is leaning on the partition that separates the living room from the dining room, wearing a forest green dress that makes her eyes infinitely more vibrant. Hair down, tattoos on full display with this strapless number hugging every inch of her body. She looks so fucking good.
And she looks so fucking mine.
I adjust my glasses to confirm I’m seeing this correctly, that I’m not hallucinating after living in my own personal hell for the past two weeks.
But she’s here all right, because it wouldn’t be a Miller Montgomery entrance without her double fisting.
With champagne this time, but still.
“Double fisting again, Montgomery? A little late in the day for your drinking habits, don’t you think?”
Her knowing smile grows. “I’m celebrating.”
“Oh, yeah? And what are you celebrating?”
She holds both flutes up. “I quit my job.”
Just like the first day I laid eyes on her.
Cautiously, I rise from the couch, not quite believing that she’s really standing in front of me or that she might be back for good.
I don’t make it far, needing to take a seat on the arm of the couch because if I get any closer to her, I won’t be able to stop myself from kissing her, and I need the confirmation that she’s here to stay.
“What are you doing here, Mills?” There’s so much hope in my tone, but I need to hear it from her.
She sets the champagne glasses down on a nearby table, nervous hands fiddling. Miller is not a nervous woman, but sentimental moments are out of her comfort zone.
She steps between my open legs, and I hold her hands in mine, taking away that nervous tick. But now my hands are shaking because I’m finally touching the woman I convinced myself I’d never get to hold again.
Miller exhales with a smile on her lips. “You said it was my choice if I wanted to live up to expectations, and I do. But now, the only expectations I’m going to worry about are the ones I set for myself. And the only expectations I have for myself are to be happy and to chase the things I want.”
“And what do you want, baby?”
The term of endearment rolls off my tongue so easily, as if it hasn’t been almost two weeks since I last called her that. But in my mind, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen or spoken to her. We could’ve gone years and I still would’ve claimed her as mine the moment she decided she wanted to be.
She holds steady eye contact, so brave and bold while being vulnerable. “I want to open my own patisserie and teach classes there a couple of times a week. I want to watch as many of your games as I can. I want to wake up with you every morning. I want to live close to my dad. I want to read stories to Max every night before bed. I want to try my hardest to be who he needs me to be. I want to be the one to bake him cupcakes for his first birthday at school and for all his birthdays after that. I want to have more babies with you because you are such an amazing dad. But most of all, I want to be happy and you two make me happy, Kai. And I hope I make you happy too.”
The words tumble out of her mouth, as if she spent her entire drive here rehearsing and needing to say them.
They’re words I’ve ached to hear. A part of me always hoped she felt them, but I’ve been dreaming of the day she might voice them out loud.
She squeezes my hands. “But what do you want?”
Does she really have to ask? It’s the same thing I wanted two weeks ago. The same thing I wanted all summer.
“You. Just you. I want it all with you, Miller.”
Her beaming smile is back. “Just to give you a heads-up before you really make your final decision, I’m currently homeless, jobless, and my van is way past due for an oil change.”
Chuckling, I pull her into me. “I can work with that.”
She slants over me, but before I can kiss her, she stops with her hands on either side of my face. “And I love you.”
My eyes dart to hers.
“I love you so much, Kai. Nothing about me leaving was because of you. I need you to know that. You’re more than enough, more than I could’ve dreamt for. I loved you before I left, and I love Max and I’ve never felt so much at once that I’m fairly certain my heart is going to give out soon. I’m only twenty-six, Malakai. It’s too soon.”
Hand bracketing her jaw, I pull her down. “Don’t worry, Mills. I’ll go long before you, due to my old age and all.”
“That would be best,” she whispers against me, her forehead leaning on mine. “Because if I go first and you meet someone else, I promise you I’ll come back and haunt the shit out of her.”
“I’m glad to know your jealousy goes beyond the grave, baby. Now please shut up and kiss me.”
Palm cupping her cheek, I thread my fingers through her hair and pull her lips to mine.
It’s as if every missing part of my life is entirely reassembled in that moment. Everything I’ve wanted for my life, for my son’s life is wrapped up in this woman I love. This woman I thought I lost.
She makes the sweetest moan of relief and I part my mouth, taking her deeper before our tongues tangle, slow and measured as if we’ve both been dreaming about this moment for the past two weeks.
Miller’s lower half melts into me, right into the cradle of my hips, and I use my other hand to curve around her ass, keeping us pressed together.
She slides her hands over my shoulders as we kiss and touch and remind each other that we’re here, in the same place, with no expiration date on our time together.
We have forever.
I pull away only slightly, needing to tell her something. “I love you.”
She smiles into my lips. “I love you.”
“Mmm,” I hum. “You should probably say it again.”
“I love you, Malakai, and I love your son.”
Fuck, that’s the one that does it.
Head dropping back, I look up towards the ceiling, taking a deep breath.
She runs a palm over my scruff, regaining my attention. “When I left, I hadn’t fully come to terms that what I was chasing was no longer my dream, but as soon as I got there, I knew. I have a new dream now. You and Max are my dream.”
I can feel my chest expand, as if it needs to make room for all the love in my life. Never once did that lonely fifteen-year-old boy ever think he’d be surrounded by so much support. So much love.
Love I didn’t see before—from her, her dad, my brother, my team, and my friends. I have this huge support system backing me and my son. I have the family I had always hoped for.
“Miller.” Wrapping my arms around her waist, I keep her close. “We were missing you before we even met.”