Sweet Satisfaction

“I don’t want to lie to my family. I’ve waited ten years for you Cole Thomas. Ten years. And now you’re saying we had a good run? I should just let this go ?”

“It’s not what I want. I want you .”

“But you have me.” The first tear rolled down her cheek .

“And you’ll always have me .”

“But?” With that one look she shredded my heart .

“What do you want me to say, Kaitlyn? That I want something I can’t have anymore? It’s killing me? Letting you get on a plane tomorrow is going to be fucking horrible .”

“Then don’t. Come with me. We’ll take Grayson. My mother will love it. She’ll love him. And Ryan has support. He’ll figure this out. My brother is too stubborn to do anything but stay strong. He sounds fine. My mom says he’s fine. We can all do this.” She crawled into my lap .

“Cole, you’ve spent the last two years sacrificing everything in your life for other people. For Pops. For Grayson. And now for Ryan. Don’t you think you deserve to come first? Don’t you deserve happiness ?”

I huffed. “I don’t think about it .”

She rubbed the side of my cheek. “I love you. I love you Cole Thomas. And if you’re saying you don’t want this anymore. You’re done with us, I’ll get up and walk. I swear I can do it. I’ve done it before.” Her eyes were hard. “But if you love me, and you’re pushing me away to sacrifice this for one more person, I’m staying here. And we’re figuring this out .”

“Kaitlyn,” I warned .

“I’m serious. I love you. And I love Grayson. And I love Ryan. They don’t have be mutually exclusive. I can love all three of you .”

God, where had she been all these years? This girl who had turned into an incredible woman. Her heart was capable of only seeing the good in people. She could love unconditionally. She had taken on the world this week and she never protested .

“I love you .”

She smiled. “Really ?”

“I love you.” My hands wound around her back. “So I guess that means we’re going to tell Ryan .”

She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Thank God. Because I can’t leave without you .”

I pressed my forehead to hers. “I know, baby .”

I felt as if we were getting ready to enter a hurricane, but I couldn’t let her go. And I wouldn’t .

Thirty-Two

Kaitlyn

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T here were probably better ways to do this, but I held Cole’s hand as we stood on my parents’ front porch. He looked at me .

“Ready?” he asked .

I nodded. Grayson was asleep on Cole’s shoulder. The flight from Texas had worn him out .

It was a scrambled mess to leave the Dunes, especially at the height of vacationers, but Lance had stepped up. Lisa offered to take a few morning shifts and her sister could watch Tassels .

Hank had a repairman on call if there were any emergencies. Once Cole made the decision, he was all in. No matter what, we were doing this together .

My chest prickled. I exhaled. “Ok .”

I knocked as I pushed the door opened. “Mom? Dad?” I called. “We’re here .”

I heard my dad’s heavy footsteps in the hallway before he entered the foyer .