Redemption (The Protectors 8)

I studied him for a long time, reveling in how much I really did love him. I smiled at him and said, “I’m going to do the thing.”

“No,” he said with a laugh. “You don’t have to.”

I ignored him and said, “Thanks for coming over.”

His bright eyes stayed on mine as he shook his head. “God, I love you,” he murmured. I lifted my thumb to stroke over his mouth.

“Thanks for coming over,” I repeated. It was Levi’s second favorite part of the movie he’d finally admitted to me was his favorite as a kid.

Sixteen Candles.

I hadn’t ever seen it before, so one night I’d rented the movie and surprised him with it when he’d gotten home from class. After we’d put the kids to bed, we’d watched it and I’d finally understood his reference to me as Jake months earlier when we’d first met. As the last scene had played where the two characters finally get their shot at romance, Levi sighed over the last few lines and I’d started saying Jake’s lines to him the very next day when he’d been stressed about an upcoming test.

“Thanks for coming to get me,” he said.

“Make a wish, Levi.”

Levi smiled briefly, but then he sobered and I saw that his answer might have been a line from a movie, but it was as real for him as it was for me.

“It already came true,” he whispered.

I leaned down and kissed him. “I know, baby. For me too.”

Then I took his hand in mine and led him from the room so we could go find our children and join the rest of our family for dinner.

The End