“You are. I didn’t think I was ready to move on after college. Didn’t think I wanted what came next. But now I do. And a lot of it is because of you. Especially this last week or so, watching you be brave.”
“If I’m brave, it’s because you’ve shown me the way. And you believed in me, even when I didn’t entirely believe in me.”
“I’m never going to stop believing in you.” The words rose in my throat again, the scary ones that wanted to come out, but then he claimed my mouth in another soft, sweet kiss and the words fled. I’d get there. Eventually.
And I was starting to believe that we’d get a future filled with chances. But first, Milo had one more mountain to conquer and I was going to be right there, cheering him on. Whatever happened with Bruno, he’d have me, but I really hoped his big brother didn’t break his heart.
Chapter Forty
Milo
This was going to be hard. Jasper might believe in me, but right there on the front step of my mom’s little apartment, I wasn’t sure whether I agreed. Brave. Jasper had said that about me more than once, but he was the truly fearless one as far as I was concerned. And my courage was in short supply as I raised my hand to knock.
“Milo!” The door swung open before I finished the knock. Bruno stood there, a weird mix of military haircut and posture and civilian sweats and bare feet. His hair was damp and he had a huge smile for me. He looked both exactly like I remembered and completely different.
“You made it.” I gave him a back-slapping hug.
“Yup. A little while ago. Caught a transport flight up from Virginia then had to battle traffic. I’m still catching up to the luxury of having easy hot water.” Chuckling, he finished drying off his hair with one of Mom’s good towels with the angel print. “How are you, man?”
“I’m good.” It surprised me how much I meant it. I was. I still had some uncertainty about my living situation, but I’d had a promising interview that morning. Yesterday, I’d taken care of business with the car and handled the money aspect with the professors’ help. I felt lighter. Free. Ready, like I’d told Jasper.
When we’d been parked at the playground, he’d offered to come with me tonight, but as much as I’d come to rely on him being my emotional support human, I’d wanted to do this part on my own. I’d told Mom that I was bringing a friend tomorrow when more friends and family would be stopping by for a homecoming party for Bruno. But I wasn’t the type to do a big public announcement at the party, and it didn’t seem fair to ambush Bruno or put Jasper on the spot. No, this way we could talk first. The mature choice, Jasper had called it, even though his eyes had said he wanted to come. But then he’d kissed me, warmed me in places I hadn’t even known were chilly, and my plan had seemed smart.
But now I was actually here, missing that warmth, stomach doing its usual rumba routine, and I wouldn’t have minded having Jasper’s hand to hold as we made our way to the kitchen where Mom was pulling ingredients out of the fridge. Setting her armload on the counter first, she had a huge hug for me.
“What’s the plan for dinner?” I tried to sound upbeat, not wary.
“Tacos. Easy and you guys always loved those growing up.” She gave a sheepish smile that looked an awful lot like the one I saw in the mirror each day. “I got all your favorite toppings too.”
“I can help.” Draping my jacket over the back of a kitchen chair, I rolled up my sleeves. Opening the fridge, I added an onion and a head of garlic to the collection on the counter. “Do you have canned tomatoes? Fresh is better, but it’s the wrong season.”
She blinked at me before handing over a can. “Who are you, and what did you do with Milo?”
“I’m both impressed and scared.” Bruno laughed as he took a seat at the table. “But I might trust you with a knife more than Mom.”
“None of that. I can cook. I kept you both fed.” She waved a package of cheese in our direction. “I spent all day picking up stuff for the party tomorrow. Rolls from that new bakery. The cold cuts from the deli with that ham Bruno said he can’t get in Virginia. Cake from the place that did your graduation cakes. Oh, and brownies for dessert tonight from the pizza place Milo told me about. The house is stocked for my boys.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Working together, she and I made the dinner. My onion dice wasn’t as perfect as Professor Herrera’s, but I was getting there. Her eyes got wide when I deftly drained the beef. Her new kitchen was tiny—barely enough room for all the appliances and a small dining nook—but we made a good team. It was fun surprising the two of them with my new skills, and Bruno kept up a steady conversation about being stationed abroad.