Starting From the Top (Starting from 5)

I’d sold my house last summer and moved into Sean’s place. True to his word, Charlie handled the “buzz” around our relationship with a simple statement, no photo attached, that kindly asked for privacy. We all knew complete privacy might not be an option, but we did our best to protect our families. Sean insisted on gating the driveway and installing a high-tech alarm system. He understood that being with me might put a spotlight on our lives, but he wasn’t about to roll out a red carpet for creeps. I was on board with that. I didn’t care where we lived as long as we were together.

“Hey, babe. Change of plans. The kids are calling now. Are you decent?”

I grabbed a robe from behind the bathroom door, tying it around my waist as I hurried into the hotel room. “I’m here.”

I sat beside Sean on the sofa and reached over to open the connection. Penny and Parker popped onto the screen a moment later, wearing matching goofy grins. My heart flipped in my chest. We did this every damn night, and it never got old.

Penny launched into a play-by-play of her day with her usual exuberance. School was boring, dance was awesome, and her friend Alex accidentally cut her bangs way too short. Parker chuckled at his sister’s description and jokingly offered to cut Penny’s hair. She rolled her eyes and pinched him. He retaliated, then raised his arms in surrender when she growled at him.

“All right, enough,” Sean scolded without heat. “What are you up to, Parker?”

“Nothing much. Except…I’m building a dragon.”

I snort-laughed. “Say what?”

“The science club is doing an exhibit next month. I’m on an awesome team. The guys want to build a fire-breathing dragon and make it look as realistic as possible. Can they come to our house next week to try it out?”

“Of course,” Sean replied quickly.

“We can’t wait to see it,” I added, lacing my fingers with his under the computer.

Parker had officially put his bumpy start to junior high behind him. He joined the science club and the math team, met a few new friends, and seemed to finally come out of his shell.

In a roundabout way, I liked to think learning to play guitar helped build his confidence.

I talked Parker into doing the talent show at his school last year. It wasn’t an easy sell, but I assured him I’d be in the audience and at his request, I’d invited the band. He’d agreed to do it as long as I was in the front row too. No problem. I could see his hands shake when he settled the guitar on his knee and strummed the first few chords of a Zero song. After a few wonky notes, he was on fire. I could have sworn I even heard him hum along.

At the end of the song, he grinned like a fool, then stepped up to the mic. “That’s a Zero song and they’re here tonight. Um…want to play one song with me, Johnny?”

The entire auditorium went bonkers. And me? I was slack-jawed.

In a twist, Parker had arranged a mini-concert with Justin, Tegan, and Ky as a surprise for Sean and me. They’d okayed the impromptu one-song-only Zero performance with the school’s principal. Sneaky bastards.

We played Zero’s biggest hit to date, “This is Love.” Justin on vocals, Ky on bass, Tegan on drums, and Parker and I on guitar. I didn’t think I’d ever been more proud in my entire life. Standing onstage with the kid who’d become a son to me, with friends who felt like brothers, playing a love song to the man who owned my heart…no, it didn’t get much better.

The teenage years might be a roller coaster ride, but it was a beautiful thing to see him grow and begin to thrive.

“How many more days?” Penny asked.

“Two,” I replied. “One more show and we’re coming home.”

Sean did a double take. “I thought it was four days.”

“No, I don’t need to see any sights. I want to go home.”

I snickered when the kids cheered noisily; then I leaned against my man’s side, soaking up the waves of contentment as the conversation turned to the pets and a new TV show they were into. It was harder to say good-bye than usual.

Sean ended the call and followed me into the grand marble bathroom. He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, giving me an appreciative once-over when I dropped the robe.

“Like what you see?” I asked, wiggling my ass as I tested the water temperature.

“I do. You know, we don’t have to go anywhere. We can crawl back in bed and spend the day under the covers. It’s rainy and foggy and—”

“Yes. Let’s do that instead,” I agreed. “I love all this. It’s been a wild few weeks, and I’m really glad you’re here, but…damn, I miss the kids and Lullah and Tabby. I miss our bed.”