“Because you love him?” Walker nodded, his eyes softer now.

“Yes. I do. And I know it seems quick, but I do.” Ideally, he might have managed to say those words to Luis first, but it didn’t make them any less true. He hadn’t said them yet because he didn’t want Luis to feel pressured to say them back, but his heart didn’t care how fast this was. He knew what he felt. “But also...because I love me. I need to do this for me. Because I don’t want to wonder ‘what if’ years from now.”

“I get that.” Walker swung his feet back and forth. “I...uh...went to that Florida school’s website today. Just to see.”

“Nothing wrong with looking.” Tucker kept his tone mild, trying not to express excitement that wouldn’t go over well with Walker’s current mood.

“Yeah.” Walker went silent again, but right as Tucker was about to try to fill the gap, Walker finally met his gaze. “I’m sorry about storming out. I do want you happy, Dad. I simply wish I knew what would make me happy too.”

“I wish that too. More than anything.” He clapped Walker on the shoulder, and this time Walker let him get away with the half hug, didn’t recoil. “And I think you’re going to find it. I believe in you.”

“Thanks.” Walker chewed his lip again before his gaze darted back toward the house. “I should probably get back inside.”

Tucker released him. This was a lot for Walker to digest. And him too if he were honest. Probably they both needed a little break.

“I’m always going to be there for you. And if you need to talk it out more, I’m here for that too.”

Standing, Walker stretched with a groan. “I might. Right now, I kinda want to go game with Wade, not think.”

“I get that.” Heck, Tucker was going to need his own zone-out time after this. Mindless TV and maybe some cuddling with Luis to help him calm down. “That sounds like a good plan.”

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too.”

He sat there even after Walker had returned to the house, not quite ready to return to everyone, too much swirling through his head. However, he wasn’t surprised when the door opened and Luis slipped out.

“How did it go?” he asked as he took a seat next to Tucker.

“Not sure,” he admitted. “Good might be pushing it, but not bad either. We talked.”

“If you need us to go even slower, give him more time—”

“I appreciate that. But I don’t think that’s what he wants either. He likes you, and he wants me to be happy. It’ll be an adjustment for all of us, but I do think we’ll get to a good place.”

“Good. I don’t ever want to come between you and your kid.”

“You won’t.” Tucker looped an arm around his shoulder, pulled him close. The heat of the day was giving way to a soft evening breeze. “There’s plenty of room in my heart for you both.”

“You do have an awfully big heart. And you being a good dad is one of the things I love most about you.”

“You love me?” He couldn’t keep the pleasure from his voice. “It’s not too soon?”

“Too soon? Tucker, we’ve been building to this for decades now.” Luis laughed, but his eyes were serious.

“Ah. You mean we loved each other before so it was easier to fall this time?”

“Maybe, but I kind of think I’d fall for you regardless.” Luis leaned into his embrace.

“Really?”

“I liked younger you a great deal, but your older self has a depth to it that made it impossible not to fall for you, so much stronger this time around.”

“I like knowing that,” he admitted, holding Luis closer. “And I love you too. When I loved you before, I’m not sure I really knew what the words meant. We were so young. But now... I get that it’s not always going to be easy or fun. And I’m here for that. What I feel for you, it’s not going away.”

“I’m here for us too.” Gaze darting back to the house first, Luis gave him a fast peck on the cheek.

“Then everything else will work out. Walker. My job situation. Other people’s opinions. Wade’s big plans.” He had to believe that, had to believe deep down that they would deal with whatever life threw their way.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” Luis gave him another kiss, this one on the lips, brief but potent. And as long as they had that, had that faith and love in each other, it would work out. He’d make sure of it.

Chapter Twenty-Six

June

Adjusting his sunglasses, Luis watched the sky carefully. He’d arrived early for precisely this reason, hoping to see...that. Right there.

Yeah, there it was. Incoming helicopter, a dot at first, then larger and louder as it approached the base. He couldn’t be sure that Tucker was on this one, but somehow he knew. The bright red CAL FIRE logo became visible as the helicopter descended, pilot setting the bird gently down on the landing pad before the crew disembarked, all clad in blue uniforms with tired but smiling faces. Their faces and boots were dusty—they’d seen action, and Luis couldn’t wait to hear about it. It was a rare treat these days, getting to see Tucker at work, and Luis hung back by the parking area, observing how the team joked among itself on the way to the hangar where they’d be clocking out after a long duty shift.

Tags: Annabeth Albert Hotshots M-M Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net