Riley shook his head again and pointed to his mouth. Lexie leaned closer, struggling to hear the words he was pushing through his lips. He gasped a breath and his face pinched in pain. His voice was quiet and hoarse. “Lex.”
Lexie smiled. “Yeah, baby. I’m here.”
Riley swallowed with a grimace and paused. “Pinkie promise.”
Lexie felt her eyes sting. She squeezed his hand tighter and nodded.
Riley closed his eyes. “Kiss.”
She moved closer and placed a soft kiss on his warm, dry lips.
And it felt so wonderful, so perfect.
She breathed a long breath down her nose, feeling Riley’s mouth lift into a small smile.
Pulling back slowly, she carefully placed the mask back onto his face and sat on the edge of his bed. “I missed you.”
“Stay.”
Lexie smiled and ran a hand over his hair. “Forever.”
· · ·
It had been two days since Riley had awoken, entirely discombobulated, in a hospital bed with every inch of his body feeling as if a Mack truck had plowed into it.
Plowed, dragged, and reversed. This apparently wasn’t too far from the actual truth. He hadn’t seen the car that hit him when he’d crossed the road to get some Red Bull for his vodka. He didn’t remember anything but waking up to see a nurse and a doctor, and then his parents and brothers. As good as it had been to see them all, he’d only wanted to see Lexie and Noah.
Needless to say, he was feeling decidedly tender and the constant soreness in his chest, head, and leg had him pressing the pain relief button on a regular basis. He’d tried to underplay it to the doctors, nurses, and even Lexie, but the truth was, every breath and movement was a struggle that left a sheen of sweat on his face.
When he awoke that morning, he’d panicked a little when he realized that neither Lexie nor his family were there. A helpful nurse had informed him that Lexie had gone to take a shower and get a change of clothes, leaving Riley feeling guilty at wanting Lexie there twenty-four/seven. He knew from what Tate and his mom had told him that she’d been there almost constantly. She hadn’t left his side since he’d woken up, not for one moment, and Riley knew she was exhausted. Dark circles rimmed her eyes and she looked like she needed to eat a good meal, but dammit if she wasn’t still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
The door to his room opening pulled Riley from his thoughts of Lexie and Noah. It was his dad. “Hey, son.”
“Hey, Dad.”
He hadn’t spoken to Riley all that much, but Riley knew his father had been at the hospital almost as much as his mother, which meant a hell of a lot.
Park looked him over. “Spent a lot of time in hospitals just recently, haven’t you?
Riley exhaled a wry laugh. “Too much.”
“How are you feeling?” Park asked, his tone firm but sensitive.
Riley didn’t answer immediately. The truth was he was sore; parts of him that he didn’t realize he had ached.
“Look at me, Riley.” Riley obeyed his father instantly, knowing that no-nonsense voice from when he was a kid. “If you’re hurting, tell the doctors. Is your vision okay? Your head isn’t hurting, is it?”
“A little.”
“Do you want me to get the nurse?”
“No, Dad, I’m okay.” Riley glanced toward the door. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’ll be along in a bit.” Park wandered toward Riley’s bed and sat down on the nearest chair. He exhaled and cleared his throat before he steepled his hands and pressed them against his lips, staring at Riley in that intense way of his. “I find myself . . . torn here, Riley,” he offered.
Riley frowned. “What is it? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s you I worry about.” He dropped his hands. “I’ve always worried about you.” He shook his head and looked to the floor. “If you’d . . . Jesus, son.”
Riley sat back, a little struck by the curve in conversation. “I’m all right, Dad. The doctor says I could be home in less than a week.”
“I know,” Park said, nodding, “but it’s my job to worry. I’m your father.” He sighed. “Out of the four of you, you were always the most sensitive, the most eager to please. You made choices dependent on other people. Your optimism and your selflessness are your best traits, Riley. You think about everyone else before you think of yourself.”
“Apart from that one time, huh?” Riley lifted the side of his mouth. It was a risk making light of his time in jail, but he was sick of dancing around the issue.
Park nodded. “Apart from that one time.”
Riley sighed. “I am sorry, Dad. I don’t know what more I can say or how many times I can say it. I—it was a stupid thing to do.”
Park huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to hear you apologize. You did enough of that. And with you being here now . . . I—I know I’ve not been easy on you.”
“I disappointed you, Dad. I get it.”
Park closed his eyes for a moment. “But you’ve paid for it. And if you hadn’t—while we were still—while I was . . . I’d never have forgiven myself.”
Riley was more than a little surprised by his father’s words, as well as the struggle he seemed to have speaking them. “I’m okay, Dad. I’m tough.”
The intense stare returned. “Yeah, you are. Thank God for that.” He looked at Riley then, and Riley saw all the things that had caused him to idolize his father his whole life. “There’s just one thing I want to know.”
Riley prepared himself. “Okay.”
Park sat forward. “I want to hear what you would do if I gave you the opportunity to work at the family business.” Riley blinked. He opened his mouth a couple of times, but no words came. “I want to hear that I can rely on you, that your time inside was a blip, a moment of stupidity that’ll never happen again, that you’d take this chance and run with it.”
“I would. I swear. I would.” Riley licked his lips.
“You worked so hard for it, Riley.” Park shook his head a little. “It was always you,” he continued. “I always hoped it’d be you taking over from me when the time came. You have the potential to take this business and make it grow into something no one else can. The other boys have tried, but their love wasn’t in it.” He smiled a little. “Not like you.”
“You can trust me, Dad. I promise you, you can.”
Park watched him for a long moment before he nodded infinitesimally. “I know I can, son.” He patted his palms against his knees. “Okay. Let me sort out the relevant paperwork and we’ll take it from there.”
Riley hated that he couldn’t move to give his father the hug that he wanted. “Thank you,” he said instead. “Thank you so much.”
Park stood and patted Riley’s shoulder. “You’re welcome, son.” Riley cupped a hand to his mouth, speechless and moved. “Life’s too short,” Park said. “I knew that already, but seeing you . . . and Lexie, Noah, and— You deserve this. You deserve a chance at being a family.”
The room door opened again and Lexie walked in. Her face creased into a large grin when their eyes met before she looked over and saw Park. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’ll leave you—”
“It’s fine,” Park said with a wave of his hand. “I’m just leaving.”
Both Lexie and Riley watched Park leave before Lexie set her bag down and smiled at him again. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She walked toward him and cupped his cheek, placing the softest of kisses on his lips. She tasted so damned good. The kiss was languid, but ached to be more. Lexie moved her head closer and nipped at his top lip. He moaned softly and he gripped her forearm as the tips of their tongues met.
“I’m so sorry I was away all that time,” she grunted into his mouth. “I went back to your place to get you a few things.”
“You’re too good to me.”
Lexie waved him off. “Noah’s outside with your mom. Are you up to seeing him?” She fisted her hands together. “You look so much better and
I don’t think he’ll be scared. I know he can be a handful, but he wants to see you.”
Noah was delightfully exhausting on the best of days; being in a hospital bed recovering from being hit by a car he was even more so.
“Absolutely,” Riley insisted, trying to sit up and hissing at the pain that shot through his chest. Lexie was at his side in an instant.
“Be careful,” she soothed. “You don’t want to tear any stitches.” She helped him sit up a little more and cupped his cheek.
“Before you bring Noah in, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
Riley took a deep breath. “My dad’s started proceedings for me to take over Moore’s Motors. There’s paperwork to be done, but I’ll be moving back to Michigan permanently next month.”
Lexie didn’t speak; she simply gripped Riley’s hand and pulled it to her mouth, kissing it over and over. “Is this real?”
Riley chuckled. “Yes, it’s real. I’d be there sooner, but I have to stay at O’Hare’s until Max finds a replacement . . . but it’ll be fine.”
“Where will you live?”
Riley blinked. “Until I can get an apartment, I’ll stay at Mom and Dad’s.”
Lexie worried her bottom lip, clearly disappointed. “Oh.”
Riley smirked. “Unless . . . what were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t.”
He snorted. “Lex, I’d know that look in the dark. What is it?”
“My place is so much nicer with you in it.”
Riley’s mouth twitched and his stomach heated. “You’d want me to live with you and Noah?”
Lexie gave a tiny shrug. “It’d save a lot of money, wouldn’t it? And . . . you’d have most likely moved in eventually anyway.”
“Most likely,” Riley repeated. His smile dropped a little. “Are you sure? This is . . . a big step.”
Lexie laughed. “Riley, I think we’re way past worrying about big steps, don’t you?”
He smirked and lifted their hands. “I guess you’re right.” He kissed her palm. “So are we really gonna do this?”
Lexie nodded. “I hope so.”
Riley’s brow furrowed. “We have to talk to Noah.”
“I’ll get him,” Lexie said softly. “Let’s tell him everything.” She leaned closer, her smell floral and everything Riley wanted. “I should never have kept you two apart and for that I’m truly sorry—let me finish.” Riley shut his mouth. “You being here made me realize what we all could have lost, and I’m not prepared to wait another minute not being with the two men I love most in the world.”
Riley cleared his throat. “Go get him.”
Riley was alone for all of five minutes before he heard the unmistakable laughter of Noah coming down the hospital corridor.
“Riley!” Noah called when Lexie opened the door.
“Hey buddy, how are you?”
Despite his wiggling to be let down, Lexie kept hold of him. “Remember,” she said firmly, though her face was soft, “Riley is sore, so we have to be gentle, okay?”
“Okay,” Noah said, reaching for Riley all the same. He did as his mommy had told him, though, as he lay next to him on the bed, hugging him gently and rubbing his fingers through Riley’s beard. “Is you comings home yet?”
“Not yet,” he answered. “Soon, I hope. I miss you so much.” He nuzzled Noah’s cheek. He smelled of Lexie and it was perfect. “What have you been doing while I’ve been here?”
“Mommy and mes made pancakes, and then she and Grandma took me swimming. Guess what? I drawed you a picture.” He held out his hand, and Lexie handed him a piece of paper that was covered in bright colors and stick men.
“That’s awesome, Noah. What is it?”
“It’s us at Long Lake. Looks—that’s me, you, and Mommy.”
“I love it,” Riley said, his throat suddenly a little tight. Jesus, it was so good to have his son in his arms.
Lexie looked at Noah, who was fingering the bandage on Riley’s arm. “Tell me something,” she whispered. “Do you like spending time with Riley?”
Noah leaned closer to Riley and whispered back. “Yes. He’s the bestest. Cans I stay here with you tonight?”
“Not tonight, man, but when I get home we can have a sleepover.”
“If I’ve been good, cans I has ice cream?”
Riley snorted. “When I’m out of here we’re gonna get the biggest chocolate ice cream we can find.” He wrapped an arm around Noah and watched as the little boy snuggled against him. “You okay?” Riley whispered, kissing Noah’s temple as Lexie sat down in the seat Park had used not ten minutes before.
Noah looked over at Lexie. “Riley, this is likes a sleepover you and Mommy has.”
Riley and Lexie both laughed. “It is,” he said quietly. “Can I tell you a secret?” Noah nodded, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “Mommy steals the covers; being with you will be much better.”
Noah sighed. His small hands appeared above the covers as he reached out to Riley. “Can I tells you a secret?”
Riley pulled him closer. “You can tell me anything, Noah. Anything at all.”
Noah nuzzled Riley’s neck and snuggled into his side. “I loves you.”
Riley’s body froze for an exquisite beat before the emotion he’d been holding back came rushing through him. He squeezed his son to his chest and quietly released his tears into his hair. “I love you, too, Noah. I love you, too.”
Lexie and Riley’s gazes met. “Hey, Noah, what do you think about Riley coming to live with us?”
Noah lifted his head, his eyes wide. “In our house?”
Lexie nodded. “In our house.”
Noah’s gaze moved from Lexie to Riley and back again; he was seemingly thinking hard about it. Riley stayed very still, his heart still bursting from Noah’s confession. “If you lives with us,” Noah whispered, cupping a hand to the side of his mouth as though telling Riley a secret, “cans you be my daddy?”
Riley’s breath left him in a huge whoosh as Lexie smiled through tears that gathered in her blue eyes. “Noah,” he uttered, “I am your daddy.”
Noah’s small mouth fell open into the shape of an O. “And you cans be my daddy forever?”
“Forever, buddy,” Riley uttered. “Forever and always.”
Noah squeezed Riley, who despite the soreness and aching limbs, laughed and hugged him back, blowing a raspberry onto Noah’s neck, making him squeal and giggle. As he did, he looked over at Lexie, knowing in every part of his body and soul that he would cherish every moment he had, knowing he’d never felt as much love for two people in his entire life.
They were everything to him, the two pieces of his heart, his whole world.
All the world.
EPILOGUE
Riley walked along Long Lake, feeling the sun beat down on his arms and face as the water splashed over his bare toes. The smell of the lake surrounded every breath he took and the heat wrapped around him like a comfortable jacket.
He paused for a moment, closing his eyes and allowing himself to take it all in, standing in the summer sun, listening to the lapping water and the birds overhead.
Then the familiar sound of laughter. He smiled.
The laughter was his favorite part. It might have been his favorite sound in the world. It floated on the warm breeze and greeted his ears like an old friend. Without sounding like a complete wuss, the sound of it made Riley feel all the butterfly-type things in his stomach. It always had. And he liked it. It reassured him that the people closest to him were happy. And there was nothing more important.
He opened his eyes, looking down the lake’s edge, and his heart clenched when he saw Noah, running—well, stumbling—through the water, giggling as it enveloped his small feet. Riley watched, enraptured. My God. He was just about the most perfect thing he’d ever seen.
Noah splashed and laughed, and the sound traveled across the water beautifully. As he always did, Riley caught the
sound of his son in his ears and stored it in a place he would visit a long time from now, when Noah was too old to play games and ride on Riley’s shoulders. He laughed as Noah stumbled again. He was so inelegant. His hair caught the sun as he twirled and kicked up the water, flashing white and gold.
Riley’s laughter brought Noah’s head up, and the smile that appeared on the little boy’s face damn near floored him. With a wink, Riley held out his arms and Noah took off, running at him as fast as his six-year-old legs could carry him. He stumbled a couple more times before he reached him, and, when he did, Riley lifted him into the air, throwing him to the sky and catching him as he squealed with delight.
Noah placed his small hands on Riley’s cheeks and squeezed them. “Daddy.” He smiled, all gaps and gums.
Riley placed his lips on Noah’s cheek, blowing on it to make a loud farting noise that made him laugh and squirm in his arms. Riley held him tightly to his chest, not wanting him to fall. He held Noah tightly because he loved feeling him so warm and perfect in his arms. Because he always wanted Noah to know that he was safe with Riley; that he loved him more than he ever thought possible. Riley made sure that he told Noah that every day and that his love for him would never change.
All the world.
Like any father worth his salt, Riley knew he’d lay his life down for his son in a heartbeat, loving him with every inch of his soul. That part of becoming “Daddy” was easy. He’d slipped into the role so easily.
Keeping Noah in his arms, Riley continued down to the water. Every Sunday it was the same, and Riley loved it. Spending time with his family, being silly and making memories, was all he’d ever wanted and, since he’d moved back to Traverse City over two years ago, each day seemed to get better and better. Sometimes the three of them would head back to New York to see all of Riley’s friends and, yes, he missed them, but Riley’s heart belonged to Michigan, where his family lived.
“Is Grandpa coming now?” Noah asked, playing with Riley’s beard.
“Later,” Riley answered, placing a gentle hand to the back of Noah’s head. “He and Nana are coming for dinner.”
Being able to say that his mother and father were joining them for dinner was something that Riley had thought would never happen again. It had been a tricky road on occasion, but Riley had worked his nuts off making sure that Moore’s Motors ran like a well-oiled machine. He’d officially been the owner for eighteen months and he loved every second, and, with each sale, each moment that Riley proved his capabilities, the more Park opened up. Riley could say with confidence that he and his dad were solid, and the last of the wounds between them were finally healed. Celebrating birthdays and Christmases together again was amazing, especially now that Riley realized how much fun Christmas was with a kid around. He tended to go a little nuts with decorations and shit, but Lexie, God bless her, tolerated the little boy in Riley that got excited about pinning stockings and tinsel to the fireplace.
A Measure of Love Page 27