by E. L. Todd
My attention turned to her now that Clay’s grandparents moved in for pictures. “Baby, you need to sit down. There’s a park bench right over there. How about some water?”
“I’m okay, Volt.” Her eyes were on Clay. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist. “Yeah…we did a good job.”
“No, you did a good job. You saved his life, Volt.”
“No.” I didn’t believe that. “He was the one who walked into my office in the first place. He wanted a better life for himself. He showed initiative.”
“But he walked away. And you hunted him down. Don’t downplay your role in this.”
“I admit I helped. But he did all the work.”
“You paid his tuition. Don’t forget that.”
I shrugged. “A smart kid would have made it happen anyway.”
She smiled, clearly smitten by my humbleness. “I’m glad he’ll be working in the city. We’ll be able to see him all the time.”
“I know.” Now I understood how my parents felt when I moved back after college. They were thrilled to the point of tears. I pulled her closer against me, feeling so grateful that my life turned out so well. I had the woman of my dreams on my arm, and I had another son on the way. Could life get any better?
“Can you take a picture of me and my dad?” Clay asked.
I would never get tired of hearing him call me that. It fit so well. I walked away from Taylor and went to his side.
Clay handed me his diploma. “You hold it.”
“Why?”
“Because this is all happening because of you.”
Everyone watched quietly as they beamed in pride.
I took it from his hand and held it up.
Clay put his arm around me and smiled for the camera.
I smiled too but felt a lot more than joy. I felt a million things at once. I never knew I could love someone the way I loved Clay. I never knew someone could change my life so much—in the best way possible. He claimed I saved him, but he saved me too. He made me into a better man, made me into a guy worthy of Taylor. He prepared me for fatherhood, for my next son about to be born. He gave me so much without realizing it.
When the picture was taken, Clay waved Taylor over. “Can I get a picture with both of them?”
Mom held up the camera. “Of course. It’s your day.”
Taylor walked to his other side. “I’m going to look like a cow in these pictures.”
“A hot cow, maybe,” I said.
“Mom, you look beautiful.” He wrapped his arm around her waist.
She melted for him in a way she never melted for me. Her eyes locked to mine and an unspoken conversation happened between us. She had as much of a role in his life as I did, and together, we made a great team. We made a difference in the classroom, in the tutoring program, and with a boy who just needed help.
I thought Sara was the one, but she was just a placeholder until the right woman came along. Taylor was my other half, the woman I was destined to spend my life with. She was the only woman who could ever fix me, who could put my life back together. She stuck beside me through the hard times, and we made it to the other side. There was no doubt she and I were supposed to be together, to live happily ever after.
Now I couldn’t remember a time when I was miserable. I’d been happy for so long I couldn’t imagine a different way of life. It seemed like it’d always been this way. I’d always been happy.
And I would always be happy.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Combust. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!
Wishing you love,
E. L. Todd
Want to check out my next series?
Ray of Light is a fun romance, guaranteed to make you laugh and cry.
Available Now
My brother is an idiot. He won the lottery and invested all of his money in a run-down bowling alley. Since he’s barely making it, he moved in with me.
Great.
Having him around the house isn’t the worst thing in the world, but he does make a mess like nobody’s business. My friends Zeke, Jessie, and Kayden keep me sane but there’s only so much they can do.
And it’s definitely not the worst thing in the world when his old friend, Ryker, moves to town.
The second I lay eyes on him, I’m hot under the collar. He makes my body burn in longing and freeze in desperation at the exact same time. When he talks, I don’t listen to anything he says because I’m staring at that hard jaw and those kissable lips like I already own them.
But he’s a bed hopper. A playboy. A heartbreaker.
I’m all down for some hot, sweaty, yummy sex even if it doesn’t have a fairy tale ending. I’ve been down that road before. I know the drill. But with Ryker, it’s different.
Because I know I’ll fall in love with him.
For now, I’ll steer clear of him and keep my hands to myself. It can’t be that hard, right?
Or can it?
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