Ryan
That scene back at the conference was harsh and heavy. I knew it would throw Tucker for a loop. I just temporarily didn’t know what to do about it.
He had taken off so fast that I didn’t get a chance to put my foot down. When I called and Tucker didn’t answer, I had known he was ignoring me and going there again.
I felt this anger well up inside me. We had come so far, he had conquered so many obstacles. Yet the first thing he decided to do when confronted with conflict was run away and be alone. I felt betrayed by his response.
I thought we were a team. Were we not in love? Were we not one soul now?
I picked up my cell, called his house phone this time, and made my demands. I then grabbed my keys, took one parting glance at Bessie and Duke, then locked the door as I left
The entire drive over I continued to work myself up into a frenzy until I arrived at his place. Then an epiphany hit me and I realized what I had to do.
That man was moving in with me. He wasn’t going to live alone where he could escape to his dark thoughts. Nope. I would always be there to bring him back to the light, by god!
I opened the front door without knocking. I had a feeling he had left it unlocked. He was sitting on his sofa with Morgan by his side when I found him.
I had all of this steam pent up inside me, but it all fizzled out the moment I laid eyes on that sweet bear of a man.
“Aw, hell,” I said out loud. I walked over to Tucker and pulled him to his feet before hugging him hard. His hands were all over me, first feeling my back, then caressing my face. The anger I had dissipated the moment I had locked eyes with him. I saw his pain. It cut like a knife.
“I love you so much, Ry.”
“I know you do, Tuck.”
He hesitated before admitting, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“It was a seriously emotional day you had there. First with that man, and then with the woman and her family right after. That’s a lot for anyone to handle.”
“You think?”
“Yes, Tucker. It’s normal. But what is not normal is you feeling the urge to run home at the first sign of trouble instead of running to me. So I have made a decision. And…” I paused for effect, making sure I had his attention, “you have no say in this whatsoever. You ready to hear your fate?”
Tucker nodded, his eyes glued to mine.
“Today, Tuck, you’re moving in with me, permanently. Pack your bags. You’re coming home. When you feel better, you can put this house on the market. I don’t care, but you will not be returning here. Do I make myself clear? I love you and you are coming home.”
Tucker stood quietly for a few moments. He seemed lost in thought. I was worried that maybe I had gone too far, but I felt strongly that this was the step we needed to take in our relationship. He then let go of my arms, stepped back, turned, then started heading out of the room, with Morgan following by his side.
My heart dropped into my stomach. Oh shit. “Uh, where do you think you’re going?” I asked in a false bravado.
He paused at the doorway, turned back to face me, then smiled. I knew right when he smiled all was well with the world, especially when he replied, “I’m going to pack my bags. Isn’t that what you told me to do?”
“Uh, yes. You may proceed.”
“Can you come help me? I’ve got a lot of crap.”
I walked toward Tucker and Morgan. “Of course.”
*
When we arrived at my house—or should I say our house—we unloaded Tucker’s bags in the bedroom then went to the kitchen to eat. I had picked up some fast food on the way home, something we both tended to stay away from, but we were tired and hungry. We had driven two cars back. He planned on going back to his house later to figure out what he wanted to give away and what he wanted movers to bring over. He was going to talk with a Realtor later and set everything up.
Elaine had already come by and left while I was at Tucker’s house. She had taken care of the dogs and cleaned up the backyard for me, godsend that she was.
Tucker and I ate in silence for the most part, then when we were wrapping up our dinner, he started talking.
“I’m feeling better, Ry. You were right. I should have turned to you when I felt the old feelings coming back. I know I must have hurt you leaving you like that.”
“We’re all good, Tucker. I admit, it hurt when you took off like that. But I realize now that you were going off muscle memory. It was a habit, one that I knew I had to break you of immediately with my secret weapon.”
He smiled that charming grin I loved so much. “And what is that?”
“My love. Duh.”
Tucker stood up from the table and came over to hug me from behind, kissing my cheek. “That’s a very powerful weapon you have there.”
I stood up from the table and turned into his arms. “And don’t you forget it, mister.”
We both were turned on. It really excited me to know that Tucker’s body would now be available to me at all times. The darkness could not have him. He was mine in the light.
We took off down the hall, making our way to the master bedroom and the king-sized bed that waited.