This Old Wind (Leanin' N Book 5)

by BA Tortuga

  “I…” Should he? Would it be…disloyal? “He left for LA. He’s not calling anymore. His manager said that he’d never suggested to her that he wanted to live in the mountains or have a family, and I haven’t moved the kids because… What if he’s changed his mind? What if it’s nothing but a pipe dream?”

  The words bubbled out of him, now that he had someone to talk to. He’d been afraid to say anything, since the girls might hear.

  “Have you called him?”

  Michael bit his lip. “He texts at midnight his time after a day of meetings, and I know he’s exhausted.”

  “Oh, man. He bought you a house. He’s coming back.”

  “Mickey may never speak to him again.” Simon had never mentioned her guitar lessons again. Michael had been helping her himself, but every lesson made her angry.

  “Ouch.” Ford sighed. “I’m gonna throw this out there. It’s easy to get distracted when something is so new. And if the label thinks this is a bad idea, they might be, um, smoke and mirroring him.”

  “I don’t doubt that at all, but… I miss him. And I’m scared, man. What if he’s changed his mind?” He wasn’t sure what LA was like, but it had to be different from here.

  “That has to suck, to be so worried. Call him, Michael. See what’s what.” Ford gave him a wry look. “I hid from Stoney for years. It was stupid.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, maybe I’ll just… I took the girls school clothes shopping. I could send a couple pictures. That wouldn’t mess up his meeting, right?” Michael glanced at Ford, who nodded.

  “Do it. Don’t be like me, man. Don’t let go. Not if you really want this to work.”

  “Yeah.” He sent the photos from his front room of the girls in their first-day outfits. “Now. Work. Let’s look at your numbers.”

  “Yeah. And I want to go over the holiday budget.”

  Right. He had to work. He could worry later.

  He had to focus.

  Simon stared at the pictures of Mickey and Chloe in their amazing back-to-school outfits. Back to school. He’d been in meetings with the label from the crack of dawn until late at night, and this was the first time he’d checked his phone all fucking day.

  The girls were in Michael’s house, in the front room. Nothing had been moved out. Not even one picture on the wall. He swallowed hard. What time was it?

  Shit. Shit, it was too late to call without waking them all.

  “Gage?” Gage was sitting at the kitchen table of the suites hotel room they were in, eating a late-night cheeseburger. He’d sold the house today.

  “Yeah, Simon? You okay?”

  “Have you talked to Tuck and Minnie? Have they started moving? Michael and the girls?”

  Gage shook his head. “Tuck said Chloe told him they were waiting for you, so you could say where you wanted things.”

  He plopped into one of the tall chairs at the bar. “Do you think they changed their minds?” What if Michael had decided not to move in with him? What if it was too much change for Mickey and Chloe?

  Gage blinked at him, obviously shocked. “Man, you left before you closed on the house. You’ve been gone damn near a month. I think Michael’s just giving you space.”

  He stared, his mouth falling open. “A month.” He was going to throw up. “Oh God.” He snatched up his phone. When was the last time he’d called? There were a dozen texts, but no calls for the last four days. And all the texts said, “I love you, good morning. I love you, good night.”

  “Oh fuck.”

  “Yeah. You ready to go home? I am.”

  “You’re coming with?” He knew Tuck was with the kids for the long haul, but he wasn’t sure if Gage had a life in LA beyond work.

  “Turn down Aspen for all this?” Gage winked. “I’m ready, boss.”

  “Me too. So. Pack up. I’m getting us a charter. Now. I want to go home.”

  “God, I love working for you. I get to bring my storage trailer of shit, yeah?”

  “Totally. You get Michael’s house. You have to share with Tuck and Liam. Fair?”

  “Totally. Except Tuck’s going to stay at the new house. He’s committed to those girls.”

  “Half bodyguard, half nanny.” He took a deep breath, and his fingers flew as he texted his favorite pilot, a crazy nutburger flying squirrel named Casey.

 

  There were several around the LA area, and Casey never flew in and out of the major airports. Took too much time.

 

 

  “Okay, Gage. Van Nuys. Let’s clear this place out. We’ll arrange for your storage to come at the same time as my movers.” He was on a damn mission. Michael and the girls had to be worried he was forgetting them, and they were all he thought about every day.

  Anything he hadn’t handled, he would do on telecommute, and he would call Beth tomorrow. She worked for him, darn it. He didn’t work for the label. He knew Beth was just trying to make sure everything was like he wanted it, but this LA thing was done.

  “I can do that. You want me to have Liam come pick us up or you want to rent a car…?” Gage looked at him, eyes twinkling. “Wait, do they still let you rent cars in Aspen?”

  “Shut up. Call Liam. We touch down around four. I’ll give him hazard pay.” He would get a cleaning service to clean out the room. All he had to do was toss shit in bags.

  “He’s just going to shit himself with joy to have us back. He’s lonely, guarding the big house.”

  “Poor baby.” He needed to hire movers for Michael too. They were moving in together, dammit.

  He started making notes on his phone as he headed to the closet. God, he had like three outfits here. He was a mess. What had he been wasting his time on?

  Maybe he’d been a little scared too, but fuck that shit. His family was waiting for him, school was about to start, and he owed Mickey and Chloe—

  Oh God. The guitar lessons.

  He would have to get her a new guitar to make up for it, and he’d bet she would still kick him in the shins. If he was lucky, she’d kick him.

  With Mickey, she wouldn’t kick, she’d pout. For weeks. Fuck.

  Simon wouldn’t bribe the girls with too many gifts, though. They deserved an apology and his time, if they wanted it.

  God, he was ready to go home. He missed Michael. He missed the girls. Hell, he missed the Rockies and the way the world made sense in high altitude.

  He was already gone in his head. Gage was waiting with his bag by the door, and they were out and headed to the airstrip. They were leaving LA, and he wasn’t going to get caught up in its crazy hustle and bustle ever again.

  Chapter 21

  Michael stood in the kitchen and made coffee, enjoying the quiet of early morning before the world was all the way awake, before his own brain was going and stressing things.

  Haley was restless this morning, so he let her out to potty, maybe chase a few bunnies or play birdie bowling.

  Lord, he felt old today. Old and tired.

  Haley started whining, scratching to get back in, and he wondered if there was a coyote out there. But when he let her in, she ran to the front door, bouncing, not quite barking.

  “Shhh. Don’t you wake up Chloe and Mickey on their last few days before they have to go to school.”

  The last thing on earth he needed was grumpy-assed children. He might growl, then they would cry, and he would fuss, and they’d pout. Pouting led to slamming doors and slamming doors led to pictures falling off the walls, which led to broken glass and bleeding. The last thing he needed was the dog making the kids bleed.

  The sound of a key in the lock made him whirl around to stare, and he was reaching for a weapon, any weapon, before he even thought about it. What he ended up with was a spatula.

  He’d just flip them to death. Fuck.

  When Simon slipped inside, setting a bag down on the floor, Michael damn near f
ell over. Shit. His heart was racing.

  “Simon.” Oh God, please. Please let him not be coming to say goodbye.

  “Hey, babe.” Simon held up a box. “I brought doughnuts. I tried to wait until you were up.”

  “Hey.” He put the spatula down. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” Simon hovered near the door, shifting from foot to foot. “I’m worried that I really fucked up, Michael. I was trying to get everything done, and I would forget to do the important stuff like calling and doing Mickey’s lessons and…” Simon took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

  “I was worried too. I thought maybe you decided we were…just hicks up here away from all the beautiful people.” Isn’t that what folks said about LA?

  “God no. I just got caught up in all the stupid meetings. Beth was so on my side, but I think the label was stalling me. I did sell the house.” Simon came to him, stumbling a little but managing to set the doughnuts down. “I didn’t drive.”

  “Thank God for that. I can’t afford another SUV.” He opened his arms, letting Simon in. “Come here, honey. You’re home.” Please God, and thank you.

  Simon slipped into his arms and clung to him. “Mickey is gonna kill me.”

  “You’ll make it up to her.” It was his turn first. “Are you okay?”

  “I am now. I got your pictures at about midnight last night, and I realized how much time… I asked Gage, and he said Tuck said you hadn’t started moving. I freaked a little.” Simon’s voice shook some.

  “I didn’t know… I know Miss Beth said you hadn’t wanted this, and you felt like you were on the moon.”

  Simon pulled back to frown. “Did you talk to her?”

  What? “No, I heard her when she was here.”

  “Oh.” Simon chuckled. “I didn’t want to have to fire her. She’d been standing up for me, and I couldn’t believe she would stab me in the back.” Simon pulled him down for a kiss. “I’m so sorry.” The words were whispered against his mouth.

  “I’m glad you came back. I was…down.” He hadn’t been heartbroken, not yet—he knew what that felt like—but he’d been worried. “A friend said I shouldn’t let you slip away into the ether.”

  “Yeah? You sent just the kick in the ass I needed. School clothes! We need to get the movers.”

  “Yes. Tuesday next week is the first day. They went shopping in the Junction with Mom.” They were getting big. It blew his mind. “I just didn’t want to assume.”

  “No. No, I know I was out of it. I was the one who gave weird vibes.” Simon sniffed. “Is that coffee? Hi, Haley. Yes. I see you.”

  “It is coffee. Sit. I’ll make you a cup and find you a treat to give Miss Haley.”

  “Thanks, babe. Gage is at the house. He said Tuck was here in the guest room, so he and Liam are gonna get a little more sleep.” Simon got paper towels and laid out doughnuts, including an apple fritter for him.

  “Oh, you remembered. Thank you.” He made Simon’s coffee and brought both mugs to the table.

  “I did. I think I got the girls’ right too. Gage had me get half a dozen assorted for Tuck and them too, but they’re in the other box.” Simon watched his every move, those gray eyes hot.

  “I’m so glad to see you.” He let himself relax, smile, breathe, and hope. “I guess I ought to get the boxes out of the garage, huh?”

  “I think so. The movers are going to be sending quotes, and we can pick one. Together.”

  Michael inhaled deep and nodded. “Yeah? I’m sorry I got it wrong. I… I’m sorry.”

  “Hey.” Simon grabbed his hand. “No. No more apologies. You did what anyone would have done. You waited to see.” Simon shook his head. “I’m the one who left, and this is all so new…”

  “I’m glad to see you. I… God, honey. I love you.” That was it, wasn’t it?

  “I love you.” Simon pulled him close again, leaning on his chest. “So much. I’m ready to start our new life. All the way.”

  “All the way.”

  “Daddy? I heard you talking.” Chloe came in, her eyes going wide. “Mr. Simon!”

  “Hi, butterfly. I finally came home.” Simon held out his arms, looking hopeful and scared all at once.

  “You were gone forever! Can we move now? Did you like LA? Do you want to see my new backpack for school?”

  “We can, I didn’t really, and I do. I want to know all the things.” Simon caught Chloe when she bounced at him.

  “Oh, we’re so glad you’re home! You owe Mickey, like, five lessons. Five. You may have to do it forever.”

  “He doesn’t have to.” Mickey glared at Simon from the hallway. “It’s okay.”

  Simon looked up, then kissed Chloe’s head before letting her go. He moved to kneel in front of Mickey. “I’m so sorry, Mickey. I let other things distract me, and I made you feel like you weren’t important to me. I promise you are, and I will make it up to you.”

  “You hurt my feelings.”

  His baby girl sounded so serious, so grown-up, and it broke Michael’s heart, but it made him proud too.

  “That was wrong of me. I know actions speak louder than words. I’ll start with I brought doughnuts.”

  One dark eyebrow arched. “Blueberry ones?”

  “Yes. And chocolate for your sister.”

  “For Daddy?”

  “Apple fritters.”

  Mickey nodded to him. “Good job.”

  “Thanks, kiddo. I’ll work hard, I promise.” Simon glanced at him, then oofed when Mickey hug-assaulted him.

  “I was scared you weren’t coming home,” she whispered. “We love you.”

  “I love all of you so much. Everything in LA sucks you in. I’m so glad to be here now, not there.”

  Michael couldn’t stand it. They were killing him. “Y’all want doughnuts?”

  “Yes! Can we have hot chocolate, please?”

  “Sure, babies. Y’all grab the Swiss Miss.” Suddenly his morning was a hell of a lot brighter. “After breakfast, we have to let Simon sleep, and we’re going to start packing. It’s moving time.”

  “Tuck will help us.” Chloe turned a pirouette. “We get to go-o-o.”

  “Will Haley like the new house?” Mickey asked.

  “She’ll love it. All those rooms to explore?” Suddenly Michael was filled with energy, with eagerness. “We’re going to have a ball.” He reached out and took Simon’s hand. “All of us.”

  Simon smiled, coming to lean against his side. “You know it, babe. I love you.”

  “I love you. Eat your doughnut, and I’ll tuck you into bed.” Simon needed some rest and care, some love. “Then we’ll take a load over to the new house this afternoon.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  When Simon ate two whole damn doughnuts and drank some hot chocolate, Michael knew this was it. They were ready to be together. Simon never once mentioned how hard he would have to work out to get rid of those calories.

  He tucked Simon into bed, then kissed his lover on the forehead. “Sleep. I’m going to pack the kitchen.”

  “Good deal. Love you, Michael. Thank you for letting me come home.”

  “Thank you for showing up.”

  He walked out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Then he stopped, closing his eyes.

  I did good, Rhi. I reached out. I had faith. You’d be proud of us.

  She would be. He was.

  Epilogue

  “You could have a big-assed ball in this front room, man,” Ford told Michael, looking around at the ghosts and bats dangling from the wood beams in the vaulted ceiling. “This place is nuts.”

  “You could two-step with Stoney, huh?” Michael, who was dressed like an Old West Texas Ranger with the long coat and the badge, grinned at him, looking happy, relaxed, and finally at home.

  “I so could.” The party was just getting started, and Ford looked around for his husband, searching for the gambler with his five aces and his bottle of whiskey. There he was, Quartz dressed as
Ghost Face, the twins dressed as Wednesday Addams and a pegacorn. Tuck was Uncle Fester and Gage played Gomez. It was adorable.

  “Chloe’s costume makes my Zorro seem lame.”

  “Wait until you see Simon.” Michael’s tone was dry as dust.

  “What is he?”

  “Well, it involves leather pants, a poet shirt, and really pale makeup with eyeliner.”

  “Ah. Vampire.”

  Michael nodded. “The vampire Lestat, to be exact.”

  “Aren’t you scared of being bit?” he teased, and Michael’s eyes twinkled.

  “Scared? No. But a man can hope.”

  Ford chuckled. He sipped his punch, which was the adult version of Sprite and Hawaiian punch, and boogied a little to “Monster Mash.” “This is a good place, Michael. I like it a lot.”

  “Thanks. Simon is over the moon now that his studio is in.”

  “Are you talking about me again, babe?” Simon slipped over to stand next to Michael, a wicked little pair of fangs making Ford do a double take. Nice.

  “I am. Have you seen the girls? They’re stunning.” Michael sounded so proud.

  “They are.” Simon was dazzling, his glittery, wild costume a drastic contrast to Michael’s sheriff. Ford loved it.

  Geoff went by, carrying Chloe like they were doing a pas de deux, her in a stag position with her arms out as if she was flying. Geoff was dressed as a rainbow unicorn, complete with fuzzy boots. They all blinked at each other.

  “Wow.” Simon’s smile was huge. “Look at…that.”

  “Yeah—light and sparkly, dark and demonic.” Michael beamed. “We’re so lucky.”

  Ford rolled his eyes. “I’m going to get my gambler, ask him for a dance.”

  “I’ll get the DJ to play something more your style,” Simon teased.

  Since there were a dozen kids under ten, he didn’t flip them off. Ford just hunted his man down, sliding a hand around his waist. “Some spread, huh?”

  “There’s a cadre to take the kids down for Hocus Pocus and Goosebumps in about an hour, with candy bags and popcorn. Let us have a little grown-up time. Quartz says he’s cool with it.” Stoney leaned into his touch.