Butthat’s not entirely what I meant. My time before Greyson had felt like forever,the time I spent away from him now though, felt like an eternity.
Ipaced for a few more minutes, shaking my hands out and tapping my fingersagainst my thighs, before Ty finally hit me.
“Dude,did you just smack my ass?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “’Cause I didn’t hateit and I’m not sure what that means for me.”
“I…” Ty shook his head and ran his hand over his cropped hair. “I might’ve. It’swhat I could reach. Sit down. You’re making me nervous.”
“Ican’t sit still!” I shouted, gritting my teeth and glancing back at the monitor.“Oh, fucking hell. Five minutes. Oh my God … what if he doesn’t recognize me?What if he’s decided he doesn’t like me anymore?”
“Carrienever decides she doesn’t like me in the time I’m away,” Ty pointed out,bringing up his daughter, and I rolled my eyes.
“You’veknown her since birth,” I groused, flopping into the seat beside him. “Greysonhas only known me for a handful of months. He can change his mind.”
“That’sall the more reason for himnotto change his mind, man,” Chad buttedin, looking around Ty to glance at me. “He’s got a lot of time to make up for.”
Rollingmy lips between my teeth, I nodded. “You know, Chaddington, for a guy so afraidof commitment, you’re pretty wise.”
“I’mnot …” He groaned, slumping back in his chair. “Never mind.”
Itapped away the minutes against the armrests of my chair, while Ty scrolledthrough his phone and Chad read something on his Kindle. My excitement was atornado, making me dizzy and wreaking havoc on my nerves. It certainly didn’thelp when I glanced up to the monitor and saw his plane had landed.
Iwas so close.
Myphone vibrated, and I jumped from the chair, pulling it out to find a messagefrom Greyson. “He’s here,” I announced, to myself and my friends. “Holy fuck.This is crazy.”
“Yeah,it is crazy, thinking you have a kid,” Ty agreed, nodding and standing up.“Come on, boys. Let’s go find him.”
***
Wewaited just outside the terminal gates, watching the passengers come out andgreet their loved ones. I was jealous, wishing Greyson would come out sooner. Iwondered what was taking him so long, what was holding him up. If he was okay,if he needed me, if …
“Therehe is.” I shoved my backpack at Ty’s chest before moving my way through thecrowd toward my son. It’d been nearly eight weeks since I’d seen him outside ofour video chats. His hair was getting a little longer, but so was mine. Helooked older, different, and I wished I could say I wouldn’t ever take thatmuch time away from him again, but I’d be a liar.
Heran to me, thrusting himself into my arms and nearly knocking me off my feet. Isqueezed him, held on tight, and said, “Shit, I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Yeah,me too,” he replied, his voice muffled by my shoulder before he stepped backand grinned. “That was my first time in a plane.”
“Getthe fuck out, seriously? Why didn’t you tell me that?”
Heshrugged. “I didn’t think about it, I guess.”
“Dude,you should’ve said something. I wouldn’t have made you go alone,” I persisted,immediately worried he had spent the entire flight freaking out.
“Really,Dad; it was fine,” he assured me with a grin. I stopped blinking, stoppedbreathing, and stared at him for a few moments, before he asked, “What?”
“Nothing.”I shook my head, snapping myself out of it. “I’m just really fucking happyyou’re here.”
Greysonnodded. “Yeah, me too.”
“Comeon,” I said, throwing his bag over my shoulder and leading the way to where Tyand Chad stood waiting.
Greysondidn’t even wait for me to make the introductions. “You’re Tyler Meade, andyou’re Chad Wilcox.” He held out his hand to each of them as they both lookedto me with impressed bewilderment.
“Itold you he knows his shit.” I beamed with pride.
“Niceto meet you, Greyson,” Ty said, taking his hand and shaking heartily. “I hopeyou keep those manners and don’t let this guy rub off on you too much.”
“Trustme, Aunt Tabs wouldn’t let that happen,” Grey replied, darting a teasing glarein my direction.
