The moment Zane looked at Bailey, he knew Zane wanted to go.He would hop on a plane, fly to another country with no idea where to go or how to speak their language to meet them.However, at the sudden darkening of his eyes, it was clear he was frightened too.
“I’m sure Chris could get a hold of them?”Bailey suggested, taking Zane’s hand in his own.“Maybe they’d be willing to meet with you.”
“Why would they?”Zane asked, turning away.The hope drained from his eyes.“Their daughter was kidnapped and forced to have a kid.Why would they want to meet that kid?”
“Zane.”
“It’s not a crazy thought.”
“But you can’t just assume that.Marceline wanted to see you again.”
“That’s entirely different.”
Bailey pursed his lips, giving Zane a glare that didn’t seem to bother him.While he understood Zane’s feelings, he hated the idea of him not even trying.
“Please, let me talk to Chris.If he can get a hold of them and they say yes, let’s visit.I’m sure they have even more stuff to tell you.Dn’t you want to hear it?Don’t you want to give them the chance to meet you?”Bailey hoped that would work.Judging by the way Zane’s hand tightened, it seemed it did.While he didn’t verbally say yes, he gave a curt nod that Bailey smiled at.
“I want to put these up.”
“The pictures?”Bailey asked.There were quite a few of them but he had already planned to do that.“Obviously we are.We can run into town tomorrow and get some frames.Then we can add to it after we get some pictures of you, Nate and Natalie, then you and Chris, you and Marceline, you and your grandparents–”
“No,” Zane interrupted with a scowl that Bailey completely ignored.
“A bunch of cute ones of us, too.We’ll have a whole family wall.”
“Disgusting.”
“We should add some each year too, like those ones where people take them at the same place in the same pose to see how they change over a year.”
Zane groaned, grabbed the folder, and left the couch.Bailey laughed and followed him, pleading for Zane to agree.He never did, but honestly, he would probably cave after another hour or two of begging.
Besides, Zane secretly liked the idea of a family wall.A family.It was something he always wanted and now he had so much of it, he didn’t know what to do.Not that he was complaining, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
CHAPTER 40
Baileycouldn’tsleepforseveral reasons.One in particular was mostly to blame.
Glancing back, an unconscious Zane met him.Zane’s hair cascaded over his cheek and neck.His chest rose and fell with his soft breathing.Sometimes his arm pulled Bailey closer, others it laid over top of him.Bailey wished he could sleep like that, although he couldn’t blame Zane for being exhausted.The last few days had been tough.Some nights Zane slept.Others he laid awake.That night happened to be one of the nights Zane conked out and good thing too since they would be busy the next two days at the park.
Sleep never greeted him.His phone went off, signaling it was time for them to get up.The alarm didn’t even budge Zane.Growling, Bailey elbowed him twice.Zane finally opened his eyes to give a pathetic glare.
“What?”Zane mumbled.
“It’s time to get up.”
Zane removed his arm from Bailey to roll over.
“We need to get changed and start our drive or we won’t have much time at the park today,” Bailey explained.
Zane didn’t seem to care while Bailey, even though he was half asleep, was very excited.Huffing, he got up, grabbed the sheet, and yanked.Zane sent a stern glare over his shoulder.
“Get up or I’m dumping ice water on you,” Bailey warned.
After another five minutes, Zane got up.Since most of their preparation happened the night before, it didn’t take long to get ready.They were out of the apartment with their weekend bags and heading to the car within thirty minutes.Zane hadn’t gotten another car yet.Bailey had his, so there was no rush for another.At least he got some shut eye during the drive because Zane drove.He kept quiet, keeping the radio at a low volume to not disturb Bailey.
Bailey received four hours of rest.Then they arrived at the hotel, where Zane woke him with a tender kiss.When Bailey’s eyes flickered open, he leaned up for another kiss to receive his fill.Zane pressed his hand to Bailey’s warm cheek.His thumb caressed Bailey’s skin that immediately broke out with goosebumps.When Zane retreated, Bailey stepped out of the car and stretched.
“I slept the whole way?”he asked.
