Elon asked, “How many kids were on your team?”
“Sixteen when I left," Sam said. "Rosco broke his arm.”
Elon texted someone and quickly received a return message. He folded his hands. “Invite the team to Miami for the Super Bowl. I’ll get a bus to take everybody to the game, and they can sit in our box.”
Sam's mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
Elon met my gaze then whispered, “Our son has issues connecting to his new life, so I want him to feel safe with some friends from his old life.”
“That’s sweet then,” Clarissa said.
Elon nodded. “We can bridge Sam's new life and old life a little easier and hopefully get him to therapy.”
Elon was wonderful. I sighed. “That sounds good.”
He said, “We have fifty tickets. Some are for family, but we won’t use all of them. So I can send twenty four to the team's coach so he can set everything up. And if you want to stay on the team, Sam, you can have use of a jet to get to all your practices and games—as long as you keep your grades up.”
My heart thundered. When I was driving Sam, all broken and hurt, away from our apartment in Florida, he'd cried to get back to his team.
I’d been terrified for both of us, but it was over now.
Sam hugged Elon. “Thanks, Dad.”
Elon hugged him back, and the two of them were happy. I had no idea how we’d manage school then daily trips to Florida for a few weeks.
Sam texted his friends.
I said to Elon, “You don’t have to make this big of a gesture.”
Sam glared at me like I'd ruined his moment.
Elon said, “Kids who enjoy football are good kids, and the school therapist said he needed friends. It’s a win-win.”
My mind wasn’t focused on the logistics. I would figure that out later. “I think she meant he should make friends at his new school, and I don’t want him to backtrack.”
Elon said, “He will make friends at school, but it’s best that he keeps his roots if he wants. I’ll go with him to the practices and games, but let’s use it to make a deal that he goes to a private therapist.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. But Elon and Sam were the most important people in my life. “That is a good idea. Give me a moment.”
I spoke to our son, and he finally agreed to therapy. I relaxed. Sam started texting, and I took Elon’s hands. It was good that we were all together. The helicopter took off, and we left the city, soaring over the highways, and headed home. As we landed, Sam was snoring. I laughed.
Elon unbuckled himself and then Sam and picked him up to carry him inside. We were soon walking to the house together.
“Sam was excited making all those plans,” I said.
Elon said, “I'm glad he’s home, and hopefully he goes to school happy tomorrow.”
We worked together to put Sam to bed. Elon ruffled his hair, I kissed his cheeks, and then we left his bedroom together. We had already formed a routine.
As soon as we were in the hall, I wrapped my arms around Elon. It was more than time to tell him he was in my heart.
Our lips met, and I forgot where we were for a few minutes.
After the kiss ended, I took his hand, and we walked to his bedroom. “Kissing is good.”
I waited till I closed the door, and then I took both his hands in mine. As I gazed into his eyes, I knew I had nothing to fear from Elon. I took a deep breath. “I never thought I could fall in love with you. I was so broken when I came here.”
He tilted his head. “It’s okay.”
