Page 76 of The Way Home

“I’m not who I was,” Jamie went on. “And I understand that you miss…him.And I’m trying. I tried, I mean. And now that I can’t getthose memories back, I feel like I’m letting you down, and… I think it’s breaking my heart.”

“Jamie,” Caleb breathed. His eyes were wide and filled with regret.

“I’m scared,” Jamie blurted out, emotions rising hot in his chest. “I’m scared that I can’t give you what you deserve. That you’ll always be waiting for someone who isn’t coming back. That you’ll—”

Get tired of waiting.

Caleb slid across the sofa and pulled Jamie into his chest. Jamie melted into his scent and warmth.

“Sweetheart. Oh my God, you’rehere.”His hand cupped the back of Jamie’s head. “Fuck, you’re alive and healthy. That’s all I want.”

Jamie choked back a sob. “It’s okay if you want more than just some carbon copy of your fiancé.”

Caleb pulled back. “Jamie. Let me beveryclear.” He cupped Jamie’s face with both hands. “I won’t lie and tell you this hasn’t been fucking hard. I do miss you.Us.But I don’t see you as a carbon copy of anyone.”

Jamie’s heart stuttered as Caleb’s eyes dropped to his mouth.

“I see you as Jamie.MyJamie.” His throat worked as his thumbs gently brushed along Jamie’s cheeks. “Come home and let me show you. Let me show you that I wantyou.No one else. Just you, sweetheart.”

His eyes were clouded with a melancholy sort of longing. It made Jamie want to curl up in his lap and make outlandish promises.

But he wouldn’t make promises. Not until he was sure. He wouldn’t do that to Caleb.

“I want to come home,” he breathed.

Their lips were so close, Jamie felt Caleb’s breath on his face. His body tingled with need—the familiar blood-pumping arousal he always felt around this man.

Caleb’s strong hands slid down to his low back, pulling him closer.

“Come home, J. I… I’ll take care of you, I swear.”

Chapter 20

April

“So, what’s thelatest?” Dropping her bag on the floor, Sally plopped herself in the chair across from Caleb’s desk. Her red hair was damp from the rain.

Caleb glanced around the training room, wondering when they had started a conversation. “The latest…?”

Angie pranced into the room behind her and crossed her arms. “Jamie, of course. How are things at home?”

Caleb’s heart did a nervous little tumble. He was anxious as hell for things to go back to normal with Jamie, but they still felt…weird.

“That bad?” Angie frowned and pulled up a chair. “Tell us everything.”

“Oi!” Dillion jogged into the room, fresh from practice. “We talking about Jamie? He doing okay?” She perched herself on the corner of Caleb’s desk, and he leaned back.

Sally pulled out her phone. “He’s fine, I chatted with him this morning. It’s Caleb that’s not fine.”

“What?” Caleb leaned forward to snatch her phone. “You’re talking to Jamie?”

She held it out of reach. “Duh. We’re friends.”

“If Jamie’s fine,” Angie said, “then what’s wrong? You still have a dark cloud over your head, Caleb. I thought he was back home.”

Taking a deep breath, Caleb pressed both palms against his eyes. He wasn’t proud of it, but the week Jamie had been at Ellie’s, he was a mess. The girls noticed immediately and forced him to take some days off work.

“You guys arereallynosy, you know that?”