Loud banging has Merlin jumping off my lap with a hiss and taking off toward the stairs. Lana doesn’t have a chance to reach for the knob before the front door bangs against the wall and Cami comes barreling inside.
“Cow-l! You’re back!” Cami throws her backpack on the floor and sprints toward me.
I kneel and open my arms. “Hey there, kiddo.”
Cami throws her arms around my neck. “I missed you.”
My heart lodges itself somewhere in my throat as I tighten my grip. “I missed you more.” My voice quakes, the slight tremble making Lana’s eyes water. She gets down on the floor beside me and joins our hug. Wyatt tips his head before shutting the door to the lake house behind him.
“Are you all better now?” Cami peeks up at me.
“Really?” Her blue eyes turn impossibly brighter.
“Yup. Did you take care of Merlin for me while I was away?”
Her grin stretches wider. “Yes! I fed him. A lot.”
“I saw that. I’m going to have to get the guy a little treadmill with how much food you gave him.”
Cami giggles, making my chest flood with warmth.
“And I gave him water. I tried to sleep with him, but Mommy hogged him.”
“Did she now?” I spare Lana a look.
She gives me a little shove with her shoulder.
Cami pouts. “She didn’t like to share.”
I fake gasp. “What? How dare she.”
Lana sticks out her tongue. “I do too like to share. I just needed a cuddle buddy.”
“I’ll be your cuddle buddy.” I wink.
Cami presses her palm against my cheek. “Are you staying?”
My throat tightens as I wrap my arm around Lana and tug her against me. “Of course.”
“Forever?” Cami asks.
“Yup.”
“And ever?”
I laugh. “That’s the plan, so long as you want me.”
She squeals as she wraps each arm around us and squeezes. A feeling of weightlessness takes over me, replacing the heavy feeling in my chest that has been present ever since I left Lake Wisteria for rehab.
Cami breaks away with a smile. “Are you and Mommy going to get married now?”
The blood drains from Lana’s face. “Camila.”
“What?”
Lana shoots her a look. “You shouldn’t ask people that.”
“Why not?” She crosses her small arms against her chest.
“Because it’s rude.”
I drag Lana’s left hand toward my lips. “One day I plan on it.”
Cami cheers while Lana blinks. I smile against her skin, my lips brushing across the goose bumps. Even Merlin comes back down to rub his body against us with a purr.
“Do you love my mommy?” Cami bats her dark blond lashes up at me.
“I love her more than anything.” I answer while staring into Lana’s deep brown eyes.
“What about you, Mommy? Do you love Cal?” Cami clasps her hands to her chest.
“I loved him long before I even understand what love really was.”
Cami cheers as I place a soft peck against Lana’s lips.
Having a family of my own makes me feel complete in a way I never dreamed was possible. It took me a long time to realize that no amount of alcohol, drugs, or money will compare to the high I get when surrounded by those I love.
And I will stop at nothing to make sure I never lose them again.
Walking down Main Street with Cami and Lana is a completely different experience this time around. Usually, the locals stick to either ignoring me or shooting daggers in my direction whenever I make my way through town.
Today is everything I hoped for but never thought was possible. People actually take time to stop and speak with us, treating me like I’m not a social pariah. I’m so shocked, I find myself speechless on more than one occasion, including when Meg stops me outside of her bookstore to tell me she saved a copy of a new sci-fi release she thought I might like.
It’s almost as if I entered an alternate reality where people in Lake Wisteria no longer hate me for the mistakes I made six years ago.
Cami, Lana, and I walk into Holy Smokes BBQ with every intention of grabbing a quick bite to eat. Our plan is immediately hijacked by the townspeople sliding their tables against ours and creating one long table fit for a medieval feast.
“So Cal’s finally back.” Isabelle drops onto the bench beside me.
I look at her with narrowed eyes. “So you do remember my name.”
She taps her water glass against mine with a wink. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Too late. I can feel it inflating already.”
Isabelle’s son, Ernie, places a tray full of meats at the center of the table before heading back toward the counter for another round.
“What’s the special occasion?” Lana asks.
“You no longer moping about while waiting for this one to return.” Isabelle beams.
Lana frowns. “I wasn’t moping.”
“You totally were.” Isabelle turns toward me. “Everyone in town gained weight this month while trying to keep up with how many baked goods came out of this woman’s kitchen. My butt now has its own zip code thanks to her and those darn Nutella pies.”
“And cookies!” Cami raises her fist clutching a crayon in the air.
“Isabelle!” Lana throws her hands in the air.
I crack a smile. “No need to get embarrassed on my account.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m not embarrassed.”
“Should I not tell him about how you wore his hoodie for a whole week?”
“You know what? I’m going to go take a walk off a very short dock now, thank you very much.” Lana moves to rise from the bench, but I snatch her hand first.
“I think it’s cute that you missed me.”
Her lips flatten into a thin line. “Cute? Because Isabelle isn’t the only one whose butt needs a new zip code.”
I wink. “Just how I like it.”
More people come to sit at our table, and the attention quickly shifts away from Lana. Similar to the dinner with my family, I am content with staying in the background and listening to everyone else speak. The stories they share range from two schoolteachers and an ongoing prank war, to how annoyed people are with Julian Lopez and his company buying up properties around the lake.
I feel like I’m no longer an outsider looking in but rather someone who belongs. It provides a sense of fullness I didn’t know I needed. In Chicago, I’m the Kane brother who lacked drive, ambition, and any goal besides being the family fuck-up. But here at Lake Wisteria, I’m just Cal, a somewhat normal guy who likes reading books, tipping people well, and spending time with his family.
I might be a billionaire, but no one around here treats me as such. They poke fun at my family’s company, my fancy car, and tease me endlessly about how in love I am with Lana.
I don’t mind it one bit as I spend most of our dinner laughing until my stomach aches. It’s not until Cami yawns and Lana calls it a night that I realize something.
Coming back to Lake Wisteria wasn’t just about finding myself, but about finding a family. A massive, three-hundred-person family who would drop everything to help one of their own, including my girls.
And hopefully me one day.
