White Sand Ch. 11
"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Leaning against the doorframe of their bedroom, his eyes watching her as she packed her small travel bag.
Looking over her shoulder, Davy could see that he was worried for her, which only made her love the man that much more. "I want you to come, I do, but I'm about to drop in on this woman's life." Moving some hair that fell into her eyes, she turned her attention back to packing, "It's going to be surprising enough for her to see me, she'd probably have a heart attack if she saw you." Looking over her shoulder, she couldn't help smiling at his face. "I think you forget how large you are."
Pushing off the door he was leaning against, Arthur took only a couple steps before he was standing in front of her, his hand sliding into her hair. "I know you will never forget how large I am." He said, chuckling as a blush crept up her cheeks.
Sliding his hand up to her chin, he tilted her head so that he could see into her eyes, they always held the truth with what she was feeling. He could see that while she was determined to find answers, she was also scared.
"Davina," pausing for just a moment, he needed to make sure that she was really listening. Kneeling in front of her, Arthur chuckled a bit as he heard her inhale, perhaps next time he knelt in front of her he would ask her, but even he knew it would be a bitch move to hit her with marriage before she went looking for her mom.
"It's alright to be scared."
Davy couldn't help but lean forward, letting her head come to rest on his, "Ever since I was a little kid, scared is what I've always felt." Exhaling slowly, "It wasn't until I met you and your mom that I stop being scared of myself." Tilting her head back, feeling content when their eyes locked, "I almost forgot the feeling."
Arthur moved onto the bed, pulling her into his chest, placing a kiss on her temple, he could feel her relaxing against his chest. "Tell me."
Feeling his arms around her, Davy felt instantly better. "I don't expect her to run to me with open arms, but I do hope that we can talk civility." Turning her body so that she was looking directly at him, her hand lightly petting his goatee, "I'm scared that she will hate me on sight, tell me to get the fuck out and I would have traveled there for nothing."
Pulling her onto his lap, Arthur held her tightly, "My beautiful fire goddess." He wanted nothing more than to tell her that everything would be alright, but unfortunately, there was a small chance that her fears could be a reality. "I won't tell you that it can't happen, because it can. So, the real question is, do you think it's worth the risk?" Feeling her stiffen Arthur looked down on her, seeing her go through all her options. "No matter what you choose, I'm going to support you."
That was all she needed to hear, while she was still scared about how this was going to go, knowing that he would support her eased a lot of the tension. "Most people wouldn't know this by looking at you, but you're a pretty amazing man."
Snorting, "That's how I like it, I generally don't want to be bothered by people." As he went to open his mouth, he could hear Bruce on the phone, while they didn't have to rush to the airport, the sooner she left the faster she would come back.
"Finish getting packed, I'll let money bags know you'll be out in a second." Giving her a swift kiss, Arthur made his way towards the living room, it was time to tell the Bat if something happened to her, he would do unspeakable things to him.
Bruce watched as she stared out the window, at this altitude there was nothing to see but clouds, yet, she seemed to be mesmerized by it.
"This your first time flying?" he asked her.
Rolling her eyes, it wasn't that he asked that question, it was how he sounded when he did. Turning her eyes towards his, Davy could see his amusement, perhaps if she wasn't on his jet she may have told him to go fuck himself, but that just seemed rude.
Crossing her legs, "No, I did have to fly to get from Kauai to Portland." Glancing around the jet, everything from the leather seats they were sitting on to the wet bar was high end, the man did not spare a dime when it came to his creature comforts. "First time on a personal jet though."
Sipping on his scotch, Bruce could only smirk, "Touche'" Sitting back against his seat, he had a million questions about her powers, but as much as the detective in him wanted the answers, he knew that until she posed a threat to others, he would mind his own business. Tilting his head, well, perhaps not completely, he would do his due diligence and get all the information he could, because if she ever did become a threat, he would need to be able to stop her before she did too much damage.
Davy felt so uncomfortable with him, most people were curious about new people, but she got the impression he was more interested in figuring her out because he wanted an edge. Glancing down at her watch, frowning that they still had another 5 hours to get to Houston and the thought of spending it in an awkward silence was enough to make her skin crawl.
Mentally debating on the best course of action, it was clear that Bruce was the act, Batman was who he really was. Huffing, "Is it true that you almost defeated Superman?"
Raising his eyebrow, Bruce was a little shocked on why she would have asked that, but perhaps Arthur Curry did not understand the meaning of secret identity. "Did Arthur tell you that?" he asked, a little annoyed that the man was talking to his girlfriend about him.
"No, but you said that you've worked together, and no offense, Bruce Wayne wouldn't be caught anywhere near the end of the world, he's kind of a playboy prick, but Batman was in the middle of all that." Keeping her eyes on his, "I'm not a genius but I'm not a fucking moron."
"Again, touché'" Finishing off his drink, Bruce placed it the table next to him, turning his attention back towards her, he could see that she was watching him just as intently as he was watching her.
Perhaps if things were a little different, she would be someone that he may have had interested in pursuing. "Ms. Olsen, you are an enigma." Leaning back in his seat, Bruce watched as she shrugged, smirking a bit, "Were you born with your pyrokinesis?"
Snapping her eyes up at him, Davy could feel her snappy remark on the tip of her tongue, but he was flying her to Houston for free and he would make sure that she got back home, so perhaps it wouldn't be wrong to answer his questions.
"I think so." Picking at her nails, it was something that she wondered a million times and probably would a million times more. Grabbing the water bottle that he handed her when the flight first took a sip, enjoying how it soothed her throat.
Chewing on her bottom lip, "I don't remember having an accident or drinking something that I shouldn't." Glancing up at him, "My father always blamed my mother, because until me, no one on his side of the family was like me."
"Is that why you are going to see her? To see if she's like you?" He asked, curious about her motives.
Davy just shook her head, "No, not really." Giving him a small smile, "I just really want to know why she left hours after I was born." Clearing her throat, Davy could feel herself getting emotional about the whole thing, she knew there were going to be some tears, she just didn't want to have them in front of a man that she didn't know.
Bruce was a little surprised by her answers, most people would be looking for more, "And what if she doesn't give you the answers you're looking for?" leaning forward, he wondered what her answers would be.
"I would be utterly disappointed." Turning her attention back towards the window, "I know it's a real possibility that she tells me to get the hell out of her office," taking a deep breath, Davy didn't want to get too emotional now, that would be for when she was back home with Arthur, her uncle, and his family. "If that is what she wants, then I will go, you already gave me a lot of information about who she is, this trip is just to know why."
He couldn't help but respect that, too many people would have a romanticized version of reuniting with a long lost relative. "You know, Ms. Olsen, if you ever get tired of working remotely for your company, Wayne Industries always has a place for someone as bright as yourself." Leaning back in his seat, Bruce allowed himself the luxury of relaxing, it was very few and far between that he was able to do such things.
Davy watched the man settle into the seat across from her, he was strange, but a man that dressed like a Bat to protect his city that was not really a surprise. While it wasn't something that she would ever consider doing herself, but perhaps if she had unlimited resources who knows what she would do. Not really wanting to think about what he does in his free time, Davy had a lot more important things to worry about, like her impending reunion with her mother.
Closing her eyes, Davy figured that it was probably best to try and get some rest, in a few hours there was a high probability that it was going to be an emotional day.
"Ms. Johnson, you're 3pm is here."
Looking up at the sound of the receptionist's voice, Harper could feel her heart pounding in her chest, for years her father worked so hard into getting a meeting with Bruce Wayne, but he was never able to secure even a fucking meeting. Smiling at the thought of doing something that the late Trevor Johnson couldn't do, get the damn meeting with the man.
Glancing down at her desk, she quickly straightened it up, not that it was inherently messy, but every little detail mattered when it came to dealing with someone like Wayne. Once she felt that everything was in order, she looked over at the receptionist, "Danielle, please show them in."
Nodding, Danielle made her way out of her office, finding Mr. Wayne and Ms. Olsen sitting patiently in the waiting area. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Wayne." Smoothing down her skirt, Danielle indicated for them to follow, "If you would please accompany me."
"You ready for this?" Bruce asked.
Nodding slightly, Davy could feel her heart pounding in her ears, "Can you promise me one thing?"
Raising his eyebrow, Bruce could only nod. "Depends on what you're asking me."
Seeing that the receptionist head towards the door, Davy knew that she was limited on time. "Just promise, that regardless of what happens in there with me, please just listen to her business proposal, I'd hate to not only bombard her and then not have at least honor your meeting."
It took a lot to be taken by surprise, especially with the things he's seen as the Batman, but the young woman next to him just did. Clearing his throat, Bruce gave her a small smile, "That I can do. Wayne Enterprises is always looking for a new architect to build in various cities."
Harper watched as Mr. Wayne walked in, she couldn't help but be surprised, the man was for more handsome in person than on T.V or some magazine. Standing to shake his hand, she stopped dead in her tracks as she took in the woman next to him, for a moment she thought she was going crazy, but those golden eyes were unforgettable. "Kalama?"
Stepping further into the room, Davy forgot everything that she wanted to ask as she stared at the woman. Ever since she was a little girl, she had wished for this moment, wondered what witty thing would come out of her mouth but instead she was dumbstruck.
It was only because she heard Bruce clear his throat that it snapped her out of the trance that she was in. "I'm sorry, my name is Davina." Flinching as she hissed.
"He changed your name?" Stepping around her desk, Harper could see that Mr. Wayne was watching with interest and it only took a second for her to realize that this wasn't by accident. "I don't really appreciate you coming here under false pretenses."
Stepping towards the door to his left, "I'm here to discuss business with your firm, however, Ms. Olsen has few things that she wishes to discuss." Opening the door, Bruce was pleased to see that it was a small meeting room. "I'll wait here, then after, you and I will sit down and discuss your business proposal."
Davy watched as he shut the door behind him, Bruce really was a man of few words. Blinking rapidly, she turned her attention back towards her mother, "I'm sorry to just barge in on you, I didn't know how else to do it. Showing up at your home seemed far worse than here."
Glancing back towards the door he walked through and towards her daughter, Harper couldn't help but be impressed with how resourceful she was. Exhaling, this was more than what she had expected for a Wednesday afternoon, but she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Pointing to the couch, "Please." Taking a seat, Harper watched as she took a seat next to her, she was just as beautiful as she dreamed.
Smoothing down her hair, Davy never felt more anxious in her life, but at least she wasn't telling them to get out, so that had to count. "You called me Kalama when I walked in, was that my name?"
Sucking her teeth, pissed that he would change her name, they picked it out together. "It was the name your father and I picked out." Sitting up a little higher, "We met on an active volcano," smiling at the memory, "So, when I found out I was having a girl, your father took me back to that place, and I knew that your name was going to be Kalama."
"Really, does it mean something?" She asked.
Smiling, Harper could see her excitement. "It means torch or light." Crossing her leg over her knee, "I have always had a fascination with volcanoes, and when I was pregnant, I just wanted to have you have a name that meant something along those lines. But I wasn't going to name you something silly, like Ember."
However, it seemed that it was for nothing, John had changed her name to Davina instead, which kind of pissed her off but she was 26, it was a little late for her to get upset. "Davina, though, it's pretty."
Davy could only smile at that; it was strange how simple praise from a stranger could make her feel good. "Thank you." Sparing a glance around her office, she couldn't help but notice a lack of pictures, there was only one on her desk and it looked like a dog.
"I've waited my whole life to talk to you," turning her attention back to her, "I have a million questions, but right now only one keeps dancing in my head." Exhaling slowly, Davy knew that it was now or never, and she didn't know if she would have another chance. Pushing down the urge to throw up, Davy focused on her attention the woman next to her, "Why did you leave with just a note?"
Hanging her head, that was her deepest regret, she was so young and so terrified that the idea of standing up to her father was unthinkable. Blinking away a tear that threatened to fall, Harper forced herself to look into her eyes, she deserved to know the truth, even if it was a painful memory for her.
"My father, your grandfather, he was a cruel man." Taking a second to keep her emotions in check, it was imperative for her to at least explain her reasoning. "He was a tyrant, controlling everything from what we all wore, to how we spoke, even how much space there was supposed to be in between our hangers."
Shivering at the memories that were flooding her mind, Harper had to keep herself from picking at her arms. "His idea of discipline was a belt, but he specialized in psychological torment."
Davy could feel her heart breaking, leaning forward she placed her hand on hers, she knew that there was more to this story, so she gently squeezed her hand and waited.
Feeling Davina's hand on hers, it was enough to make her cry, at least she wasn't cruel, she had empathy. Lightly patting her hand, Harper gave her a small smile.
"Take your time." As much as she wanted to know, she knew enough about mental health to know that traumatic events did not work on a schedule.
After a few minutes of silence, she was ready to continue. "This went on until I was almost 18, but by then, I was so conditioned to believe that he had control over me that I didn't question him." Chewing her on her inner cheek, Harper forced herself to push through, "I graduated top of my class in high school, and all I asked for was a gap year." Smiling a bit, it was the only time her father allowed her to have any freedom.
"Surprisingly, he agreed, I had a standing position at University of Texas, so he didn't see the problem, and honestly, I'm sure he thought I would never defy him." Moving to stand, Harper went over to her cabinet and pulled out a couple bottles of water, handing one to Davina, she clutched the other. "In a way he wasn't wrong." Sipping her water, Harper didn't realize how dry her throat really was, "I picked Hawaii, I wanted to see the volcanoes, and it met his requirements of being in the U.S, so the day after graduation, I took my flight and for the first time in years I had hope that I was free."
"Meeting your father, well, he was tall, handsome, smart, and everything my father would have hated. I fell in love instantly." Smiling at the memory, "He had this long hair, laid back attitude, and he made his living winning surf competitions. Imagine my surprise when such a cool guy looked at me." Looking up, Harper could see her listening intently, her eyes were so expressive, she could see happiness, sadness, and everything in between.
While it still hurt knowing that she left, perhaps it was the right choice, because if her father would have been allowed to know her, she would not be the caring person that she obviously was. "I was so happy, I was feeling loved for the first time in my life, I was free to make my own choices, and I was going to tell my father to kiss my ass when he demanded I come home. I was done letting him control me, and with the help of your father and Jake, I felt like I really had a chance."
Reaching for a tissue, Harper blew her nose, "However, I underestimated who my father was. It didn't take long for your father and I to become pregnant with you, but I didn't care, we just moved to Kauaʻi, we had our little home, and I was about to build my own family." Wiping the tears that were sliding down her face, Harper could feel her heart breaking, "We lived in this perfect bubble, and I completely forgot that there was a monster on the outside, waiting to get in."
"I can remember it like it was yesterday, your grandfather called at 8am our time, he was annoyed that my little sabbatical was taking too long. He told me that I had 30 days to finish up what I was doing and come home." Clenching her fist, furious at herself because instead of standing up for herself, or asking Johnny for help, she did exactly what her father expected her to do, listen. Taking a deep breath, as painful as this memory was, she deserved to know the truth.
Shivering, "He didn't take my rebellion well, he told me that I wasn't back in Houston by the start of the new year, he would come to the island, kill your father and bring me home." Dabbing away her tears, Harper found Davina's eyes filling up with her own tears, handing her the tissue box, "I'm sorry, do you want me to stop?"
"No. I need to hear this." Wiping the tears off her face, "But if you need to stop, I understand, it's a lot."
Waving her hand, "No, you've waited 26 years to know this, and I've waited just as long to tell you." Gripping her hand, Harper needed every bit of strength to get through this. "Thank you." Exhaling slowly, she gathered herself and forced herself to continue, "My entire life, I saw how my father beat my mother, how he turned his ire towards me, how when I dared to misbehave, he would lock me in the cellar for days at a time until he felt I learned my lesson."
"I don't know if it was fear or the fact that I truly believed him, but in that moment my water broke, and I went into labor. Your father was off island, thankfully, because if he was there, I knew that if he was there with me, I'd never be able to leave." Gripping her hand a little tighter, "The nurse wanted to call your uncle, but I told her that I didn't want anyone in the delivery room that wasn't medical, I don't think she believed me, but she respected my wishes."
Feeling her lip starting to quiver, "I was terrified, but after 13 hours of labor, you finally came into this world and for the next 4 hours, I held you tightly against my chest. It was the best 4 hours of my life, I memorized your face, touched the little blonde curl on the top of your head and I stared into those beautiful golden eyes until the nurse came in telling me that your father was on his way." Hanging her head, "I knew if I saw him, I would never leave and as much as it pained me, I knew that if my father knew I had a child, he would either kill me or worse keep you and raise you himself and I would never let that monster near you. So, I placed you in the bassinet, wrote your father a letter and I left you."
"It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do, but at the time, I truly felt that it was the only option I had." Wrapping her arms around herself, Harper could hear her sniffling, "After I left, I headed straight to Houston, I spent the next few weeks recovering in a small motel a few miles from my parents' home." Hiccupping, "I hated myself for a very long time, I hated myself the moment I got on the plane, but I knew if my father every found out about you or Johnny, he'd ruin your life."
Using her sleeve, Harper wiped her face, no longer caring that her make-up was smeared, "He died about a year ago, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved by it," it was strange saying that out loud, but it felt good to be honest with someone, to the world she pretended to be a grieving daughter but inside, she felt almost joy knowing that he would never again be able to control her or her mother.
"I was torn Davina, torn with the thoughts of finding you, but perhaps it was fear of rejection, but I thought it best to leave you be, it had been 26 years." Hunching over, Harper finally let out all the tears, anger, and fear that she had lived with her entire life.
Wrapping her arms around her, Davy pulled her into a hug, "I'm so sorry that you had to live like that," wiping her eyes with her shirt, leaning back a bit, "have you gone to therapy for the abuse?" She wasn't an expert on mental health, but she knew enough to know that if someone wasn't able to process the trauma it could affect different aspects of their life.
Holding on a little longer, Harper could barely nod her head, "Yes, it was the day after his funeral, I found a specialist that worked with childhood traumas, I let that man control almost 47 years of my life, I refused to let him have anymore." Trevor cost her a whole lifetime with her daughter, missing almost 26 years of first, and because of him she absolutely refused to marry or have another child, desperate to keep him from ruining another child's life.
"That's great." Gently rubbing her shoulders, Davy could only feel for her, she wished that there was something more that she could say to make her feel better but what can you say to someone that was a child of abuse.
Wiping her eyes, Harper gave her a small smile, "Thank you." Clearing her throat, "Please tell me you had a happy childhood." Every heartbreaking moment of her life would have been worth it if she had a good life.
Davy wanted to be able to tell her every little thing, but she didn't know if she could truly trust her with her deepest secrets, perhaps one day, or maybe never but that would be something that she would learn in time.
"For the most part, yes. Dad was protective of me, perhaps a little too much, but nana and Uncle Jake were always so loving." Sitting up, Davy could see her watching with interest, "I became an audit manager, I'm Sr. of my department, I moved off the island about 8 months ago and now live in Amnesty Maine, actually just down the road from Uncle Jake."
Harper felt her heart swelling with joy, she had a good life, and it seemed that she was living a good one as an adult. "Are you happy? Do you have someone special in your life?" She knew it was a lot of personal questions, but she was worried that when she walked out that door there was a chance, she would never get them answered.
"Yes, I am happy. It took me a minute to get there, but I feel like my life is finally where I'd like it to be." Smiling at the thought of how her life finally came together, "And as for a special someone, his name is Arthur, he's the most amazing man I have ever met, and he makes me feel special in ways I never thought possible. He just accepts me, faults and all."
Harper covered her mouth, happiness filled her, reaching for her hands, "I'm so happy for you." Wiping her eyes for what felt like the millionth time, "Davina, I know that I have no right to ask this, but would you consider perhaps opening a dialogue between us? I would love to keep in touch, if it is something that you are comfortable with." It was within that moment she realized how much that statement meant to her but if she didn't want to have any contact with her, while heart wrenching, she would respect her wishes.
Davy could feel her smile getting big, "Yeah, I'd really like that." Grabbing a piece of paper, she wrote down her email, "I am leaving after your meeting with Mr. Wayne, but I think it would be nice to keep in contact and perhaps sometime in the future we could make time to meet up again?"
"I'd really like that." Clearing her throat, "OK, well, perhaps we've kept Mr. Wayne waiting long enough." Glancing over at the door that the man was waiting behind, "How on earth did you a Sr. auditor connect with him?" Realizing that even if she was the most sought out auditor in the world it would be very unlikely, they would cross paths.
Feeling her eyes go wide, Davy was a lot of things a good liar, very rarely. "I…" pausing for a moment, Davy was really at a loss on what to say but as she thought of something that was an acceptable answer the sound of his deep voice came into the room.
"Ms. Olsen is in a relationship with the Aquaman." Stepping deeper into the room, "After I found him, I met her, she was quite bright and she mentioned that she wanted to find her mother, figured introducing her was the least I could do for letting me meet a real-life super-hero."
The sound of her mouth opening and shutting was the only thing anyone in the room could hear for a good minute, but once she regained her composure Harper could only smile. "Aquaman? That's…" not sure on what she could say, her daughter was dating a hero, "that's kind of amazing." Not wanting to ask her too many personal questions about him, not that she wasn't curious, but she was certain that she wouldn't get the answer anyway.
"Did you get the answers you were looking for?"
Looking up from the book that she was reading, Davy could see that he was very curious about the outcome, for what reasons she wasn't sure, but everyone needed a hobby. "I think so." Placing down the book, "I mean she said my grandfather was an abusive man, and I want to trust that she wasn't lying, but I don't want to be too trusting to someone that I don't know either."
Rubbing his chin that was something that Bruce could understand deeply, some of the people in his life he thought he could trust turned out to be the one that he should have been looking at. It was a hard lesson that he learned early on when he took up the mantle of Batman. Pulling out his phone, he hit a few keys and a deeper dive on the parents came up, some medical records and a one interview with Child Services came up.
Frowning at the information, "I can't say for certain the level of abuse, but" handing her the phone, "It appears that there is truth to that."
Sucking her teeth, the pictures of who she assumed was her grandmother covered in bruises infuriated her, scrolling down a little more she could see that there was a total of 4 ER visits for the woman, and 3 for her mother. Covering her mouth, "I..." Davy was at a loss for words, "so, perhaps everything she said to me was the truth." Which caused her to have conflicting emotions, happy that she wasn't lied to, but heartbroken that was something that she had to deal with.
Handing him back the phone, she leaned back against the seat, "What would you do?"
Bruce couldn't help but laugh, "Me? I'm not exactly a people person, so, I'm probably not the best person to ask." Seeing her stare at him, Bruce couldn't help but snort, she was determined for information and that he could respect. "I would probably keep her at a distance, I can count on two fingers who I really trust in this world, but you're not me."
"No, you're definitely not me." Sighing, he was right, he was not the best person to talk to, Arthur would be the person. It seemed while they were vastly different, their lives seemed to have run parallel to each other. Both mother's left for the safety of their children.
He could see that she was in deep thought, "Have you told him what happened?" he asked her.
Without taking her eyes off the blackness of the sky, Davy shook her head, "No. I don't really want to have this discussion over the phone." Taking a deep breath, "I don't know how I can thank you for this opportunity." Glancing over at him, smirking when he looked slightly offended.
"No need, I've met a fantastic architect who had some brilliant ideas on an education center for Gotham, so I call it even." Seeing her eyes, Bruce could tell that she was wondering if he took the deal only because of her, "Don't worry Ms. Olsen, my deal with Ms. Johnson is because of her credentials."
Relief filled her, while she didn't want her company to lose business, she also didn't want to be responsible for him getting into business out of some obligation either.
"Good. I want nothing to do with what happens between the two of you." Settling in, Davy could feel her body starting to relax, after the long flight there, her emotional conversation with her mother and now the flight back, she was exhausted.
Pulling out her phone, she sent a quick text. Letting out a yawn, she let her body shut down, even if it was only for a couple hours, it would be better than running on fumes by the time they landed.
Bruce watched as she dozed off, smiling at the sight, he knew that today was a lot for her, it would have been for anyone. Looking her over, he could see the appeal she held for Arthur, she was a beautiful woman, and she had a kind heart. It wasn't an emotion that he felt on a regular basis, but he could say with honesty, he was a little jealous.
He wasn't one to let himself dwell on things of that nature, he turned his attention back to his research, reports coming through that the Falcone family were making a play towards City Hall. It was a job more so for Bruce Wayne, but he needed to make sure that Batman was ready to handle it if needed.
Fire Goddess: I have so much to talk to you about. I love you so much and thank you for understanding that this was something I needed to do. See you in a few hours.
Smiling down at the message, Arthur sat patiently at the private airfield, not caring that she wouldn't be landing for another 3 hours. Closing his eyes, he couldn't help but smile, while he was sure that it wasn't an easy conversation to have with the woman, he could tell that it was productive.
Now that she was able to heal some of her old wounds, he needed to have a real sit-down conversation with Jake, because the ring in his pocket was starting to burn a hole. Rolling his neck, that would be something that he would deal with in a few days because he knew that she would need to decompress with everything that she just went through.
Closing his eyes, he let himself dream of their future, so far, everything seemed to be on track.