Without You | BOOK 2 TO ARRANGED

Trip

When I arrive home, I walk in and the kids rush to my legs, tugging on my pants and wrapping their arms around my legs.

"Hey kids." I say, rubbing their heads.

"Hi, Daddy." Harley says.

"Where's Uncle Z?" I ask them as I walk to the kitchen.

"Right here." I hear him say.

He sits at the island as I fix the kids lunch.

"Daddy has something he wants to tell you guys. Are you listening?" I ask, serving them one at a time.

They nod their heads as they eat and I lower myself onto the counter, my arms holding me up as I look at them.

"Daddy and your uncles have to go on a trip. It's not very far, but I'll be gone for a bit, okay?"

"How long are you leaving for?" Aleah asks, pouting.

"Leah, hey, it'll be alright. Daddy's gonna be fine, okay? You're too little to worry about me. It's my job to worry about you, Bee." I say.

"I don't want you to get hurt like Mommy." she says, crying and talking into my shirt as I embrace her, her words muffled.

Then the twins start to cry.

"Shit.." I whisper under my breath, bringing them into the hug. "Stop crying, okay? I know you miss your mother, I do too. Every day. I'll make it back home to you guys. I promise, you hear me?"

They continue to cry and Zeno looks at them with a saddened expression.

----

After a few hours, the kids are asleep and I'm just now finished packing my bags. I sit them at the door and I walk upstairs to their rooms to leave kisses on their heads.

I walk downstairs and Amber stands at the door waiting to hug me and Zeno goodbye. She opens her arms wide and wraps me in a hug, whispering in my ear.

"Don't get hurt." she says, hugging me tighter.

"Of course not. Take care of the kids. FaceTime me every night." I say, hugging her back.

She laughs. "Of course."

We let go of each other and I look at Zeno with a raised eyebrow, and he nods his head.

"Alright, let's go." I say.

We pick up our bags and head out to the car, the trunk opening when I wave my foot underneath the bumper. I put my bags in the trunk and I get in the car as Zeno puts the rest of his bags in and I start the car as the trunk closes.

"We're meeting her at the airport." Zeno says.

I put the car in reverse and I back out before putting it back in drive. I dial Mark's number and he almost immediately picks up.

"You packed up?" I ask.

"Yeah. Ready when you are." he replies.

"I'm on the way to you right now."

"I'll be here."

I hang up the phone, focusing my attention back on the road ahead.

"You good, man?" Zeno asks suddenly.

It's only then that I notice I have my thinking face on.