“Never,” he says fiercely. “Not for one second, Sunshine. Not ever.”
A crash from the kitchen makes us both turn. Jake—and it’s definitely Jake, with Dad’s build and that same crooked grin—appears in the doorway, trying to look casual while holding a basketball he clearly just dropped.
“Sorry,” he mutters, ears going red. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting,” Dad says, waving him over. “Laney, this is your brother, Jake. Jake, this is your sister Laney.”
Jake shifts his weight, suddenly awkward in that particularly teenage-boy way. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I manage, and then, because I don’t know what else to do, I hold out my arms.
He looks at Dad, who nods, and then I have an armful of fifteen-year-old boy who’s trying very hard not to cry and failing.
“I always wanted anicesister,” he mumbles into my shoulder.
Nadira must have heard him, because she gives his shoulder a punch that I’m not sure is playful. It’s only when they both laugh that I realize no blood will be spilled today.
“I always wanted siblings,” I tell them both. How am I not dehydrated yet?
When Nadira can’t contain herself anymore and joins the hug, pulling Ryder in too (“You’re family now, you have to hug”), I start laughing through the tears. This is ridiculous and wonderful and nothing like I imagined.
This is real.
“Okay,” Georgia says, her voice warm with amusement. “Before you all flood my living room with tears, why don’t we eat? I made pot roast, and if it gets cold, I’ll never forgive you.”
Dinner is chaotic in the best way. Nadira asks a thousand questions about pre-vet school, animals, the cabin, and what it was like growing up. Jake wants to know everything about Ryder—the fires, the Zone, what it’s like being an orc firefighter. Georgia keeps passing dishes and making sure everyone has more than enough, while Dad just watches me like he’s afraid I’ll vanish.
Ryder handles it all with patient grace, answering Jake’s questions about the fire department, bantering with Nadira about whether firefighters or veterinarians see weirdersituations. When Georgia asks how we met, his description of me “saving him from a snake” makes everyone laugh.
“I did not save you,” I protest.
“You absolutely saved me. I was terrified.”
“You’re the one who saved me. How could I have managed all those animals and a record-breaking snowstorm without a big, strong orc to help me?”
The easy banter, the laughter, the way Ryder’s hand finds mine under the table—it all feels surreal. Like I’ve stepped into someone else’s life. Someone who has a family that teases and laughs and passes third helpings of mashed potatoes without judgment.
After dinner, while Georgia and the kids are clearing dishes despite my offers to help (“You’re the guest of honor, sit”), Dad asks if he can speak with Ryder privately. They step out onto the back patio, and I’m left with a sudden spike of anxiety.
Nadira plops down next to me on the couch. “He’s going to give your boyfriend the dad talk.”
“I’m almost thirty.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re his daughter. He’s been waiting twenty years to give someone the dad talk.” She grins. “Don’t worry. Your orc looks like he can handle it.”
My first impulse is to argue, to say, “He’s not my orc,” but that’s a lie. Heismy orc now, after our soulbond. In fact, if I tune in, I can feel him out there with Dad (that word seems strange). Nadira’s right; my orc is handling it fine.
Nadira’s smile is knowing as she adds, “He looks at you like you hung the moon.”
After a nanosecond of thought, I have to agree. “Yeah, he does, doesn’t he?”
Through the patio door, I can see Dad and Ryder talking. Ryder’s posture is attentive, respectful. Dad’s face is serious but not angry. When Ryder says something that makes Dad’s eyes get misty, I nearly go out there.
Nadira puts a hand on my arm. “Let them have this. Dad needs it. Needs to feel like he gets to protect you, even if he’s twenty years late.”
“That’s not fair to him. None of this was his fault.”
“I know. He knows. But he still feels like he failed you,” she says wisely as she squeezes my hand. “Let him do this. Let him be your dad again.”
