“You’re going to make me cry,” I whisper, wrinkling my nose as my vision starts to blur.
“Do a favor for this old man?”
“You’re not old.”
He stares at me. “I am, kiddo, and I’m not getting any younger.”
“Okay.”
“Live a life you’re proud of. Be happy. Never settle for anything less.”
“I am happy.”
He kisses my cheek tenderly. “Your mom and I only want the best for you.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too.”
My gaze lands on my sister. She’s sitting at a table with our younger cousins. “Do you think Zoey’s going to be able to find love?”
“She will. It may be a while, but someone will come along and sweep her off her feet.”
“She’s not going to make it easy.”
“There’s a man out there strong enough for her.”
“I hope so,” I say as I lean forward, placing my head on his shoulder. “She deserves the love and happiness I found.”
“Everyone does,” he replies, holding me tighter. “I didn’t think I’d find it, but your mom showed up out of nowhere, and I knew my life would never be the same.”
“You loved me first, didn’t you?”
“You stole my heart, kiddo. You were instantly my best friend.”
I smile against his shoulder, remembering all the photos of us when I was little. “Still am.”
“Your mom might argue with you about that.”
I chuckle. “We don’t have to tell her.”
I don’t know what I did to get so lucky. The day my mom walked into the Hook & Hustle, everything changed for us. At the time, my mom thought our world was ending, but the best part of her life was about to begin.
Our lives would’ve been so very different if my grandfather hadn’t disowned her. I wouldn’t have theGallos, my father, and Zoey would’ve never been born.
I can’t imagine that world. My life has been so full because of my family, and no one has been as lucky as I am to be surrounded by so many people who love me.
EPILOGUE
LULU
Oliver looks shell-shocked.
“You okay?” I ask, grabbing his hand.
“We have a kid,” he whispers, staring down at our baby in my arms.
“We do.”
