"I should really get home?—"
"Nonsense. You take cream, right?"
Riley blinked. "You remember that?"
"I remember a lot of things." Thomas fixed her coffee exactly how she liked it, then handed it to her in a travel mug. "For the road. Don't want you driving without caffeine."
"Thank you," Riley said quietly. "And I'm sorry if?—"
"Don't." Thomas held up a hand. "You're both adults. This is Grant's home too. You're welcome here anytime."
The kindness in his voice made Riley's eyes go shiny. "Thank you."
"That said—" Thomas turned to Grant with a slight smile. "Next time maybe text me so I know to start the coffee earlier. I'm getting old. Need my caffeine."
Grant felt his ears go red. "Dad?—"
"Just saying." Thomas raised his mug in a mock toast. "Have a good day, Riley."
Riley clutched her travel mug like a lifeline. "You too."
Grant walked her out to her car, the morning air cold enough to see their breath. Riley climbed in, then looked up at him through the window.
"Your dad is really cool about this," she said.
"I told you. We’re adults. He respects that. And… He likes you. Always has."
"Even after everything that happened?"
Grant's chest tightened. "We were kids. We made a choice." He leaned down, his arms braced on the car door. "And now we're getting a second chance. He's happy about that."
Riley's eyes searched his. "Is that what this is? A second chance?"
Yes. God, yes. This is everything.
"Whatever you want it to be," Grant said instead, giving her the space to define it herself.
Riley bit her lip. "I should go."
"Yeah."
"See you later?"
"Definitely."
Grant kissed her—soft and sweet and full of promise. When he pulled back, Riley looked dazed.
"Text me," she said.
"I will."
He watched her drive away, then headed back inside where his dad was making eggs.
"She's a good one," Thomas said without looking up.
"I know."
"Don't let her slip away again."
