My body sank into the couch with relief. Brianna was shocked, but she didn’t throw me out of her life. This was a lot for us to get used to, but she was still with me. Like she always was. I didn’t deserve her love or her loyalty, but was so fucking grateful I had it.
I headed into the kitchen before stopping dead in my tracks at the sound of muffled sobs drifting from the bedroom.
“Bri?” I tapped on the door as I inched it open. Brianna’s head jerked up from where it was laying in her hands. Her eyes were red and swollen and when her mouth fell open to speak, no words came out.
I raced to the bed and sat beside her, crushing her into my chest and rocking her back and forth.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I pleaded into her hair. “So fucking sorry.”
“It’s just . . .” She swallowed as she lifted her gaze to mine. “I’ve been afraid of this.”
I squinted at her, unsure of what she meant.
“Afraid of what, Bri?”
“For ten years, we wrote to each other but I had no real clue about what your life was like. All I knew was that it killed me I wasn’t a part of it. I missed so much,wemissed so much. I waited so long for it to be us, to have you to myself—as horrifically selfish as it sounds at the moment. And now . . .” She trailed off, wiping at her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You’re someone’s father.”
I shook my head and reached for her. “Bri—”
She held her hand up, pinning me with a look that showed it wasn’t up for discussion. “So, it’s something I have to get used to. And,Iwanted to have your first baby. I’ve been dreaming about that for most of my life. Christopher Josh.”
I laughed despite the stinging in my eyes. “You named him already?”
She sniffled out a giggle. “He’d have your weird green eyes, too.” Her smile faded as she pushed off the bed.
I stood and took a tentative step toward her.
“Look, Bri. If you don’t want me to move in, let this all kind of sink—”
Her body whipped around as she leveled me with a murderous glare. “Again? You’re going to make us waitagain?” She yelled before stalking toward me and jamming her finger into my chest. “You make me wait any longer or tell me it’s for my own good, I swear to God I’ll punch you right in the junk, Falco!”
I laughed and pulled her toward me, giving her a soft kiss as she relaxed in my arms. “I love you, Brianna Marie. With all that I am and all that I have.” I lifted my shirt and placed her hand on the cupcake tattoo over my heart. “Forever, Cupcake.”
My eyes roamed her body. “You’re . . . really naked under that robe?”
She gave me an exhausted nod. “I am. I wanted to surprise you.” She peeled my hands away. “Rain check, I guess?” She shrugged and turned away before I caught her wrist.
“Lay with me. I haven’t held you in weeks, and I really fucking need to right now.” I sat on the bed and held my hand out. “Please.”
Brianna’s lips curved into a tiny smile as she crawled into bed next to me. Her head burrowed into my neck while I cinched my arms around her.
“Josh,” her voice strained as she squirmed into my arms.
“What’s wrong?” I stiffened and picked up my head.
“You’re hurting me.” She rubbed her arm and laughed. “I live here; I won’t bolt from the bed.” Her fingers threaded into my hair. “It’s getting longer. Are you trying to get the curls back?” Her lips twitched.
“Curls are long gone, Cupcake.” I rested my chin on her shoulder. “But I thought I’d try it a little longer. Get away from the military buzz look.” I drifted my finger down her cheek and over her lips. “I’ve been a basket case trying to figure out how to tell you. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost . . .” I couldn’t find it in me to complete that sentence. Voicing my biggest fear made it all too real.
“We’re okay?” I raised a tentative brow.
She shut her eyes and nodded. “We will be.”
Brianna
“SARA IS . . . OKAYwith me being here today?” It was a cool day in April, yet I was sweating bullets. I didn’t know the right way to approach meeting my boyfriend’s secret daughter. She was only a little girl, but I was terrified of what would happen if she didn’t like me. I could tell by the way Josh spoke about her that he was already smitten, and being a good father was the most important thing to him right now—maybe even more than me. But that was how it should’ve been. This little girl was without a dad for her entire life, and after the way Josh grew up, he wanted to make damn sure that changed. He had a huge protective heart, even when we were kids. That was why I loved him so much. It didn’t surprise me that he stepped up without a second thought. Still, it took me a couple of weeks before I mustered up the courage to ask to meet her. Josh made it clear he wouldn’t push and I could come with him when I was ready.
Josh wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we entered Sara’s building. “I’m not sure she’s okay withmebeing here.” He chuckled as he pressed the intercom. “But I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and tightened his embrace around me. “And neither are you.”
