“Us. Not someone else. Ignore Declan. He’s being stupid. There is no one else.”
I was ready to punch the stupid fucker I married until she giggled. Hayden expanded with cocky confidence and pride, and I rolled my eyes at him. Ten feet tall didn’t begin to cover it.
“As I was saying, if you want to hand adulting over to someone,we,”I said with emphasis, staring right at Hayden before turning back to Marcie, “want to be that someone. So, even if it’s just cuddles and ice cream and a movie, that’s okay. If some days it’s less or more than that, well, that’s okay too.”
“Nicely said.”
I turned to stare at him again. “Maybe next time you let me finish my sentence before you interrupt.”
“Humph.”
Our darling girl giggled again, and I’d eat my fucking boot if she wasn’t at least a middle when she settled into a relationship that supported her the way she deserved.
“So, Daddy and I picked out the right thing? There was this really big…”
“Oh, no. This one is perfect. It’s small enough that I can keep him with me all the time.”
“Good. Do you need to get back, or do you wanna talk some more?”
“Don’t you guys need to go?”
“Nope. Not unless you do. We can grab our plates and sit down out here on the patio.”
“Can I ask something first?”
“Absolutely,” Hayden said, so I nodded, thinking we needed my laptop or tablet.
“Are y’all wearing the same thing you did last night? I’m not sure about Hayden, because all he wears are plain black t-shirts, but I think that is the same color shirt you had on yesterday, Declan.”
A door opened, and Heidi stuck her head between us and said, “Yep. They’re gross boys who slept on the couch in their clothes.” I shook my head at her while Marcie giggled.
“I brought your tablet, but I refuse to be your waitress. Go get your breakfast before the others eat it all.”
“I’ll get it, vato. You transfer the call.”
The three of us spent the rest of the morning on Liam and Elizabeth’s patio, video-chatting and getting to know each other. I loved every moment.
Every day should start just like this.
Well, maybe not like this, since our girl was a four-hour flight away. But sitting together over a long breakfast, sipping our coffee, Hayden’s hand on the back of my neck and Marcie’s giggles at Hayden’s bad jokes—yeah, I could see spending the rest of my life with the two of them, starting every morning just like this.
“Ms. Callan?”
Marcie’s chin trembled on the video feed. Hayden’s grip on my neck tightened, and I held my breath. She stared at us for a moment then sucked in a deep breath and turned to look off camera. I glanced at Hayden.
“Yes?”
That tremor I noticed before appeared in her voice, but she cleared her throat and tried again.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Your father seems to be coming around.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, and I sighed, feeling like a weight had dropped from my shoulders. She turned back to us, her hand still over her mouth, tears coursing down her face, the ones yet to make the journey glistened in her eyes.
“Go see your daddy, sweetness.”
She nodded, but otherwise didn’t move an inch.
