And I miss her.
I miss her so badly I can feel the ache down to my bones. I’ve gone so many years without her, and suddenly, two days apart feels more like a lifetime. I didn’t know that, at my age, you could miss someone like this. I thought this was a phase you grew out of. But apparently, with the right person, you don’t.
I don’t know how to define it. It feels juvenile to call Reese my girlfriend. We haven’t put a label on us, but that particular one also doesn’t seem to fully encompass the way I feel about having her in my life.
She seems bigger than that.Weseem bigger than that.
My days are better, simply because she’s included in them. My nights are better too, that’s for damn sure. But having someone forme, I don’t know how to explain it. After so many years of being alone in that regard, I just feel... really grateful to have met her.
She’ll be home today, and I’ll get to see her at the field before our game. Which has me eager to get there already.
“You’re not denying it, I see,” my daughter says, bringing me back to the conversation.
“I’m not here to confirm or deny anything.” I pop a kiss on Max’s dark hair before getting him to his feet. I stand as well, gathering the dirty dishes from the table. “I need to get ready to head to the field and so do all of you.”
Isaiah groans. “You’re killing me, Monty.”
As I load the dishwasher, Miller joins me in the kitchen.
“So, now that everyone who works for her is in the dining room, let’s hear it. Are you two together or what?”
“You were way too obvious with this family breakfast, by the way.”
“Dad. Please just tell me. You seem happy.”
I pause on the dishes, setting them in the sink and leaning back on the counter to face her. “I am happy.”
“Good. You deserve to be happy. But as your favorite daughter, you’ve got to tell me. Is this happiness thanks to a certain curvy blonde that used to drive you insane?”
I chuckle, because again, I’m just so damn happy apparently. “I’ve always been happy, Miller.” I toss my head from side toside. “But yeah. You could assume that, lately, that’s been a contributing factor.”
A smile slowly creeps up on her.
We’re on the edge of a conversation that is completely foreign to the two of us. We’ve never broached the topic of me seeing someone who isn’t Miller’s mom. I haven’t dated anyone since Claire passed, so it hasn’t been needed until now.
I can assume how Miller will feel about Reese and me, but I don’t know for certain.
I decide to test the waters and find out. “This isn’t something we’ve ever talked about before.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever needed to, right? As far as I’m aware, you haven’t dated anyone in an awfully long time.”
“I haven’t.”
There’s a beat of silence between us.
“So, she’s got to be pretty special then.”
“She is.”
Miller watches me observantly. “You deserve all the good, Dad. If you’re hesitant to talk about it because of my mom, don’t be. I know you loved her. Look what you did for her. Look what you did forme. But you’re allowed to move on.”
I didn’t expect to have this kind of conversation this early in the day. And I sure as hell didn’t prepare myself for it.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into me for a quick hug. “Thanks for saying that, Millie. It’s not that I’m hesitant for you to know. I just wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. Me meeting someone new. Me and Reese.”
She pulls back to look at me. “You and Reese, huh?”
“Yeah.” I try to bite back my grin and fail miserably. “Me and Reese.”
