She chuckles, leaning back on the counter to face me. “Look, Dad. It was always just the two of us, and I loved growing up that way. But our family is growing now.” She gestures to the diningroom. “You sacrificed your entire life for me, but I’m not a kid anymore. You’re done raising me. Regardless of my opinion, and I’m freaking stoked about this by the way, you deserve to have someone care for you the way you’ve always cared for all of us.”
I can’t seem to find the right words for her, but I find myself grateful for her permission. Of course, it wasn’t going to stop me from living my life, but at the same time, it feels like a breath of fresh air to hear her say she’s happy about Reese. It’s a comfort, knowing that my most important person wants me to add another important person into my life.
“And I think you should invite her to the wedding.”
I rear back. “Miller. No. I couldn’t do that. That’s your big day. It’s not about me.”
“It’s about you too. I would literally not be here if it wasn’t for you. It’s your day too, Dad. And you deserve, for once, to have someone there to celebrate with you. I’m going to have my person there. You should have your person there too.”
My person.
Maybe that’s exactly what Reese is. Maybe that’s the word I’ve been searching for.
I try it on for size, and the weight feels right.
“You’d really be okay with that?” I ask.
“I’d be more than okay with that. You’ve watched us all find our person over the years and have supported us along the way. It’s time we do that for you. And I like how happy she makes you.”
“I like how happy she makes me too.”
A knock sounds at my door, interrupting our conversation.
Groaning, I push off the counter. “Who else did you invite to this ambush?”
I open the door, expecting to find Cody or Travis. Maybe even the entire team.
But instead, Reese is the one standing in the hall. Two coffees in hand. A nervous smile on her lips.
“Hi,” she says uneasily as she looks up at me.
I’m stunned. I’m thrilled.
“What are you doing here?”
She swallows, so clearly anxious about putting herself out there in this way. “I missed you. I hope that’s okay?”
Oh, fuck me. I’m so done for.
I’m a bit speechless, seeing her here, so I’m hoping my excitement is overtaking the shock on my face.
“He missed you too, Reese!” Isaiah calls out from behind me.
Isaiah.Goofy little fucker that I, for some reason, call family.
Reese’s blues go wide at the realization that not only are we not alone, but members from the team are here. “Oh my God.”
I close my eyes for a moment, collecting myself. Then I quietly whisper, “I’m so sorry for this,” before I fully open the door.
Moving out of the way, I let her see who’s behind me at the table.
Cheshire-level grins on all of them, I swear.
“Oh.” Her eyes bounce over my family members. Three of whom she signs paychecks for. “I’m just here... I’m here to discuss work. This is a work-related visit.”
“Yeah?” Isaiah asks. “I heard you two have been discussing worka lotlately. Heard you’ve also been fu—”
Kennedy slams a hand over his mouth to stop him. “Reese, if I give one massive apology for my husband, will that cover a lifetime, or is this something I’ll need to do daily?”
