Wyatt's laugh was rough but genuine. "Text her back. Tell her we're excited too."
Me: Not weird at all. Your room at your dad's place is going to need decorating it still looks like it belongs to a little girl. I'm thinking we can make a girls' trip out of it, head to the city. What do you say?
Maddy: YES. Can we get those fairy lights? And maybe paint one wall a different colour?
Me: Whatever you want, kiddo.
Maddy: I love you, Tessa.
My throat tightened as I typed back.
Me: Love you too.
Wyatt watched me over the edge of his coffee mug, something soft in his expression. "You're good with her."
"She makes it easy," I said honestly. "She's a great kid."
"Yeah, she is." He set down his mug. "I just hate that Rena’s making her feel like she's not wanted."
"Maddy knows she's wanted here," I said firmly. "By both of us. That's what matters."
Wyatt's fingers tightened on mine. "I'm going to need to be at my place more, at least at first. Let her settle in without feeling like she's intruding on what we have here."
"That makes sense," I said, even though the thought of fewer nights with him made my chest ache. "She needs to know your place is her home."
"But I don't want you to feel like I'm pulling away," Wyatt continued. "Or like you're less important. You're not. You're—" He paused, searching for words. "You're it for me, Tessa. You know that, right?"
Heat crept up my neck. Even after a year, hearing him say things like that still did things to my chest. "I know. And I'm not going anywhere. Maddy needs her dad right now, and I support that completely. We'll adjust."
Wyatt stood, pulling me up with him, and wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face into his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of him—sweat and hay and the faint smell of hops from the brewery.
"What did I do to deserve you?" he murmured.
"You showed up when I needed you," I said simply. "Now I'm returning the favour. For both of you."
He pulled back just enough to kiss me, slow and sweet, and I let myself sink into it. A year ago, I'd been terrified that wanting him meant losing myself. Now I knew better. Wanting him, choosing him, loving him—and loving Maddy too—it had only made me find my true self.
When we finally broke apart, I glanced at the clock on the wall. "I need to get back to the clinic. Brooke's got a surgery scheduled at four, and she'll need help prepping."
Wyatt nodded. "I've got to head to the brewery anyway. Got a meeting with the distributor about expanding to more locations."
"Look at you, business tycoon," I teased.
"Hardly." But he was smiling. "Are you coming back here tonight?"
"Yeah. I'll pick up groceries on the way home. We're out of everything."
"I'll cook," Wyatt offered.
"You always cook."
"That's because you burn water."
I swatted his chest. "I'm getting better."
"You made toast this morning without setting off the smoke alarm. I'm veryproud."
"Ass."
