Chris willalwayscatch me.
The foundation of our future begins to form beneath us, like concrete curing or stone growing up from the ground. He’ll never hide anything from me again. I know that.
Those visions of our life together that I’ve imagined return. I see us together, a family, chained together with unbreakable love.
And then I start sobbing.
“Shhh,” he whispers, threading his fingers through my hair. My tears wet his shirt. His strong heartbeat pounds against my cheek.
“I never should have doubted you,” I manage to choke out.
“No, I should have been honest with you from the beginning,” he replies. “It was Regina, wasn’t it? She’s the one who showed you those pictures?”
More tears stream down my cheeks. “Y–yes.”
“I’ll deal with her,” he says, soothing me with his voice. “But right now, we’ve got to talk to your father.”
His chest swells, and his hands slip under my arms, lifting me upright. I’m still shaking, but the strength in his eyes sweeps into me, binding us together like an invisible rope.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I do.”
Wiping my eyes, I step away from Chris and head for the living room. “Wait,youdo?”
“You’re not taking the blame for me,” I tell him. “He needs to hear this from me.”
My dad is pacing the room when I enter, his shoulders rising and falling like an angry bull. He stops and looks at me, then points over me at Chris as he comes in.
“Seriously, Gracie? What the hell are you thinking?”
“I love him, Dad.” I let the words sit a moment and watch as he processes. Then I look at Chris. “It wasn’t a mistake. I knew what I was doing. I’ve wanted Chris for a while now. He makes me feel special and safe. I can be myself around him.”
Chris’s lips twist into a smile, and I see how proud he is of me. All it takes is a tiny little nod to get me blazing inside again.
I can’t believe I doubted him.
“Youknowhe’s a good guy, Dad. Why are you so worried?”
Dad opens his mouth to protest but then grunts, and shaking his head, he slams a fist into his palm. But when he looks back at me, I see acceptance in his face.
“Heisa good guy. I guess I just never expected this.”
I take a cautious step forward. “So…you’re okay with it?”
He lets out another deep sigh, licking his lips. I’m buzzing all over. My skin is hot, and my cheeks are stained with tears. It’s going to take me a week to recover from all this drama.
My dad stares at me, giving me that same look he used to give when I was little and he would try to figure what was best for me—if he should give in to my pleading or put his foot down.
The moment stretches on, the muscles tight in his neck. I can see his pulse beating quick and heavy.
Finally, he glances past me and motions to Chris. “Come here,” he says, lifting his chin. “We’ll work this out right now.”
Without hesitating, Chris walks past me, gently moving me aside with his arm. He stands face to face with my dad, like two boxers squaring off for a fight.
“You say you love my daughter?”
Chris nods. “I swear it.”
“And you will protect her from anything and anyone?”
