“What does this mean for the administration?”
“Are you concerned about the message this sends?”
“Sir, did the White House know in advance?”
Jase’s hand found mine, and Dylan came to stand behind me, his hands gripping my waist as I waited with bated breath to hear how my father would answer.
My dad paused, and the reporters fell silent.
“My daughter’s personal life is just that—personal,” he began, his voice even. “And ordinarily, I’d leave it at that.” Heglanced briefly toward the cameras. “But I don’t want my silence mistaken for discomfort or shame.
“Faye is happy,” he continued. “She is loved, supported, and surrounded by people who care deeply about her well-being. I’m proud of the woman she is and the life she’s building. A father’s hope is that one day his daughter finds the person who makes her happy. She found two men who do that.”
Whispers rippled through the press.
“And frankly,” he added, a familiar edge of conviction creeping in, “if we devoted even a fraction of this time, attention, and dialogue to the issues that threaten the health and future of this nation—economic inequality, access to healthcare, violence, and climate change—we could accomplish extraordinary things.
“I believe everyone deserves privacy,” my father went on. “But I also believe in being clear about where I stand. My hope is that every person finds a love that makes them feel seen, offers them safety, and gives them joy. Because finding that and holding onto it is one of the greatest things anyone can experience.”
He nodded, then turned and walked toward the helicopter again.
The broadcast went back to the studio.
For a few seconds, no one said anything. We just stared at the screen, which had moved on to the next story.
Eventually, Chase cleared his throat. “Well, your dad nailed it.”
Gage nodded. “Perfectly.”
I realized my eyes were burning.
Dylan pressed a kiss to my temple. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I just didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that.”
Jase squeezed my hand. “He said exactly what mattered.”
The guys finished preparing breakfast, and we enjoyed a delicious meal together. When the dishes were stacked in the sink and Chase and Gage had gone back to their room to get ready for the day, I took a breath. “There’s something I want to talk to you both about.”
Jase’s and Dylan’s attention immediately shifted to me.
“I interviewed with a nonprofit here in Portland yesterday before the game,” I began. “They help women escape abusive situations and provide housing, legal aid, and counseling. It’s exactly the kind of work I want to do.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “And?”
“The job’s mine if I want it.”
Jase stared at me. “You want to work here in Portland?”
I nodded. “Work and live here.”
The words had barely left my mouth when Dylan pulled me into his arms, laughing under his breath. Jase followed a second later, wrapping us all together.
“I thought I could look at apartments later today.”
Dylan pulled back slightly. “Is that what you want? Your own place?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t want to assume you’d want us all to live together.”
