“No, Dad, that’s not it,” she chuckled. “But Cutler and I have news.”
“Okay,” they both said at the same time.
“Shall I?” I asked, and Gracie nodded. Was I suddenly nervous? The Reynolds were like family to me, but this was a big deal. A big fucking deal, and I knew it. And I wanted them to know that I took it very seriously. I shifted in my seat, and the moment she threaded her fingers with mine and smiled, I completely relaxed. “Well, do you remember when I said that I was seeing someone when I saw you last?”
“Yes. I was horrified for trying to set you up with Britani.” Presley shook her head, as if she was still shocked by the way that had all played out.
“Well, I wanted you to know that I’m crazy in love with this girl right here. She’s been my best friend my whole life, and we realized it was more than just a friendship a few months ago, and then she had to go and move across the country.” I chuckled. “But when you love someone the way I love her—the way I loveyour daughter—then you fight like hell to make it work. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
They were both staring at the phone with their mouths hanging open, as if they’d been completely caught off-guard.
“You’re in love with Gracie? Our Gracie? Your Gracie?” Cage asked, his voice calm and even.
“Yes. I’m madly in love with our girl. And we didn’t want to tell you when you visited, because we weren’t sure what we would do when she left for New York.”
“Oh my gosh.” Presley burst into tears. “Oh my gosh. Cage. Did you hear that? They’re in love. Cutler and Gracie. This is the best news I’ve ever heard.”
“Baby, I’m sitting right next to you,” Cage said with a laugh.
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, but we weren’t sure how we’d make it work, or what we’d do when I moved here. But we’re going to figure it out, because I’m madly in love with this guy right here,” Gracie said as tears streamed down her face now too.
“Why the hell are my wife and daughter crying?” Cage asked, scratching the back of his neck.
“Because they love each other,” Presley said, and her voice cracked as the words left her mouth. “I always knew they belonged together.”
“And that made you cry?” he asked, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“They’re happy tears, Dad.” Gracie sniffed a few times, a sweet smile settling on her face.
“Have you told Nash and Emerson yet?” Gracie’s mom asked. “Because she and I are going to get on the phone immediately about this to celebrate.”
“We’re calling them next,” Gracie said.
“Man, I’m really happy about this. I’ve never liked anyone you’ve dated, if I’m being honest,” Cage said, a wide grin on his face. “But this is as good as it gets. We love you both.”
“Love you,” Gracie and I said at the same time before ending the call. We quickly dialed my parents before Presley beat us to the punch.
It was the same reaction with my mom and dad. My mother cried. My dad pumped his fist. They asked a dozen questions, and we answered each one the best we could, my arms wrapped tight around my girl.
“So you were together when we were in Blue Sky Bay?” my mother asked for the fourth time.
“We were, Mama,” I said. “But we didn’t want to add any pressure to our relationship, as we didn’t know how it would all play out once Gracie moved.”
“And you’ve got it figured out now?” my father asked.
“We do,” I said. “We’ll be long-distance for a while and give Gracie some time to see if this is where she wants to be. And if this is the city she needs to live in, then I’ll be closing down the business in Blue Sky Bay and moving here and building something new in New York.”
I didn’t know how my dad would respond to my plan, but I wasn’t going to lie about what I was willing to do to make this work.
His lips turned up in the corners. “Proud of you, son. You already know the secret to life.”
“What’s that, baby?” my mother asked, smiling at my father like he hung the moon.
“That you should always put the people you love in your life first. There’s nothing more important than family, and he’s always understood it. But his romantic life had me a little worried for a while,” my father said, and his gaze locked with mine. “I wanted you to experience that life-changing kind of love, the kind that I have with your mother. Because not everyone finds it. And looking at you two right now, I know that you have it. And as a father, there’s nothing that I want more foryou. You can build a business anywhere, Cutler. You can make money anywhere. But you can’t find your person anywhere. So you fight like hell for that when you find it.”
And now my mom and Gracie were both crying.
I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her a little tighter. “We know how lucky we are, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make it work.”
