I bite down on my bottom lip, trying not to get my hopes up. “I really do.”
“Come on, honey. Are you really going to deny our daughter the man she’s in love with? My dad didn’t like you when he first met you.”
“Really?” I ask. “I never knew that.”
“He thought he was trying too hard and came off as cocky,” Mom whispers.
“We can all hear you, Gail,” Dad says, shaking his head, before turning back to Sam.
“Are you going to take care of her? She’s a package deal. You can’t take her and leave Max behind. It’s not easy raising a kid.”
Max giggles and we all turn to face him. He’s not paying any of us any attention. Thank God.
Sam rubs a hand down my back. “Yeah, taking care of the two of them will be pretty damn easy.”
“And you’re not going to run when it gets hard?” Dad takes a step closer. “Because I don’t want you breaking my daughter's heart. Because if you do, no one will find where I bury you.”
“Really, Dad? Threats?”
They ignore me.
“Yeah, I'll even load the shotgun for you if I break Joey’s heart because I don’t plan on doing it,” Sam says.
The two of them stare at each other, as both my mom’s eyes and mine dart back and forth between the two of them.
Please don’t punch each other. Please don’t punch each other.
Instead, Dad sticks his hand out.
“It’s still going to take some getting used to, but I guess if Joey loves you, I can get on board.”
“Are you serious?” I cover my mouth with my hands.
Dad looks at me and nods. “Yes. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did, but you’re my little girl, and I only want what’s best for you.”
“I’m sorry we hid it,” I say, hugging my dad.
“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. You always used to sneak out of the house in high school to meet guys.”
“At least there’ll be no more sneaking out of the house anymore.” I laugh.
“Just wait until Max is doing it,” Mom says.
“Is everything okay in here?”
Turning to the door, Chase and Rylee are hovering in the entryway.
“Yeah, everything is good,” I say.
“Thank fuck.” Chase blows out a breath. “I thought I was going to have to break up a fight.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Would’ve been hard since you weren’t in here.”
“Listen, why don’t we let the two of you be and we’ll wait outside for when Max is discharged, okay?” Mom says, looking around at all of us.
“Thanks, Mom.”
I give all of them a hug as they leave the room. Taking the juice box Chase gave me, I stab the straw in it and take it over to Max.
