Page 26 of Kiss Me Forever

I cleared my throat, knowing my face was bright red.

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. It’s our Father’s Day gift to you.”

I had blurted the words, and he stared at me, eyes widening. Then that small smile crept over his face, and I tried not to look like I was ready to pass out at the sight of it. I was losing my damn mind.

“Thank you. I don’t know what I’m doing most days, but I appreciate it.”

“It’s been over a week now. Do you guys have a routine?”

“Maybe? She doesn’t scowl at me every time we’re in the same room together, so I’m counting that as a win.”

“She’s been through so much, and I know you both feel out of your depth, so if you need anything, you just let me know. Okay?”

“You’ve done a lot already.”

I shrugged, lowering my gaze.

“I don’t mind. Bella’s a sweet girl, and it feels like she always wants to learn things.”

“You helped her that first day on the job, making sure she wasn’t alone. And yes, I could have taken the day off, and I probably should have, but she was doing so well with you, and frankly, I think we both needed something to do out of the house.”

“I get it. And don’t worry. All of us are here if you need it. How’s it going with your family? Are they excited?”

“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat. “I think my parents are over the moon that they can finally call themselves grandparents.”

“Mine are waiting to be grandparents as well, but they’re out of luck.”

“Your brothers haven’t decided to go out there and have all the kids?”

I laughed. “Oh no. Not yet. James though, maybe. He and his wife have been talking about it, but I don’t know if Nate ever wants to settle down,” I said dryly. My brothers were twins, and each had gone through different versions of hell on their own. James had been married for over six years. He’d married his high school girlfriend, Sarah right out of college. James and Sarah worked for the school for the deaf, as James had been born deaf. My entire family knew sign language and did our best not to get rusty. I didn’t know when James and Sarah would be ready to have kids, but my parents would be ecstatic.

“I’ve met James. He’s nice. So is his wife.”

An awkwardness settled in, and I realized that the two of us didn’t spend much time alone. Nor did we talk about our families. But perhaps Bella had changed all of that. Or I was reading too much into this uncomfortable conversation over bread.

“Did you ever think you’d want kids of your own?” Reece asked.

He froze as soon as he said the words, and I had a feeling he was just as surprised they’d left his mouth as I was. I swallowed hard, trying to come up with an answer.

Because the thing was, I wanted kids. I grew up in a decently large family, and if you added all of my extended family, we were loud and boisterous. Some of my cousins had five or more siblings. I had two older brothers that I loved with every ounce of my soul. We didn’t share the same father, but you wouldn’t know that with the way the Montgomerys had pulled all of us in.

“You don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry.” He cursed under his breath. “I keep fucking up when it comes to you.”

I looked at him then, amazed he had even said the words. Who was this man? This wasn’t the Reece that I knew. Or maybe it was the Reece that I had always pushed away.

“Maybe one day. Duke and I had thought about it. Had talked about it even. But finding time was a little difficult at first. We were going to wait. Then he didn’t.” I shrugged before Reece could say anything. And then my world changed yet again. “One day I’m sure James will be the practical son that he is.”

“Honestly, I thought one of my brothers would have kids first.”

“They were never on your radar then?”

He shook his head, and an odd sadness filled me. “Not that I didn’t want them. She didn’t want kids, and I was fine with how we were. Until she wasn’t fine and we divorced.”

It was like a kick to the gut. I had forgotten he’d been married once. But then again, he was forty-one. He had lived a whole life so far, and had so much more to give. And he would do that for Bella. “You’re going to be a great dad. You’re a great dad already.”

He snorted. “I’m not. Seriously. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“My dad had no idea what he was doing when he came into my brothers’ lives. Well, I guess he was always there.” I smiled at the memory. “Actually, my dad was there when the boys were born.”