Page 66 of Kiss Me Forever

If Reece ever asked about it, I would tell him. Keeping secrets like that would help no one, but it wasn’t that I kept it for reasons that would break me. No, it’s because I kept a part of who I had been. Not who I was now.

My phone buzzed, my timer going off to tell me that I needed to head out soon.

“Goodbye, Duke. I loved you.”

I didn’t cry when I said the words out loud. And I felt like that was a bigger step than before.

With a calming sigh, I quickly finished getting ready and headed to Reece and Bella’s.

Bella opened the door before I could even ring the bell and she bounced on her heels.

“You’re here. I’m glad. I really want to learn how to do that mermaid braid.”

I smiled big and reached out, tugging on the braid she had done over her shoulder.

“You did great with this.”

“This is just three pieces. Anyone can do that.”

“Not anyone,” Reece said, his voice slightly growly. He leaned over Bella and kissed my temple. “Thanks for coming. I’m a failure when it comes to these things.”

“You’re not.”

“He kind of is,” Bella teased, and then skipped out of the way as Reece threatened to tickle her.

The two just looked so freaking adorable together. They were making such big strides in their relationship, and I was honored to be a witness—and perhaps a small part—of it.

“Are you ready for dinner tonight?” I asked, and Reece just gave me a look, as we headed into the living room where Bella had all of her hair things out.

“It’s going to suck,” Bella said.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to say suck,” Reece added.

“Aren’t you the parental unit? You should be the one who knows these things.”

“I’m new at this parent stuff,” he said with a laugh.

They were laughing at this. I loved the fact that they were so cute together.

“I’m just saying, you should know these things.”

“Fine. I know you shouldn’t be saying suck, especially because these are your grandparents.”

“You don’t even know them.”

“That’s what this dinner’s about,” he said with a shrug. “I’m going to get to know them.”

“I don’t know if they want to get to know you. This is probably just to see how you are with me. They don’t even want me, but they like to control things.”

I paused in the act of braiding her hair, my throat tight as I looked at Reece.

He looked ready to curse or perhaps punch something, but instead he let out a deep breath, and squeezed Bella’s shoulder.

“I don’t know if that’s all true. But either way, you’ve got me kid.”

“You’ve got me too,” I blurted, not knowing if it was the right thing to say, but I didn’t want Bella to feel alone. Especially not tonight.

“Will you come?” Bella asked as she looked at me, her teeth gently biting down on her lip. “You don’t have to, but maybe it would be better if you did? That way, Dad’s not alone. And well, I’m not alone?”