Page 234 of A Song for You

Jay’s eyes light up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, let’s tell her we’re doing this. Let’s show her exactly what that means.”

Fifty-Five

Jay

My Girl by The Temptations

Chloe steps into the living room, her brown hair curled into ringlets and a bright smile lighting up her face. The navy dress I had custom designed by Sienna Langfield is simple and elegant. The only adornments are the ruffled hem at the knee and a bow on one side of the neck.

“Stunning.” I hold out the corsage I brought for her with a smile. I’m not sure if these are still a thing, but fuck if I wasn’t getting my little girl flowers. Cat appears behind her, wearing black drawstring sweats and a sweater that falls off one shoulder, exposing one of my favorite spots.

“This dress is gorgeous,” Cat says, twirling Chloe to face her.

My daughter peers back at me, her eyes darting to the flowers. “I still can’t believe Sienna designed this. The girls are going to flip!”

Smirking, I kiss her on the cheek first and slide the corsage onto her wrist. When she grabs her phone so she can text “the girls,” I finally give Cat the attention she deserves.

“How is it possible that you look more beautiful in sweats than most women look on the runway?”

She gives me a coy smile and loops her arms around my neck. Instead of responding, she pops up onto her toes and kisses me. It’s a quick one since Chloe is nearby, but she’s getting more comfortable with affection around her. Every time she catches us, there’s a glint in her eye. She doesn’t fully trust it yet, which I understand, but along with her concern, there’s a glimmer of hope. And tonight, I plan to let her in on a little secret that I hope will help her trust my intentions. I want her to see that Cat and I aren’t just trying things out. She needs to understand that we’re building a life together and she’s at the center of it.

Holding Cat in my arms, I spin so we’re facing our daughter. “Hey, Chlo, what’s the best dance to pair with chips?”

Cat groans beside me, but Chloe’s eyes light up. She’s loving my jokes. Not going to lie, I’m kind of awesome at the dad thing.

“Salsa,” I say as I spin Cat out. I curl my wrist and pop my hip, doing my best salsa impression. “Olé!”

Chloe giggles, and despite her best efforts, Cat beams.

Yeah, I’m awesome.

“Del hasn’t stopped talking about Chloe’s Sienna Langfield dress,” Dexter says, arching an accusatory brow in my direction.

I chuckle and hold up my hands. “Sorry, man. I have over a decade to make up for.”

He slaps my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “It’s good to see them both so happy.”

“What was it like—” I cut myself off and shake my head. I’m not sure why I’m going there.

Dexter scans the crowd until he spots our daughters dancing in the middle of the gym. We’ve been relegated to the outskirts of the space with the rest of the dads. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Watching Cat struggle when she found out she was pregnant and you just up and vanished…it was brutal,” he says gruffly.

I blink back the emotion that pricks at the backs of my eyes at the memory of Cat’s voice mails. All thirty-two of them.

He clears his throat. “I’m not sure what happened back then, and it’s none of my business, but I can see that you’re trying. Hard. And in the end, that’s all that matters.”

I close my eyes. “I’ll never stop trying.”

“Good.”

Giggles draw our attention to the girls bouncing in front of us. “Dad,” Del says, “will you dance with me?”

Dexter brings his hand to his heart and smiles. It’s obvious he’s a great dad. “Never thought you’d ask,” he says, holding out his hand to his daughter. They weave their way to the dance floor, where dozens of daddy-daughter duos awkwardly shuffle in circles.

Holding out my hand, I look at my daughter. “What do you say, kiddo? Shall we show them how it’s done?”

Chloe’s eyes light up and she giggles. When she takes my hand, I spin her into my chest, garnering a delighted laugh that makes my chest feel tight. I may have missed the first twelve years of her life, but from here on out, she’ll never wonder how I feel. Through actions, words, and time, I’ll give her everything she deserves.