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“Thanks, peanut.”

She hopped off the bed and headed for the door, then turned back. “Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m happy Miss Jo is coming to dinner. I think we’re gonna be a good family.”

She skipped out before I could respond.

A good family.

Yeah. I thought so too.

Chapter 9

Jo

* * *

I changed my outfit four times.

The black dress was too formal. The jeans and sweater were too casual. The blue wrap dress made me too self-conscious about my curves, but it went well with my hair.

I finally settled on a rust-colored dress that skimmed my figure without clinging, paired with ankle boots and a cream cardigan. Simple. Comfortable. Me.

Cameron had texted me seventeen times in the last hour.

You’re going to be great

His mom is going to love you

Remy already loves you

Stop overthinking

I smiled and texted back.

I’m fine. Just getting ready.

You look beautiful. Now go get your man.

It’s just dinner.

Liar.

She wasn’t wrong.

This wasn’t just dinner. This was meeting Lane’s family officially. This was stepping into something that felt terrifying and exhilarating and absolutely right.

I grabbed the bottle of wine I’d bought and the bouquet of fall flowers. Then I stood in my living room, looking at myself in the mirror.

You can do this.

Lane had offered to pick me up, but I’d insisted on driving myself. I needed the option to leave if things got too overwhelming. My car was my escape route.

The drive to Lane’s house took fifteen minutes. He lived just outside town in a small ranch-style home with a wide porch and a yard big enough for Remy to play in. There was a tire swing hanging from a massive oak tree in the front yard. The windows glowed with golden light.

It looked like a home. A real home, full of love and life.