“You really love them.” It wasn’t a question.
“More than I can describe. They really saved my life. They’ve had my back, and even when I didn’t totally understand what they meant to me, they knew what they wanted. It just took us some time to figure it all out.”
“Then I will do my best to support it, but I’m on your side. First and foremost,” he told me, and my heart did this little weird stretch. “Can I… I know we’re working on the friendship thing, but can I give you a hug?”
I didn’t hesitate. Maybe I should be more guarded. But I adored everything about Hank. If I’d dreamed up a dad, he would have been like him. The fierceness in his embrace made tears spark in my eyes.
“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for letting me get to know you and them. Thank you for letting me come to your graduation and including me in this day.”
I returned the hug with the same ferocity. “Thank you for wanting to know me. Thank you for standing up to Maddy for me.”
He leaned away and met my gaze. “Every day. That’s what a dad does. He’s got your back, and he doesn’t let anyone treat his little girl like crap. So we may still be on the friendship portion, but my goal is to get you to call me Dad and for you to know and trust that the relationship is there for you. Those boys all seem great and I love how they look after you, but one step out of line, and pop…they are going to deal with me.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “They’ll probably have to deal with Rachel too.”
“Oh, good. She’s a lot scarier than I am.” His expression softened into a goofy smile. “You’re an amazing kid, Frankie Curtis. And if you ever want my name, it’s all yours.”
That added to the waterworks, and I let out a shuddery breath. “I have your number, and you have mine. Call me when you’re home? Let me know you got there safely?”
“Deal. Your boys were talking about a trip…”
I pressed a finger to my lips, and he quieted. “It’s a surprise. Though I’m kind of on to them this time, but I’ll call and let you know we’re okay. Then once we’re settled in New York, we can make plans for that visit.”
“Anytime,” he said. “I mean that. The kids are going to want to meet you sooner rather than later, but we’ll take it one day at a time. Deal?”
I grinned and then gave him a hug that he returned with a sigh. “Deal.”
My eyes were still a little damp when he finally climbed into his car—almost an hour later. He kept finding one more thing to mention or share. It seemed so strange that my heart could be so full and aching so much at the same time. I missed him before he was even out of the parking lot.
Only after the red tail lights were gone and a mosquito had bit me did I finally head up to the apartment. The pizza had arrived while we’d been talking, and I grinned when I found Coop sprawled on the floor, while Ian and Archie vied against each other in some game.
“Hey,” he greeted me. “All good with Hank?”
“Yep. He’s got an early flight in the morning, so he’s going to a hotel at the airport so he’s close.” I would have preferred he stay, but it might be easier to say bye now than get up at three or four in the morning and do it.
“You good?” Ian asked as they paused the game, and I smiled.
“I’m great. I’m going to get changed and then come back and eat.”
Coop trailed me into the bedroom and tugged down the zipper for me, but he just fell back on the bed while I slipped out of the dress.
“You sure you’re good?”
Glancing over at him, I reached up to loosen my hair. Oh, my scalp ached as the hair fell free. Well, free was relative since it seemed semi-frozen into the shape of the pony tail. Raking my fingers through it, I loosened it up and wanted to groan at the same time. I forgot how much a tight hairstyle hurt after a few hours. My scalp, like my feet, had gone numb.
“I think I’m great, actually.” I laid the dress over the back of a chair. It would need to go to the cleaners. It was too nice for the washer and dryer. The shoes, I set in the closet, and if they didn’t look so pretty, I might burn them for being the torture devices they were. I unsnapped the bra and slid it off before shimmying out of my panties.
Coop groaned. “Are you torturing me on purpose?”
Laughter bubbled up as I discarded both items into the dirty clothes bin and padded over to the dresser. “No, I just need to change. I’ve been in all of that all day and I need to find a brush for my hair and maybe some Tylenol for the rest of me.” I pulled out his old boxers and dangled them at him before I stepped into them and snagged one of Archie’s shirts. The guys preferred me in their clothes at night. Or out of them. They weren’t that fussy.
“I’ll brush your hair,” he volunteered, and I smiled ’cause I wouldn’t say no to that. “But I wanted to make sure that after Maddy…”
I held up my hand, and he hushed.
“She was a speed bump in an otherwise perfect day. I’d rather talk about how cool it was that Hank stood up for me or that your mom is a badass or that Jake’s dad showed up.”
With a smile, he shoved off the bed and looped his arms around me.
