Page 98 of Pretty Relentless

My life will never be the same.

Gavin

“Go ahead,” I encourage my daughter, knowing she’s both anxious and a little nervous.

Annabelle steps forward and smiles up at Ava. “My dad and I have been talking. I’m really excited to get to stay with you during the summer, and I know I’ll be a huge help with keeping Tabitha out of trouble.”

Ava smiles. “I love having you there, and she loves playing with you.”

From what I’ve been told, Tabitha wasn’t a super friendly cat, only wanting to be petted when she wanted it, but since Annabelle started going over to Ava’s with me, Tabitha has taken a liking to my daughter, always wanting to snuggle and play with this weird fish on a stick toy Annabelle insisted she get her.

“Well, Dad and I think it would be kinda cool if we were all together, under the same roof.”

I watch as shock registers on Ava’s face before she glances my way out of the corner of her eye. “You do?”

“Yep,” Annabelle replies. “And if you wanted to stay in your house, then maybe we can come stay with you all the time. But Dad and I also talked about getting a whole new house, one big enough for our craft room and a bedroom for me. And maybe a spare bedroom we can use for a little brother or sister someday. Dad and I didn’t talk about that, but I wanted to throw it out there because that would be really cool.”

Ava’s eyes fill with tears as she grins at my daughter. “I think that sounds amazing,” she replies with a sniffle.

“Which part?”

“All of it,” Ava states with a decisive nod.

“Really? You’ll let us move in with you or you’ll move in with us?” my daughter asks eagerly.

“I’d love to move in with you. Your home has a little more space than mine does, but I think a new house would be perfect.”

Annabelle jumps up and down with elation. “This is the best day ever!” She spins around and levels me with an emphatic look. “Can we start looking now? I mean tonight? When you get home from work?”

Chuckling, I step forward and ruffle her hair, even though she hates it. “We’ll figure it out, Belle. We don’t have to get it all planned tonight.”

“No, but we could get a big start. Like finding a house with four bedrooms and making sure Tabitha is excited about having me for a roommate.”

Ava and I both laugh, and even though my daughter did all the heavy lifting, I figure it’s time for me to add my two cents. As Ava sets the flowers down, I step toward her and pull her against my chest. Her arms wrap around my waist, her fingers threaded together at my back.

“Is this really okay? I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing something you’re not ready for,” I tell her.

She cups my cheek with her hand, and I instinctively turn into her touch and kiss her fingertips. “I’m very sure. I’m not attached to my house, other than it was my first one. But we’ll need more space for two crafters and the little brother or sister Annabelle wants.”

It’s my turn to blush. Even though that wasn’t part of the original plan and conversation Annabelle and I had, I’m not sorry she said it. “Negotiations are definitely on the table.”

“Good.” She goes up on her tiptoes and kisses me. “Yes, I’d love to move in with you and Annabelle.”

“Fifteen-year-old me is on cloud nine right now, you know that, right?”

She giggles and shakes her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m relentless, baby, especially when I see something I want. And in case you didn’t know, I want you.”

“You have me.”

My life is pretty damn close to perfect. I have a daughter who is my entire world, and the woman of my dreams. The one I used to pine over all those years ago in high school. I’m not joking. Freshman Gavin would flip his shit if he could see me now.

“Good,” I reply, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. Leaning in so little ears can’t hear, I add, “What do you say we go home and work on that little brother or sister.”

The look she gives me has my cock hard in record time. “Deal.”

Another Epilogue

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