Page 54 of Make You Stay

Turning, I pull Natalie into a hug, snickering at her purple face mask. “It’s a good look, Nat. You should consider this for everyday wear.”

“Start a new trend,” she giggles.

“I brought you two Mexican food, and,” I reach into my pocket, pulling out the necklace, “I got you this. I know it’s just from your old man, but I thought it might make you smile.”

Natalie opens the box, a grin splitting her face. “It’s a ruby. Thank you, Dad.” She buries her head in my chest, and I glance at Chloe, who is all smiles, sending me a thumbs up.

Natalie shows Chloe the necklace, and Chloe wastes no time helping her put it on. “That is absolutely stunning. The way it sets off the dark purple of the mask—”

My eldest daughter pulls Chloe into a hug, and I see how Chloe’s touch warms her soul. The woman is a gift for us all.

“Go clean up, and I’m going to fix us some enormous plates of food before our movie marathon.” Chloe inhales deeply, releasing a sigh. “It smells amazing. Thank you for dinner, Aidan, but more importantly, thank you for being the good guy she needs right now.”

How does she always know the right thing to say? Every sentiment shoots straight into my heart, lodging there as a permanent reminder of the woman who haunts my dreams.

“Wait. I got you something, too.”

“Extra habanero salsa?” Chloe asks with a grin.

“That’s in the bag, but I saw this and couldn’t resist.” I pull out the box, my heart clenching as her eyes widen in surprise.

“For me? But why?” Chloe still hasn’t touched the box, but her expression breaks my heart. I was right. She probably hasn’t gotten a gift since she lost her father at eighteen.

“Sometimes, the best reason is no reason at all.”

Natalie’s eyes brighten as she returns to the room. “Open it, Chloe.”

With trembling fingers, Chloe opens the box, her hand flying to her mouth as she looks at the choker.

“If it’s not something you like, I can exchange it.”

But when she looks up, her eyes are filled with tears. “It’s gorgeous, Aidan. I don’t deserve this.”

“You deserve way the hell more than a gold necklace.”

Chloe throws her arms around me, and this time, I get a thumbs up of approval from Natalie. Seems my entire family is hell-bent on the two of us getting together, and I see now they were right all along.

Chloe makes me happy. Making her happy makes me happy.

I never planned on her, but now that she’s here, I know one thing. I never want to let her go.

* * *

Monday mornings are alwaysa chaotic mess, but at least Natalie is smiling again. Her girl’s night with Chloe worked wonders on her psyche, and she now realizes that even though many menarejerks doesn’t meanallof us fit that mold.

The concept that Chloe used me as the type of man to strive for blows my mind.

Actually, Chloe blows my mind—in all the right ways.

Once the girls leave for school, I head next door, eager to see the woman who gives me something to look forward to each day.

“Morning,” I call out, smiling when Chloe pokes her head out of the kitchen. As per usual, she’s got her glasses on and a bun on top of her head. She may be the antithesis of fashionable, but she’s everything adorable in this world.

“Good morning. Did you eat?”

“No time this morning. Mia didn’t want to get out of bed.”

“Can you blame her? It’s positively frigid. It took me twenty minutes to coax myself out of bed.”

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