Page 92 of Love and Other Chances

“I know what you’re going to say, Logan,” I answer.

“Well, I sure hope you know that you need to call and apologize to Dad,” his voice huffs. “You try to tell me that you’ve matured enough to be in a different kind of relationship with Brooks, and then you have the most immature reaction possible to Dad.”

“I said I know, Logan! Lay off!” Now I huff. “Honestly, I’ve been bottling up a lot of emotions recently, and it all exploded on Dad. I swear I was just picking up my phone to call him back. Brooks helped me work through everything, and now I’m going to make amends.”

“Murph is there?” Logan asks.

“Yes. He talked me down off the ledge of insanity. That’s why I was about to call Dad back,” I tell him.

Logan grunts some manner of approval.

“By the way—you don’t seem very shocked by this news. How long have you known?” I ask.

“Dad told me several weeks ago. Although I already had my suspicions even before he said anything. I’m driving to KC from St. Louis next weekend to meet her. It’s supposed to be all of us together. Had you not jaunted off to D.C., Dad would have talked with you about this a couple of weeks ago too,” Logan says.

I sigh. “He did say that. But how was I supposed to know he had life-altering news to share with me? He didn’t give any kind of hint! How the heck did you suspect already?!”

The eye roll is practically audible in Logan’s voice. “Why do you think he changed Thanksgiving dinner to lunch, Teegan? Because hewas having dinner with Sonya’s family. And he was so distracted at Christmas—it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together.”

It does make sense now that he’s spelled it out for me, but I never would have faced the possibility long enough to piece the clues together on my own.

“I’m hanging up now so you can call Dad. Tell Murph I said thanks for bringing you to your senses,” Logan says. “And hey—I love you, sis.”

“Love you too,” I murmur, then hang up.

Sitting still on the couch isn’t an option for my conversation with my dad. I pace between the living room and the kitchen as I apologize and listen to his perspective. Brooks stands in support at one of my pivot points, offering smiles of encouragement every time I meet his eyes.

Although I’m sure my dad still feels the sting of my initial reaction, I’ve mended the bridge as well as I can. Hanging up, I collapse on the couch. Brooks sits down on the floor next to me, pressing his forehead to mine, lacing his fingers through my hair.

“Well, I’m meeting Sonya next weekend,” I state.

“We’remeeting Sonya next weekend,” Brooks corrects.

I half-smile. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be okay.”

He shakes his head, forehead still against mine, then leans back to meet my eyes.

“The good and the bad, the exciting and the devastating—I’m facing it all with you, Sneaks,” he says. He leans forward to brush a kiss to my lips, then whispers, “Us. Everything. Always.”

Chapter thirty-six

I’m in the middle of possibly the longest prayer walk of my life. Just when I think I’ve said all there is to say to God, more words come bubbling up, and my feet continue moving. Brooks will be picking me up to drive to KC in a couple of hours, so I really should head home and shower. But instead, I keep walking and talking.

“I feel so many things about today. A lot of things that I’d prefer to brush to the side and pretend don’t exist. But I know that’s not a viable long-term solution. I love my dad. I want him to know how much I love him. So, please help me keep my reactions in check today. Please help me to get to know Sonya with an open mind.”

I pause, mind churning.

“Thank you for putting Brooks in my life to be the voice of reason last week, to understand what I was thinking and how I was reacting, and to stop me from doing something rash. Well, to stop me from doing somethingelserash after I initially shut my dad down. To encourage me to apologize and face things. I’m so grateful that you guided our paths back to each other. It’s a gift I didn’t know I could ever ask you for. Thank you for giving me what I didn’t realize I needed, even if it meant starting with the pain of our first breakup. We needed those years apart to grow into the people we are today.”

I think about what Mateo said when he was teasing Lana about changing her plan. It brings a smile to my face and peace to my heart. I think about God’s plan for Brooks and me. His plan for my dad, even if it’s different than what I envisioned. His plan for my future.

“Your plan is always better.”

“Ready?” Brooks asks.

I stare at the doorknob, unblinking.

“Not really,” I admit. Brooks lets go of my hand so he can put his arm around my shoulders, nestling me against him.

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