Page 81 of The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

“This was, uh, supposed to be a surprise.” My arms flap uselessly at my sides, wanting to wrap her in a hug. “So, surprise! Heh-heh.”

She is not amused. Hands on hips, she just looks me up and down like she’s seeing me in a whole new light. An unflattering one. “What, you were going to show up at CPR and say, ha-ha, I bought your dream house?”

I wince. “Well, yeah. Without the mean ha-ha.”

Her head shakes like she can’t even with me right now, but when she gasps and I follow her gaze to the object on the floor, I’m the one who can’t believe how badly this is all going.

Clutching the single green sneaker that I must’ve dropped when I hid behind the door, she stares at me like I am her worst nightmare. “Why would you do this to me?”

The hurt washing over her face is a knife to my heart, but I deserve it. Hands shaking with the need to hold her, I say, “I’m not quite sure how I fucked this up so royally Avery, but this was all supposed to be a good surprise. I bought it for you.”

Her jaw drops but before she can reject the offer I barrel on. “I know it doesn’t solve the greater housing problem. I’m working on that too, though. We’re looking for a developer to partner with for a workforce housing proj”—I wave a hand in the air, stopping myself from getting too sidetracked—“but that doesn’t matter. I mean, it matters, of course but…”

I blow out a breath. “I’m trying to say that this house came on the market, I had the cash because of the sale of the condo in Manhattan, and I didn’t want someone else to get it.”

She just shakes her head slowly. “So you stole my favorite shoe and you’re moving into my dream house?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, no! You are. Whenever you’re ready. You can pay rent if you want, or you can use the money you’re saving to pay for a caregiver for your parents. That doesn’t matter to me. That condo money doesn’t feel like mine anyway. But if you move in, and you can forgive me, it’d be a place we can be together. Without having to leave town. And as for the shoe, I found it in my suitcase and I thought that it’d be a fun surprise for you to find it here.”

Her brow furrowed, she narrows her eyes like she’s having a difficult time following my logic. “What about the kids?”

“The three of us will continue to live at my parents’ place. And we will visit. If you’ll have us.”

Her mouth drops, her head still shaking, but she doesn’t say yes. Or no.

That knife twists in my heart again, reminding me there’s more to say. “And I also hope you’ll forgive me for being a jerk. I don’t even remember what I said when we pulled up in front of my parents’ house. I saw my in-laws and I just panicked. I was sure they’d use Mabel getting lost to say I was an unfit parent and whisk her and Percy back to the city.”

“Oh, Josh.”

Her shoulders slump, and when a hint of something like compassion blooms in her face, I’m able to take a full breath for the first time since that call came through from my mom weeks ago. “Whatever you heard me say, it wasn’t about us. Or you. Or the amazing weekend we shared. I loved every minute of it and would do it again tomorrow.”

I hold out my hands, hoping she might be able to find a way to forgive me. When she takes them, I step closer, bringing both of her hands to my heart. “You are precious to me. You’ve brought hope to my life when I never thought I’d feel that again. You make me a better dad, a better man. I don’t want to live my life without you in it, so Avery, please forgive me.”

Her eyes fill, and her smile is wobbly, but she nods. “Thank you for the apology. And I’m sorry too.”

“You don’t—” I begin, but she stops me with a sharp shake of her head.

“I should’ve talked to you. I shut down because of what happened back when I woke up after that surgery and found out what I’d lost. I didn’t stand up for myself then.” She shakes her head again, slowly this time. “And I did the same thing when you said our weekend away was a mistake. I shut down and I ran. But I want to work on that. I know I can trust you up here”—she frees a hand to point to her temple and then her heart and her gut—“but I have to work on it here and here.”

“And do you love me here?” I ask, placing a hand over her heart. “Because I need you to know that I’m in love with you. All of you.”

She covers my hand. “I do. I love you, Josh Harmon. With all my heart.”

Stepping even closer, I brush my lips to hers before murmuring, “What about here? And here? Or here?” I continue to ask, as her moans and whimpers answer my mouth and hands’ exploration of the face and body I’ve missed more than I’d ever imagined possible. Just when I’m wondering if there’s anywhere private in this unfurnished, uncurtained house, the clearing of a throat has me crashing back to reality.

“So which kind of job am I doing here?” The dust- and cobweb-covered inspector holds up an envelope. “Conrad’s version or the real version?”

Avery disentangles herself just enough to turn around and face the man. “You can save Conrad’s version for another time. We want the real story on this one.”

Epilogue

Six monthslater

AVERY

Waking up with the sun, snuggled in bed in my dream house—the one I co-own with Josh after having talked him into selling me half—Josh’s morning wood pressed against my ass… it’s my favorite way to greet the day.

Oh, yes. I said ass. I use any and all the words now, when they’re right and fitting.

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