Page 103 of The Geography of Happiness

Hannah grinned and indicated Terry who was buzzing softly against my chest. “I’ve never seen him like that.”

I looked down. “Like what? Snoring?”

“No, silly.” She studied her father with a serious expression. “Likethat.He doesn’t relax if there’s other people around except maybe with Judah. It’s... nice.” She smiled. “He hates me seeing him worried or stressed, even though I know he is. He thinks he should have everything sorted out. But right from the start with you, he was... different.” She caught my eye. “I’m glad you came back.”

“I’m glad too,” I told her.

“Are you gonna stay?” Her eyes told me she meant more than for just a visit. “I know about... well, you know, you two.”

I took a breath. I wasn’t gonna lie to her, but it wasn’t my place to talk about her father and me before Terry spoke to her. “We’re still getting to know each other and we have a lot to discuss first, but yes, I plan to hang around if he’ll let me. Would you be okay with that?”

She studied me intently. “You do know how stubborn he is, right?”

I snorted. “Tell me about it. But I have my ways.” I tapped the side of my nose.

“Then I’m okay with it,” she said sunnily. “You’re good for him, Spencer.”

Her words meant everything and my heart swelled. “Thank you. He’s good for me too.”

She seemed to gather herself before locking eyes with me. “Just don’t hurt him, please. He’s been hurt enough.”

Tears threatened behind my eyes.How the hell do I answer that?I settled for, “I’ll try my very best not to, all right?”

Hannah thought about that for a moment, then nodded. “Good enough.” Then she changed the subject, “So, who’s looking after Miller?”

I collected my wits and breathed out slowly. “He’s staying with Sonja. Where’s Gabby?”

Hannah sighed. “With Grandma and Grandad. They’re helping Jam with the store while we’re here. She’ll weigh a ton by the time I get back. They always spoil her.”

Terry stirred on my shoulder and I gently cupped his cheek. “Good morning, sunshine.”

He slid an arm around my waist and breathed, “Morning.” Then his eyelids fluttered open and he smiled sleepily at Hannah. “Hey you. How you doing, Princess Pineapple?”

I’d expected him to pull away the moment he saw Hannah watching and loved the fact that he didn’t. It said everything about his commitment to what we’d talked about.

Hannah rolled her eyes at the cutesy name and I made a note to ask Terry about it. “I’m a little sore,” she answered, grimacing as she slid the pillow under her knee a little lower. “But I’m due more meds in an hour. Spencer and I have been talking.”

“Oh, really?” Terry’s gaze lifted to mine. “Do I even want to know?”

I was about to reassure Terry that it wasn’t as bad as he thought when the door to Hannah’s room swung open and a slender, stunningly beautiful dark-haired man breezed in with a raft of bakery bags in his hands and a gorgeous German shepherd at his side. “Did somebody order sugar for breakfast?” he quipped, his bright smile fixed on Hannah. “Well, don’t you look a whole lot better?”

Another man followed the first. Taller, older, ruggedly handsome, with a tight beard and a kind smile. “I encouraged him to buy healthy, but you can guess how well that went.” Theman’s eyes widened when he caught sight of Terry’s head on my shoulder and his arm still tight around my waist.

If I hadn’t already been pretty damn sure who was standing in front of me, Terry’s gobsmacked response sealed the deal. Judah and Morgan, no less.

Even Hannah looked shocked, her gaze darting nervously between Judah and her dad. Noticing that, Judah’s attention switched to Terry and he visibly jolted, the stunned look on his face pretty goddamn priceless. I might’ve laughed if I wasn’t worried out of my mind for Terry since I was pretty sure this particular scene didn’t feature in any of his coming-out scenarios.

“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” Judah’s hazel eyes drilled into mine, the German shepherd at his side snapping to attention with the sudden surge of tension in the room.

The question, or maybe the tone of voice, shook Terry from his daze and he pushed himself up from the La-Z-Boy and flustered, “Oh, hey... I overslept. Hi, Morgan... well, ah, this is?—”

“Spencer.” I shot to my feet, extending my hand to the dark-haired man. “And you must be Judah. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Judah stared at my hand for a long awkward moment before gripping it tightly. “Well, that makesoneof us, since I know almostnothingabout you.” He shot a pointed look to Terry who gave a soft groan.

The second man stepped around Judah and offered his hand in a much more friendly manner. “Hello Spencer, I’m Morgan. Pleasure to meet you. I’m this guy’s much better and far more polite other half.” His gaze flicked to the shepherd. “Mickey, stand down.”

The shepherd relaxed and Judah fired his husband a pissy look, which Morgan took in stride. “Be nice to the man, sweet cheeks.”

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