Page 139 of Always Been Yours

I nod, swallowing down the overwhelming emotions trying to break free. “Good. I never want to be the cause of your pain again, Viv. I’m going to do everything in my power to be the man worthy of your love and the partner you deserve.”

Lightly, she pushes me back onto the pillows and crawls into my arms, laying on my chest. It isn’t sexual, but intimate and comforting, like she needs the contact our bodies have been missing these last two weeks. “You’re already doing the work Grady. I see the effort in your actions, between setting those boundaries with Arielle and everything you organised for the winter wonderland. I appreciate all of it more than I can put into words.”

I kiss the top of her head, hoping it conveys enough of the gratitude I’m feeling for the patience and understanding she has given me. Pulling her closer, needing that connection too, I ask, “What do you think about a few more minutes in bed, then we go see what the girls want to do to start our first new tradition today?”

She lets out a little sigh. “Sounds perfect to me.”

Me too.

Vivi and I laid in bed for another half hour before I pulled her up and into the shower. We washed each other’s bodies and made love under the spray of the water—it was passionate and carnal. Her quiet moans and sweet nothings drove me into an almost frenzy, needing to be as close as possible to her just to remind myself she’s really here.

The girls have been slow to make their way out of their rooms. And as much as I’m trying to hold onto hope that it’s solely for the fact that each of the cats took up residence in the beds and how late they were up last night, I can’t help but feel a little bit of anxiety the longer Vivi and I wait, drinking our coffee at the island.

Around nine o’clock we finally hear the small pitter patter of feet walking down the stairs though. Vivi gives me an encouraging smile, but I can see the apprehension on her face too.

It’s been a lot for both of my girls the last few weeks, and we have to take each moment at a time right now. I know they’ve missed Vivi and invited her to stay with us, but they can also change their minds at any second.

Daisy lets out her trademark squeal when she sees Vivi sitting on a stool and Stella lets out a big sigh at the same sight. Almost as if they were worried, she’d disappear in the dead of night.

I kept her firmly in my grip all night, irrationally afraid of the same thing. And when I first woke up, she was wrapped just as tightly around me.

“You’re here,” Daisy breathes out, beaming at us.

“We’re making traditions, right?”

“Yes,” Stella nods resolutely and climbs onto the spot to Vivi’sright.

But Daisy rounds the island and pulls on my shirt, glancing up at the cabinet behind my head. On a chuckle, I lift her into my arms so she can present her gift to Vivi. She tries to sneakily grab the item but accidentally slams the door shut. Daisy peaks over her shoulder, and even though I saw Vivi glance this way, Stella’s doing her sisterly duty by trying to keep her as distracted as possible.

Setting Daisy on the counter, sitting with her legs crossed in front of Vivi and Stella, she holds her hands behind her and is practically shaking with excitement.

“What you got back there, little lady?” Vivi asks.

Shoving the oversized ceramic mug in Vivi’s direction, she says in one breath, “This is for you. I made it a couple days after Stella’s birthday when Daddy took me to sign up for classes at the pottery place.”

Vivi places her hands over Daisy’s, so she can pull the creation closer to her while keeping that contact between them. Both of their eyes fill with happy tears as Vivi takes in the giant pastel green mug. And I mean, it’shuge. It could probably hold a large, iced coffee, which is coincidentally perfect for Genevieve. Especially because Daisy forgot to add a handle, so you’d need to wrap it in something if you wanted to drink something hot anyway.

“Do you like it?” Daisy tentatively asks.

Moving one of her hands so she can trace over the shaky letters, she nods. “I love itsomuch, Daisy. Thank you for making this for me.”

Daisy preens at the praise, gaining most of her confidence back. “It’s all of our letters!” She points out, but she means our initials. She asked me to write outG+V+S+D=a heartso she could carve in the design. “But I forgot to add a handle,” she admits sheepishly, glancing at Stella who had pointed it out to her when we wentback to pick it up.

“I drink my coffee cold anyway, so it’s perfect.” And I take that as my cue to grab the cold brew I picked up at the grocery store a few days ago, with the hope and intention that Vivi would be here soon to receive her gift. Sliding the bottle toward her, she happily swaps me for her mug of brewed coffee and fills her new cup after I drop a few ice cubes in the glass for her. “So, what are we thinking as far as traditions go?”

And that’s how we ended up outside of her brother’s house with a car packed full of all the winter beach picnic essentials—a picnic blanket, extra blankets and sweaters, hot chocolate in a Yeti tumbler, UNO, a few picture books, and a basket full of sandwiches, fruit, goldfish, and Daisy’s cake from last night.

It’s probably more than we need, but the girls were so excited at Vivi’s suggestion that we wanted to make sure we had enough so we can stay out as long as they want. Or until it gets too cold, and we’ll have to bribe them with the promise of a blanket fort and Christmas movies at home.

Either way, it does something to my heart knowing that my daughters are going to experience one of the most special things of mine and Vivi’s entire friendship—something we’ve only ever shared with each other until right now.

Asher’s lived in this house since around the time my parents renewed their vows, and while I know he had originally bought it with the intention of moving in with his ex-girlfriend, itfeelslike Asher—small beach bungalow with an attached shed for his surfing gear and a back gate with access to a fairly secluded part of the beach that also happens to have some of the best waves in the area. He always lets his siblings park their cars here to avoid the tourist traffic at the main shores. I understand whyhe never sold it.

“Ready?” Vivi steps up to my side and looks up with the prettiest smile.

“Ready!” Daisy calls from Vivi’s arms as Stella raises her own for me to pick her up. With our lunch in one hand, my daughter in the other arm, and Vivi carrying Daisy only a step ahead of me, we make our way around the house and start our first of what I hope are many traditions to come.

“Ready,” Stella and I agree at the same time.

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