Page 47 of Always Been Yours

“I remember you saying at least three times that you were, and I quote, ‘a little buzzed but otherwise completely sober.’“ Her chest shakes so hard with silent laughter that she has to put the knife down. The more she tries to hide it, the more I start to laugh. “What does that even mean?”

“I have no idea.” Shefinallyleans forward on the island and laughs out loud. It isn’t quite her all-consuming belly laugh but more of a giggle. It’s really freaking adorable. “That should havebeen your first and only sign that I was in fact drunk. So, you can’t use anything I said that night against me.”

I press my forearms down on the counter and lean a little closer but we’re still on opposite ends of the long island. “What about when you came twirling out of the bathroom, pulled me in by my belt loops and told me how happy you were that I was there?” I smirk at the flush quickly creeping up her face.

“That didn’t happen,” she says with so much conviction I almost believe her.

“It did.” The memory of her drunk and happy that night has lived in my head rent-free over the last couple of weeks. She really did twirl down the hallway, smiling more freely than I’ve seen in a long time. Smiling to herself,forherself. It was a beautiful sight. She looped her fingers through my pants, pulling me close enough to be overwhelmed by her berry vanilla scent. It was sweet and fruity and so goddamn intoxicating. From the way she was looking at me, I knew she wanted to kiss me. I wanted to kiss her. Not like our first and only kiss. Not in a way that would have been appropriate at a bar with her siblings down the hall. And not at all when she was drunk. So, I took a step back.

“You wish,” she says in a sigh, attempting to seem bored.

“I don’t have to wish, because it happened.”

“You’re annoying,” she mutters, but I see her small smile as she goes back to cutting the watermelon. Eyeing me for a long moment, she changes the subject to a safer topic—work.

Not long after Vivi and I were left alone in the kitchen, Blake and her family showed up. I don’t know how long it’s been since she spent time with the Davies family, though I’m sure it has been more recently than me.

She and Vivi were polite enough when they saw each other but it was Adrian who introduced their kids to Vivi and her siblings. I guess Blake had done a good job at keeping her life completely separate. Except from Bonnie, if the hug they shared and the excitement her kids expressed when they saw her, are any indication.

Adrian doesn’t appear to have any ill feelings toward Vivi or her siblings. He gave each of them a hug and has been catching up with Asher and Hudson since they arrived.

Now as we all sit around the table, Millie’s placed herself beside Stella who’s next to Vivi, with Daisy on her other side. Despite the fact that she’s sitting right across from me, she has barely talked to me since she walked out of the kitchen with the bowl of fruit. She’s given both of my daughters and my niece all her attention since then.

Stella is different with Vivi when she thinks people aren’t paying attention. There’s none of her snark from earlier in the week. She doesn’t roll her eyes or cross her arms.

She doesn’t smile as freely as Daisy or ask as many questions as Millie, but she pays attention to Vivi like she’s the most important person at this table. Stella hangs onto every word and offers small smiles instead of giggles. I try not to stare. Stella caught me once and immediately crossed her arms and turned away for a few minutes.

The endearing and affectionate feelings only fight off the irrational jealousy so much.

Am I seriously jealous of my daughters right now?Unfortunately,I think I am. I’m also annoyed with my sister for her horrible timing. Usually, I’m happy to see her. But not tonight. And not with the questioning look she immediately gave me when she took in the scene.

“When are you starting tryouts?” Hudson asks from the other side of Daisy.

“This week. For three days starting on Tuesday.” Vivi and I are going to talk to someone about the permit for the pier on Monday. I don’t mention that, but I don’t miss the side-eye she gives me.

I know her well enough to know that she wouldn’t want our parents and family to ask questions. It’ll spook her. Maybe enough to ruin the potential of even a friendship. And I agree, if only for my daughters’ sake. I really couldn’t care what anyone else has to say about it. I’m quickly realizing that even if I don’t know what I can balance as a single father, but I know that I don’t want to let this chance slip with Vivi. I can make excuses for the teenage boy who hurt his best friend but that’s no longer the case. I’m old enough to acknowledge a good thing when it’s in front of me. And whatever is happening with her is life changing, I can feel it in my bones. Whether it’s for better or for worse will be entirely up to me and my actions.

“What positions did Knox play?”

I have a feeling I know where this is going. I was going to ask him anyway, but I wasn’t sure if he still enjoyed baseball enough to want to be a part of it.

“Outfield mostly,” I say easily. Hudson played shortstop.

“I don’t know if it’s allowed at the school, but the store doesn’t need much from us anymore.” He tips his chin toward his brother. “So, if you want an infield coach, I can help out.”

“I looked into that already and there are no rules against it for assistant coaches. You’ll just need to get a background check andfingerprint card before you can start.”

Hudson nods as I text Knox with the news. I assume that it would be okay, but I know that I should check with him anyway. Discreetly, I pull out my phone and send a quick text.

Mon, Sept 5 at 7:26 PM

Hudson offered to coach the infield. He played shortstop when we were kids until we graduated.

Knox

Please tell me you told him yes.

I did. I just wanted to make sure it was cool with you first.

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