Page 92 of Long Road Home

“Congratulations,” I said to Cooper and because I could, said, “Be good to her or I’ll kick your ass.”

“You wish you could.” Cooper grinned, slapped my shoulder.

I pulled Rebecca into my arms and then cupped her cheeks with my hands. “Woman, mom and dad would be so happy today.”

She covered her hands with mine. “For you, too. Your son. Your woman. They’d be happy for both of us.”

I still wasn’t sure Mom would approve of Destiny and I being together. I also didn’t give a fuck. “Let’s pretend that’s the truth.” I winked at her and turned, right as Destiny came with the rest of the guests toward where the family had congregated.

We were on the deck to the house. Rebecca had decorated the area herself with twinkling white Christmas lights, too much lacy, netting crap, and a white tent which kept the cake and booze covered.

Beyond that by the patio, the deejay was setting up.

We’d party all night long.

Mostly I was looking forward to getting Destiny home, Toby tucked into bed and asleep, then ripping his mom’s dress off her hot little body.

Then the real party would begin.

I stopped thinking of that when Toby came running up. He grabbed Destiny’s hand and pulled her toward the family so suddenly she almost tripped on her feet.

“I’m okay,” she said, laughing and grinning. She shook her head at Toby, said something to him I couldn’t hear and as they reached us, Toby reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

“Can we do it now?” Toby asked, jumping on the balls of his feet.

Destiny glanced at Rebecca who was standing just behind me. She rose her brows and whatever reaction she gave Destiny made her suck her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Her hand settled on Toby’s shoulder as she focused on me. “Okay. So I know I said I wouldn’t keep anything from you ever again.”

She’d said that. The night before she’d gone back to Texas after our fight, I’d made her promise. I trusted her now, but she’d given me cause for that to be difficult. I needed that from her. Maybe someday I wouldn’t, but us moving on healthily meant, for now, I needed it.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Well, I lied.”

My hands went to my hips. Behind me, I vaguely heard Rebecca whisper, “Calm down, tiger.”

I didn’t.

Destiny smiled, tucked a piece of her hair not held back by that pin behind her ear. “So, it’s a good thing. And I cleared it with Rebecca and Cooper because Toby wanted to do this today.”

“Destiny. What is it?”

I took in Toby, still bouncing on his feet. Destiny’s grin. Whatever this was wasn’t bad. I relaxed a bit and looked at Toby.

“Whatcha got in your hand?”

He jerked it out to me, grinning so wide I was fighting back my own. “Look!”

He practically shouted the word. My head shook. Behind me, Rebecca’s hand settled at my back. My gaze went to Destiny.

She nodded. “Look. You’ll like it.”

I unfolded the paper and once it was opened, it took me a moment to realize what I was looking at. Then I recognized the seal. It was a photocopy. A little bit blurred.

My heart thundered against my chest and I squeezed my eyes closed to fight back the sudden onslaught of emotions.

Toby, unable to wait, shouted again. “It says you’re my dad! You like it?”

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