Page 153 of Renegade Rift

But I adore that he didn’t make me take the leap alone, insisting he also had some things he needed to unpack if we were going to do this for real.

God, I love that man.

Jolene put me in contact with an amazing therapist who has helped me talk through the uglier sides of things I tolerated during my marriage to Tyler. She’s also helped me set boundaries and evaluate all the steps I take with not only Ford, but with my family too.

It’s a balancing act for sure, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m finally just me.

And that’s a good feeling.

So, while I wish my mom was here, I know we’ll get there someday.

“Turn that frown upside down.” My dad smiles and softly pinches my shoulder like he used to do when I was a kid. “Give me the grand tour.”

I loop my arm in his and grin. “Okay, but don't judge my kitchen too harshly. We’re still adding a few of the finishing touches.”

My dad chuckles, and I get lost in sharing this momentous occasion with him.

Eventually, we make our way out into the dining room, and the moment we do, my eyes drift to where Ford is laughing with Mercer and Smitty. But his eyes are on me.

“He does that a lot,” my dad comments.

“What?” I ask, tipping my head to the side.

“Finds you in a crowded room.”

“He does.” I confirm. “It’s one of the many ways he shows me his love.”

My dad hums. “I’m gathering that.”

“So, you’re not still mad at him?” Hope laces my tone, but I don’t dare assume my dad working with my boyfriend means they’re on good terms.

“I’m still somewhere between ouch and acceptance,” he says as he lifts his hand and holds it out horizontally between us, wavering it. “But I can agree that he is good for you and loves you the way you deserve. So, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“Thank you, Dad.” I slip my arm around his waist and give him a half hug. “And I am happy.”

He looks around at the people I have come to love and smiles. “I’m glad,mijita.”

In the time we’ve been standing there, Ford ditched his friends and made his way over to us. “I see your surprise found you.”

“He has.” I untangle myself from my dad and roll up onto my tiptoes and kiss Ford’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome, love.” He turns to my dad and asks, “Can I steal her away for a moment?”

I look up at my dad and raise a brow.

“Go,” he says. “I think I can find someone who will listen to my stories about you cooking an entire meal with sugar, thinking it was salt.”

Ford laughs, at the same time I groan and roll my eyes. “I’ll definitely need to hear that one later.”

“I’ve got plenty,” my dad says, and even though I hate that story, I’m happy he’s here to tell it, and that the two of them are on their way to good terms.

Ford entwines his fingers with mine and leads me toward the kitchen, but before we make it there, Sophia stops us.

“Before you go sneak off for whatever grand gesture this asshole has planned, I have something for you, Juliet.”

“For me?” I ask.

She nods and thrusts a large manila envelope in my direction.

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