Page 121 of The Only Heart that Matters

What she’s saying is things aren’t perfect, but they love each other enough to push through the hard times.

“You know, I’m always here for you, too, right? If you ever need to talk. About anything.”

“Oh, my sweet girl. Of course, I do. But you don’t need to worry about little old me. We are living our best life down here in the sunshine.”

“But I do worry.”

“I know you do, but we’re fine, Mia. We’re fine.”

“It’s okay if you aren’t.”

“I know.”

I gasp when I see the time on my dash. “Shoot, I have two minutes to get him checked into day care and get logged in for work. I have to go.”

“Go, honey. We’ll talk soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too. Kiss that boy for me.”

Turning off the car and my phone, I grab Sawyer and rush into the clinic.

Half my heart is relieved after hearing Mom’s comforting words, the other half reeling from the insinuation of the other part of our conversation. There has definitely been trouble in paradise, and I have a sinking suspicion my father’s heart may have broken along the way.

Chapter Forty-Four

Mia

“Four minutes. Fuck.” Angus rubs his hands over the scruff on his face.

We’ve been dreading today. We’re both nervous. Scared. Ready, yet never less ready for anything. You name the emotion and we’ve likely felt it over the last two days.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I say, wrapping my arms around my middle.

This is it. The day I’ve been hoping would never come, even though I knew it would eventually.

“I’ve got you, Goof.” He takes my face in his hands, placing a kiss on my forehead. “I got you. C’mon, it’s time.”

Sitting on the couch, he opens the laptop and dials. There’s no turning back now. My heart is in my throat, my stomach is in knots, and the moment Knox’s face comes on the screen, I want to slam the laptop shut.

“Bro, it’s good to see your face, and who do we have here?”

I hold my hand up and wiggle my fingers in reply, a weak smile on my face.

“I fucking knew it! I saw you sneak in from somewhere at the wedding, looking a little disheveled. Good for you. You two are perfect together.”

Knox’s smile is wide. He means it. He really is happy for us.

“Thanks, man, but we aren’t calling to announce our relationship.”

“What’s up then? Mom, okay?” he asks, concerned.

“Mom’s fine. Uh, actually Mia needs to talk to you about something and I’m here because as much as we want to be together, this conversation needs to happen first.”

His brows knit, and I can’t tell if he’s putting two and two together.

“What the hell do I have to do with your relationship?”

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