Page 34 of Yes, Coach

CHAPTER 11

Murphy

As I watch Taryn settle into the passenger seat of my truck, something fierce and possessive settles in my chest. She's mine now. Completely, officially mine. And I plan to spend the rest of my life proving to her that she made the right choice in trusting me with her heart and her need to be taken care of.

"Where are we going?" she asks as I start the engine.

"Home," I tell her. "Our home."

The word makes her smile, soft and trusting and so beautiful it takes my breath away.

"I like the sound of that, Daddy."

"Good. Because that's exactly what you are now, baby girl. Mine to protect, mine to care for, mine to love." I reach over and take her hand. "My responsibility in every way that matters."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

As we drive toward the house where she'll never have to carry the weight of the world alone again, I know this is exactly where we both belong. Her trusting me to be strong for her, me making sure she never has to be anything but my perfect, cherished girl.

"Actually," I say, changing direction. "First we're going to dinner. Somewhere nice to celebrate my graduate."

"Murphy, we don't have to—"

"Yes, we do. My girl just accomplished something incredible, and I want to show her off." I squeeze her hand. "Besides, I have something for you."

"Another something?" She looks down at the pendant she's wearing, touches the soft cardigan I bought her last week because I noticed her shivering in the school's over-air-conditioned halls. "You spoil me enough already."

"Not nearly enough. And after tonight, I don't have to hold back anymore."

At the restaurant—the same Italian place where we had our first real date—I wait until after we've ordered to pull out the small wrapped box.

"Murphy, what did you do?"

"I noticed something," I say, setting the box in front of her. "You're always pushing your hair out of your face when you'reconcentrating. During homework, when you're stressed, when you're trying to focus on something important."

She looks puzzled but intrigued as she unwraps the box. Inside are six silk scrunchies in different colors—soft pink, lavender, cream, sage green, dusty blue, and pale yellow.

"I went to buy you one," I continue, watching her face light up as she examines each one. "But I couldn't figure out what color would look best with your hair, what would match your different outfits." I shrug, feeling almost embarrassed by how much thought I put into it. "So I bought them all."

"Murphy..." Her voice is soft, almost wondering. "You bought me scrunchies."

"Silk ones. They're better for your hair, won't cause breakage or leave those little dents when you take them out."

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "You researched hair care for scrunchies?"

"I researched everything that would make my girl more comfortable." The admission comes out rougher than I intended. "That's what I do now, Taryn. I notice what you need, and I make sure you have it."

"These are perfect." She slips the pink one onto her wrist immediately. "They're so soft, and the colors are exactly what I would have picked if I'd been brave enough to spend money on something so pretty for myself."

That hits me right in the chest. Of course she wouldn't spend money on little luxuries for herself. She's been too busy taking care of everyone else, making sure every dollar goes to necessities.

"You'll never have to be practical about what you want again," I tell her. "If you want something pretty, something soft, something that makes you feel good, you tell Daddy and he'll get it for you."

She slides the green scrunchie out of the box and gathers her hair up with it, the silk catching the restaurant's soft lighting. "How's that look?"

"Perfect. You look perfect, baby girl."

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