Page 19 of Starting Over with You
I snort as I run my forefinger and thumb along the thick hair on my top lip. I haven’t shaved in a couple days, so my beard is getting a little out of control. “I thought you hated my stache.”
She shrugs. “I’d rather that than your bushy cheeks.” I push her playfully as her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Love you, Dad.”
I send a wave to Nyle, but he stops me. “Actually, can I talk to you real fast?”
Skyye looks between us, and I hook my thumb to the fire truck. “I gotta get back to the station.”
“It’ll take five minutes, tops.” He holds the door for Skyye. “Head on in.”
Skyye looks to me, and I nod. “Love you, miss you, mean it,” she says softly.
I squeeze her shoulder. “Love you, miss you, meant it,” I repeat back, my heart swelling a bit. My granny used to say that to us when we were younger, and every time I dropped Skyye off to Missy, I’d say it to her. It’s stuck, and now it’s something we always say whenever we leave each other. She heads into the house, and the door slams shut with a loud thwack. Nyle’s blue eyes meet mine, and I cross my arms over my wide chest. “What’s up?”
He clears his throat before coming to a stop before me. “I’m sorry about today.”
I just blink. “Thanks?”
Nyle holds my gaze, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I know you weren’t happy with me marrying Missy, but I promise I’m trying to do right by her.”
I don’t know what the hell is happening right now. “I’m not sure where this is coming from, but as long as Missy and Skyye are happy, I’m good.”
He nods, but something tells me he isn’t satisfied with my response. “I know you have history with Missy, but I’m her husband now?—”
I hold up my hand. “Let me stop you real fast.” I take a step forward and lower my voice since I know Wagner is behind me and I just saw Skyye in the window. “You don’t need to puff up your chest and go all ‘she is my wife’ on me. Bro, I don’t care. Missy is my friend, has been my friend since I was like four. I love her as the mother of my child. That’s it. You have her heart, something that was never mine or something I wanted.”
He doesn’t seem convinced. “But she’s always Dean this, Dean that.”
I shrug. “Because I am a pillar in her life. But there is no competition between us.” I leave out that he isn’t even in the same league as me since I don’t need that drama. “As long as you’re good to my daughter and treat Missy with respect, you won’t hear anything from me.”
He slowly nods. “So, you’re not in love with her?”
I scoff. “Not even kinda, buddy.”
He searches my eyes, and I hope he sees the truth. I don’t like the guy, but I won’t ruin Missy’s happiness. If this is who she chooses, I support her. He seems satisfied with that, but then he grimaces. “I know you don’t like me.” When I bring in my brows, he adds, “You kicked my ass in school.”
“You touched my sister’s ass, and I had to defend her honor. But surely you’ve grown from that.”
He nods. “I have. I learned my lesson.”
“Then we’re good.”
“I want us to be on the same team here. The end goal is giving Skyye everything she needs, and I want to be a part of that.”
I wouldn’t put this guy on my E League team, and we don’t even have an E League, but I don’t say that. “Skyye iseverything,” I remind him. “One thing about me, Nyle, is as long as the women I love are respected, I don’t have issues. I don’t hold grudges like my sister.”
He rolls his eyes. “Think you can do something about your sister busting my balls?”
“Not at all.” I laugh a bit, shaking my head. “Hell, I don’t think there is anyone in this world who can dosomethingabout my sister.”
Nyle looks stricken. “Do you think it’s gonna be like how it was, now with Kenni coming back?”
Now, I’m fully grinning. “I sure as hell hope time has helped those three grow out of their wild ways, but I’m not holding my breath.”
“Great,” he mutters, and I wave as I head to the truck, my grin still in place. While I have similar sentiments as his since I’m unsure what kind of hell is about to be unleashed by Shenanigans Inc., I can’t help but feel the same kind of excitement I’d feel from hoisting the Beer League Cup above my head.
I don’t feel that way often, but knowing I’m about to see Kenni again…
Yeah, I’m excited.
