Page 102 of Keep Me Never
I—
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
My feet freeze so fast I almost fall.
My heart clogs my damn throat and slowly, so fucking slowly, I turn.
My hazel eyes meet an identical pair, and my body seems to deflate completely.
“Dad,” I choke.
And then he’s right there, wrapping his arms around me in the tightest hug.
I clench my eyes closed, my limbs shaking slightly as I breathe in the man who gave me everything.
He doesn’t say anything, just holds on and lets me lose my cool.
Not sure how much time passes before I pull back, a low chuckle leaving me. “You’re here.”
His smile is wide, but there is no missing the exhaustion in his eyes. In his entire being, really. But he works hard to only show me the love and support he’s feeling. “I wish I could be here a lot more, but I’m glad the opportunity came along for the big one.”
“I can believe you’re here. I—” and then I spot movement over his shoulder.
Payton, Cam, and Ari stand there with their arms linked, my girl tucked under Ari’s on the end, a watery smile on her face.
Her beautiful, perfect face.
“Ah,” my dad murmurs softly. “I see.”
The corner of my mouth tips, and I lock eyes with him briefly before looking back at the girl who has changed things for me.
Who has changed me in general.
“Come here, Angel.” I hold my hand out, eyes only for her.
Slowly and with the pretty little blush I love so much slipping over her cheeks, she walks this way, her smile going shy as she reaches my side and looks over at my dad.
“You’ve met, Paige, Dad.”
“Of course I have, and I already hugged her hello when she and the girls picked me up at the airport, but”—he looks between us with a smile—“now I understand why you started tearing up when we pulled into the parking lot,” he teases, staring at her like she’s the piece of the puzzle he’s been missing.
“I knew how much having you here was going to mean to him. It might have gotten to me a bit,” she admits with a little laugh.
“If I know my son, and I like to think I know him pretty well”—he grins, leaning toward her—“I’d say it means about as much as knowing you’ll be there, too.” He says this like he’s sharing a secret she’s not aware of, soft and only intended for her ears, even though I can hear him, too.
Her eyes find mine and I’m overcome with the need to tell her that his words are true. That it does mean just as much but in a different way, maybe even more in its own sense of the word.
“Well, Son, I just wanted to see you and check where your mind was at this evening.” His eyes ask the question, just in case I don’t want it spoken aloud.
“I’m better now,” I admit and it feels like the truth. Seeing him, hugging him.
It was more than I could have asked for and at the perfect moment.
See, always there when I need him. Without fail.
I want to be like him.
I almost get choked up all over again.
