Page 158 of The Lost and the Found

Forever, if possible.

I needed to hold him and never let go.

“Don’t let me go,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure if he heard me or not, but his arms did tighten around me, so he was probably feeling the same way.

When I pulled back to look at him, I was surprised to see his eyes a little rimmed-red from unshed tears.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. Because then I’ll start crying and I promise you’ll never get me to stop.”

He let out a feeble laugh and leaned down, kissing me deeply, passionately…

And inappropriately, considering where we were.

There were families present… my family and friends were present.

“Get your meaty paws off my daughter, boy, so I can give her a hug.”

Logan laughed and pulled away. We were smiling when we both turned to see my dad, Veena and Grant, Mason, Olivia, and their almost one-month-old daughter, Emma, who was looking more and more like Olivia with every day that passed. Even Max and Gage were here, too.

I didn’t know Max well, but I liked him.

I liked his comforting presence, and I liked how much he obviously loved Olivia and Emma. In fact, he had Emma in his arms now, and I didn’t think Mason would get to hold his daughter for the rest of the day, because Max tended to turn into a Mama Bear around Emma.

And with Gage, we had a truce of sorts. Though I couldn’t say I was as close to him as Mason, he was nicer to me than before. I was growing on him, I knew it, when I saw the softness in his eyes as he took me in with my graduation gap and gown of maroon red.

The only person who wasn’t here was Lizzie. I’d grown close with her when she was visiting and had fallen absolutely in love with her little boy, but they had gone back to California last week. I had noticed I wasn’t the only one sad about their departure… and I wasn’t talking about Olivia.

Dad walked toward us, pulling me away from Logan and glaring at him a little before wrapping me tightly in his arms.

“So proud of you, princess,” he said softly in my ears, so only I heard.

“Thanks, Dad.”

He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, and I reveled in that soft touch. I might not have known him long, but I knew I was a daddy’s girl through and through, and I was so damn grateful he was in my life I felt like I could sob.

“We’re going to go back to the restaurant after this and celebrate, deal? I closed everything down today, so it’ll just be us there.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that.” It was Saturday, and Saturdays were his busiest nights.

“Nonsense. Why wouldn’t I do that for my only daughter? I want today to be perfect for you.”

I smiled and rested my head on his chest. His strong, capable chest. My dad was a strong man. There was so much security in knowing that.

“It’s already perfect,” I said with a sigh.

“Good. Let’s go. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

I nodded. I was congratulated and hugged by each one of them, and there were so many of them that I got a slight headache. After everyone left and it was just Logan and me in the auditorium. I walked over to him, and he opened his arms out to me.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” Logan said, his voice gruff.

“Oh? How do you know I’m happy today?”

Eyes soft, he traced the delicate curve of my jawline with one finger and said, “Because you’re smiling. And I’ve never seen you smile as much as you have today.”

I couldn’t contain the tears any longer. They fell unabashedly down my cheeks, and I smiled at him. “I am happy, Logan. And it’s all because of you.”

He shook his head in denial, but I interrupted before he could say anything. “It is because of you.”

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