“And Gray? Being married to a cop who puts his life on the line every day, you’re okay with that?”
“Yes. Dad, I’m not going to live my life in fear of the unknown. I love him so much, and I know he loves me. I feel complete when I’m with him. I laugh, have fun, dream of kids with him.”
“Kids?” my father asked, nearly choking on his own spit.
With a shy smile, I nodded. “We um . . . we’re moving in together, by the way.”
My father released my hand and sat back in his chair as he exhaled a long breath. “I figured as much. You’re a grown woman and you don’t owe me any explanations but, Meg, you’ve hit me with a lot tonight.” Tears formed in my father’s eyes as he pinned me with his stare. “That doesn’t make it easier for me though. Letting go of you is hard, baby girl.”
I tilted my head and studied my father. “Why were you so hard on me?”
His eyes turned sad as he looked away for a moment before turning his attention back on me. “I don’t know, Meg. I wish I had a solid answer for you, but a part of me thinks it was my own failures that drove me to make sure you never failed. The moment I held you in my arms I promised myself I would push you to do great things, but never once thinking about how that would affect you. I’m so sorry, baby. I never meant to compare you to Taylor or make you think I thought any less of you. You’re my everything, Meagan. The very air I breathe is because of you. I never told you this, but you saved my life.”
My heart jumped to my throat as I felt a single tear drop from my eye. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother left me when she was pregnant with you. I missed a good portion of her pregnancy because of some serious stuff. But I had two things that kept me going and kept me fighting to get clean. Amanda, and my unborn child. The first time I ever felt you move in your mother’s stomach my life changed. The one little kick opened my eyes like never before. I’ll never forget the feeling that washed over my body. Everything I did from that point on was for the two of you. Then when we were blessed with your sister, it made the circle complete. The three of you are my world. I don’t ever want you to have to say the things you said to me earlier tonight. I want you happy, Meagan. And if living here in Colorado makes you happy, and Gray makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
“Daddy,” I whispered as we reached across the table for each other’s hands. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, pumpkin. Now, how about we head home and watch a movie.”
My heart felt as if it were about to burst. The idea of being with the two men I loved left me breathless. “I’ll text Gray and tell him to bring a movie.”
Standing, my father flashed me a smile. It was the same smile I used to see when I would get off the bus and run toward him when he would surprise us by coming home early. The same smile that always made me feel like everything was going to be okay. “Tell him to bring popcorn if you don’t have any.”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “Sounds good.”
Taking my arm, we left the restaurant. “Meagan?”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“I need to be prepared for something.”
With a deep breath in, I held it for a second before releasing it and asking, “What’s that?”
“Will your fiancé be staying the night at your apartment while I’m there?”
My face flushed as I chewed on the corner of my lip.
“Um . . . he was going to, but if it makes you feel uncomfortable he doesn’t have to.”
Holding up his hand, he shook his head. “No, you’re a grown woman who is engaged to be married and I’m not stupid to fool myself into thinking my little girl has never had sex before.” His body shivered, and he frantically shook his head as if trying to erase a thought. “Fully clothed and I don’t want to hear a sound coming from your room.”
For a moment, I thought back to a few hours ago when Grayson and I were having sex not but a few yards from my own father. Hearing my father talk like that though caused me to let out a roar of laughter until I had tears streaming down my face. The valet driver pulled up with my car as my father shot me a dirty look and got into the passenger side of my car as he said, “I’m glad you find that so funny. Wait until you have kids one day, Meagan.”
The mentioning of having kids caused my stomach to dip.
“Oh man. Whoa . . . I must have needed that laugh,” I said as I buckled up and started heading home.
“Ha ha. Some day the shoe will be on the other foot and you just wait.”
Peeking over at my father, I smiled. This was what I wanted our relationship to be like. Open and honest. This was turning out to be the best night of my life.
Grayson
STANDING IN THE kitchen, I flipped the bacon and then checked the biscuits. Smiling, I stood and said, “Perfect,” as I tended to the eggs.
“So you cook too huh?”