A solemn air blanketed the room at the mere mention of that day. We all recognized it, and Liv went stiff in my arms at the memory.
Flint decided to lighten the mood. “Not me,” he said. “I had a blast in Vegas. Came home with a set of new wheels and everything.”
Ash tapped her foot against the bottom of his cane and shuffled under his arm, tossing him a glowing, white smile that visibly eased him.
A warmth washed over me when my kiss on Liv’s temple seemed to have the same effect on her.
“Right. Well, at this point, Quarry had been skipping almost every day at school, and the few days he did attend, he’d somehow managed to get into so many fights that he’d gotten expelled. Oh, and even though he seemed to truly love brawling, he’d decided to quit boxing. He was one step away from being a juvenile delinquent, and there he was, standing in front of me, begging me to let him see my daughter.” He laughed, but the humor fell from his voice as he swung his angry gaze to mine. “The same daughter who was never the same after that day in Vegas, either.”
“Daddy,” Liv warned when Leo’s glare lingered for a few uncomfortable beats.
It sucked, but I deserved far worse, so I squared my shoulders, held Liv on my lap, and took the heat.
Still holding my gaze, Leo puffed his lip out in an exaggerated a pout, “‘But…but, Leo,’” he mimicked in a baby voice. “‘I…I love her. I’m a Page man… We know love.’” His scowl turned into a grin as the room started laughing.
Liv quickly looked at me. Her eyes were wide and downright hopeful. “Did you…” she trailed off.
I didn’t want this story to be told at all, but that look on her face made every second of the embarrassment completely worth it.
I confirmed with a nod. “I wasn’t wrong.” I lifted my chin to Till and Eliza then to Flint and Ash, “We do know love.”
She sighed like it was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.
Leo silenced the room with a hand and pushed further. “You should have seen his face when I wrapped my hand in his shirt, snatched him off the ground, and pinned him against the wall.” He scratched his chin and asked, “How’d it go after that, Q?”
I cleared my throat and lied. “I can’t remember.”
“Luckily for you, I do.” He smirked. “I said, ‘Well, marry her, then.’ You all should have seen his face as it morphed into absolute terror. I swear, right then and there, he developed a stutter.” Again with the baby voice. “‘L-l-like right now, Leo?’”
I dropped my head and laughed right along with everyone else, including Liv. “Yep. Laugh it up! Hi-larious!” I said, tickling her.
“Poor kid looked at me like I was about to force him to the altar.” Leo barely managed to get the words out around his laughter. “After that, ‘The Stone Fist’ was more than willing to listen to anything I had to say. The first thing I told him was that I would never allow him near her again if he didn’t get his shit together. This included, but was not limited to, studying hard, making good grades, being the decent human being I knew he was capable of, treating Till and Eliza with respect, and securing his future by getting back in the ring we all knew he was born for.”
The laughter quieted.
“The second thing I told him was that, if he was man enough to know that he was in love with her, he was man enough to realize that she deserved better than him. I stand by that opinion too. But you see, Quarry caught me on a loophole. My daughter was twelve, so, Sarah, you’ll have to forgive me here.” He looked back at his wife, who was all but glowing. “I told him if and when he accomplished all of that, I would personally walk her down the aisle to him one day.”
The women all swooned.
Liv’s hand found mine and intertwined our fingers.
Oh, but Leo wasn’t done yet. Not even close.
“You know, Liv, I wasn’t around when you were born. I’ve always regretted that. I missed so much of your life in those early years, and your mom can attest to this. But I vowed shortly after you came to live with us that those days were over. So I’m real sorry if I ruin this for you, baby, but you have to realize Quarry has made good on his promises to me.”
My entire body went on alert as Leo’s face softened while looking at his daughter.
“He’s a good man, Liv. He can more than provide for you and whatever family you decide to make in, say…twenty years. While you two haven’t been ‘officially’ together for a long time, I’d have to be blind not to see how much he loves you.”
I pushed to my feet with Liv still in my arms. “Leo,” I said, attempting to cut him off as Liv slid to her feet.
He kept right on talking. “There is not a doubt in my mind that he would lay down his own life to protect you from even a second of harm. And, for those reasons alone, I gave him my blessing to ask for your hand in marriage not even an hour ago.”
Son.
Of.
A.
Bitch!