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“Madison,” I placed my lips next to her ear. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”
She jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. I stumbled back a bit into the counter, cupping her rear in my hands. She giggled as I carried her into the bedroom, laying her gently on the bed.
“Oh no,” she snorted, “are you going to stop being rough with me and start being overprotective?”
Narrowing my gaze on hers, I licked my lips. “Overprotective? Absolutely. Gentle?” I reached down, yanking her legs apart. “Not a fucking chanc—”
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
We froze.
“Are you expecting anyone?” I whispered.
“No!” she hissed loudly.
I reached behind me, hovering my hand over my weapon as I approached the door, peeking through the peephole. Fuck. I twisted around. Eliza, I mouthed.
Maddie’s mouth fell agape.
Exhaling a quiet breath, I unlocked the door, pulling it open.
Startled, Elizabeth jumped. “Dad!”
“Eliz—”
She lifted her hand. “I should’ve known you'd be here. And normally I'd be mad about it, but I'm actually glad. I need to speak to both of you, so I was going to call you and tell you to come here, anyway.” Brow cocked, she folded her arms. “Do I need to ask before I enter my best friend's house?”
Still shocked at her sudden presence, I stepped to the side, letting her in. I glanced at Maddie for the first time since I opened the door, and she was stunned.
“Hi,” she rasped.
Elizabeth sighed audibly. “Can we go sit down before I change my mind about being here?”
Maddie and I exchanged an uneasy glance as we followed Elizabeth to the living room. She plopped down in a chair while Maddie and I sat one cushion apart on the couch.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Guys, come on.”
Maddie cleared her throat, inching closer to me. “We’re just trying to respect you—”
“No,” Elizabeth laughed. “Just don’t even finish that sentence. After our visit yesterday, and now this, I need to talk.”
Maddie snapped her mouth closed. I slid closer to her, closing the gap between us, stretching my arm behind her on the back of the sofa. We waited for Elizabeth to speak again. She studied us in silence before she continued.
Crossing her knee over the other, she leaned forward propping on an elbow. “On the way over here, I wasn't sure how I was going to do this. I wanted to talk to her first, but I also wanted to talk to you guys together.” She sat back, folding her hands together. “I love you both, and you can't blame me for being upset or shocked. Especially you, dad. Because we've been through this before when the roles were reversed.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“And,” she continued, “after talking with Vinny about it and him talking some sense into me, I've decided that I fully support this because when I put my feelings aside and really look at how happy you are, Dad, I realize how much you deserve it.”
Maddie and I exhaled a sigh of relief at the same time.
“You've always had my back, even when I caused a bunch of trouble,” Elizabeth continued. “And ultimately you had my back when mom attacked me because of my relationship.” She pressed her jacket sleeve to the corner of her eye, sniffling. “You've always put everyone first except yourself and for once you need to put your feelings before anyone else’s. And I can see how happy you guys are together.” She snickered. “I knew something was going on with you guys separately. I just didn’t think it was between you. So, I guess what I'm saying is, if being together is what you guys want, I need you to know that just like both of you have had my back in every other situation, I have both of yours in this.”
Maddie and I glimpsed one another, then back to Elizabeth.
She shifted in her seat. “What?”
I got ready to speak, but Maddie laid her palm on my thigh, shaking her head. “I'd like to say it if that's okay.”
