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My dad rolls his eyes, then pats her hand. I give him a bag of his favorite gummi bears. “Thanks, kiddo,” he says as he stands, then brings me in for a hug.
When he lets go, he nods hello to the guys. “Good to see you, Hollis, Rhys, Gavin.”
He sits and nods toward Rhys first. “Hear you’re sticking around.”
My British boyfriend breathes a big sigh of relief. “I am. Signed the contract yesterday.”
I grab his arm and squeeze it, still giddy that he’s staying put. Amira pulled it off but Rhys did the real work in therapy, learning to manage his expectations and his anxiety. I’m most proud of him for that. “I’m so happy you’re staying.”
Rhys dusts a quick kiss to my forehead. “Me too.”
My dad clears his throat. “If it makes my daughter happy, it makes me happy.”
We have lunch, and it doesn’t really matter that my dad is my only parent. He loves me as I am. He takes me as I am. He respects my choices. And he makes the effort with my boyfriends.
“Are the twins ready for the college app season coming up?” he asks Hollis.
“They’re a little obsessed with it,” he says.
“Not a bad thing to be obsessed with,” Dad says, then turns to Gavin, “And I hear you took up video editing?”
“Yes, sir,” he says. “So I can help Briar.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“And we just invested in a new apartment complex in Darling Springs, not too far away,” Rhys says, always somehow knowing what my dad wants to hear. “There’s a secure future in real estate for us when we’re too old to chase a puck around the ice anymore.”
“In a long time from now.” I squeeze his leg, but he looks back at me with a smile and worry-free eyes.
When we’re done, Clara fixes me with a no-nonsense stare. “You gonna do your review this summer, missy?”
I smile, wide and bright. “Sure am. I’ll have company though.”
She lifts a brow. “That so?”
“I convinced the guys to learn to fly a balloon.”
That summer, we all go up together again and soar over the place where we fell in love.
That’s how we do most things. Together. As a family and as friends.
My three real boyfriends and me.
