“Don’t cry, baby.”
He wanted to be here, so he came. He said he’d do it again, a hundred times—all without asking me to travel less or carve time away from my career to make him happy. He doesn’t need that to be happy. He just needs me as I am, wherever that may be.
So, of course I’m crying. The limit to what I’d do to make this work with him no longer exists, knowing the effort he’s willing to put in in return. I needed that reassurance from him.
He’s standing here in front of me, I’m in his arms, and it’s living proof that I wasn’t imagining this thing between us. I wasn’t losing my mind when I thought a man who took initiative was worth waiting for.
“Izzy?”
My head whips in the direction of the stairs, recognizing the voice. “Dad?”
Ledger takes a step back, swiftly lifting me and then setting me on my feet in front of him. I see it the second the urge hits him to hide his hands in his pockets, but I slide my palm into his, threading our fingers together.
“Sensational speech, honey.” Dad beams as he approaches us. Mom isn’t far behind him, and he strings her along with their hands intertwined like mine and Ledger’s.
“It was a very subpar speech, but thank you,” I laugh. Without letting go of Ledger’s hand, I lean in for a hug from them both. Mom eyes me with a raised brow like she’s anticipating an introduction.
“Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Ledger.”
My head turns slowly to gauge his reaction. He’s already focused on me with a smile warmer than any other I’ve seen him wear before.I think he liked hearing that as much as I liked saying it.
Mom goes in for a hug immediately, and then Dad extends his hand between them.
“It’s good to meet you.”
Ledger drops our connection momentarily to shake my dad’s hand.
“Now, what are your intentions with my daughter?” Dad growls with his brows slammed together. I roll my eyes and snicker at Ledger’s hard swallow. Not a moment later, Dad laughs and reaches up to slap him on the shoulder. “Ah, I’m just kidding. Always wanted to say that.”
I take Ledger’s hand in mine once again, and he squeezes his fingers around mine.
“Are we still doing brunch tomorrow?” I ask.
“Of course!” Mom replies while Dad loops his arm around her waist.
“You could join us for dinner,” Ledger suggests. “Grill me if you want.”
That puts a smile on my dad’s face, but I lean into Ledger and place my free hand flat on his abdomen. Like hell am I having a family dinner instead of taking this man directly back to my hotel room.
“I’m so tired,” I lie. I look up at him, hoping he telepathically hears me telling him that I want him to myself as soon as possible. “They can smother you with questions in the morning.”
He nods, placing his hat back on his head. With a satisfied smile, I lean my cheek against his bicep, curling my arm through his.
“Fine by us, honey. Have fun, love you!” Mom sing-songs. She spins on her heel, whisking Dad away with her. As they scurry up the stairs, I laugh, thankful for an intuitive mother.
“I should give a few personal thank yous and grab my things. Then we can go,” I say.
We stroll hand in hand back to the auditorium. The whirlwind of relief hits me once again as he stops to bend down for a kiss while holding the door for me. Since I promised myself I’d be open to these types of upfront and honest conversations with him from now on, I let the lingering question roll off my tongue before stepping through the door.
“What will this look like? You and me?”
He cups his hand around my jaw and holds my gaze with a promising gleam in his eye.
“Are you up for staying with me when you’re not traveling?”
My eyes light up, and I nod through more tears. I’msoup for that.
“Then it looks like me going with you as much as I can. And you working closer to home sometimes too, if that’s what you want.”
