Page 146 of His Surrender

I laugh. “What does that mean?”

“It means I fully intend to remind him that no matter how successful he becomes … he’s still the kid who accidentally broke my rake, trying to build a baseball field in our backyard.”

I burst into laughter. “Oh my gosh.”

“He remembers. I guarantee he remembers.”

I shake my head, smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt. “I’ll tell him.”

“I love you, Bug.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

“Thank you for telling us, sweetheart,” Mom says. “Love you, dear.”

“I love you, Mom.”

When the call ends, I lower the phone and stare out at the city for another moment.

The knot I’ve been carrying in my chest since Dean asked me to be his girlfriend is gone.

My parents know. They’re happy, and somewhere down the hall, Dean is probably feeding Liana her bedtime bottle.

I wipe away a happy tear, smile to myself, and head for the bedroom door.

I can’t wait to tell him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

DEAN

I’ve delivered keynote speeches to thousands of people without so much as a tremor in my voice.

Nothing compares to waiting for Aubrey to walk out of her bedroom. I adjust the cuffs of my tuxedo for what has to be the tenth time, glancing toward the hallway again.

Liana squirms happily in my father’s arms.

“I think you’re more nervous than you were before your first board meeting,” Dad says with a grin.

I avoid his gaze. “I’m not nervous.”

“Mmm,” he hums softly.

“I’m not,” I argue.

“You’ve checked your watch six times.”

I finally meet his eyes. “I was making sure we’re on schedule.”

“You’ve also straightened your tie three times.”

“I like my tie straight.”

Dad chuckles under his breath. “I remember another young man who kept pretending he wasn’t nervous before taking a girl to her senior prom.”

I roll my eyes. “I was seventeen, Dad.”

His forehead creases. “And?”