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He didn’t remember when ‘Toady’ first came into the picture, but he did remember the way his dad cried when he first called him ‘Daddy’… and he was his daddy ever since.
“She had the softest smile, the most beautiful heart, and was so magical that I couldn’t imagine ever lookin’ at anyone else. I didn’t rush into things, kissing her or pushing for more, but instead let her set the pace in our relationship because that suited us… but every person is different. Every relationship is unique.”
“I’ve always known Niki, but something’s changed along the way and now it’s just different,” Luke admitted. “… And I’m afraid.”
“I’m sure,” he smiled, reaching over to ruffly Luke’s shorn hair. “You’re alright, you know that? Just take your time, do right by her, and don’t rush things. You are both young…”
“Dad…”
“You have your whole lives to fall in love,” his father said quietly, pulling him into an awkward hug under his arm. “You hear me? You’remyboy, always will be, and I’m not ready to be a grandpa… and I can tell you, Luke, that you aren’t ready to be a daddy - yet.”
Luke drew in his breath and tried to pull away, but his dad kept him locked under his arm, making him laugh as the man wrestled to keep him in a place like they used to do when he was little.
“Keep things on the ‘straight-and-narrow’ kiddo. Find yourself, think of where you want to be or how you can provide five years from now - and when you find that man? Then you are ready to consider moving forward with whomever you fall in love with.”
“Are ya’ gonna let me up?”
“Are ya’ gonna take things slow with Nicolette Saxon?”
“SHHHHH!” he hissed and wrested himself free from his dad, looking around nervously. “We don’t want anyone to know in case things don’t work out.”
“And if they do?” his dad chuckled.
Luke grew quiet and looked at his boots, suddenly alarmed as he realized he needed to figure out a future, find a place of his own, and start putting things into place if he was ready to move forward in his life – just like his dad mentioned.
He suddenly saw in his mind the way Niki smiled at him, remembered the taste of her kisses, and the way she sighed his name.
“If they work out, then I found a miracle,” Luke whispered openly, feeling a little overwhelmed by everything and needed to start grasping all these loose ends to put them into place.
“I think she’s the one who found the miracle,” his dad said thickly, smiling at him with his eyes shining with pride. “I love you, boy… always have.”
“I love you, too…”
Luke hesitated, looking openly at his father.
“I need help to find an actual full-time job,” he confessed nervously, searching his dad’s eyes. “And a really cheap place to live.”
“It’s like that, huh?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Well, okay then. Let’s talk about what you want to do, what youcando, and what potential bills will look like as a grown man.”
“You don’t think I’m a fool?”
“We all are when we find the right girl.”
His dad smiled at him, tapped his beer bottle against Luke’s – which was still unopened in his hands.
Luke couldn’t help the nervous laugh that escaped him as he realized that he needed to start thinking about things, putting it together tonight, because he planned on spending the day with Nicolette tomorrow.
CHAPTER4
Nicolette was ready to go when Luke pulled up – and had everything together for their date. She wanted to spend the entire day with him, not letting him out of her sight, and just savor these moments as much as possible. She brought a picnic blanket, packed a meal again, a few snacks, wore some shorts with a swimsuit underneath and was ready for anything.
“Good morning,” she beamed happily. “One thermos of java juice…”
Luke started laughing and held up a thermos, too.
