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“I love you so much.” I wrap my arms around his waist and press my forehead to his chest while he touches his chin to the top of my head. Together we take a deep breath and let it out slowly; with it goes all the years of pain and sadness.
I genuinely believe we will start over again and be the family we were always meant to be.
CALLUM
Ican't remember the last time I had to load a dishwasher.
If Romero caught me being this domestic, there would be no end to the sarcasm. There's a reason I wanted us to be as alone as possible tonight. That meant giving almost everyone the night off except for the guys down by the gate. Not that I'm afraid of getting caught scouring a pan, but I need my crew to respect me. I don't know that they could if they caught me up to my elbows in soap suds.
That's what I get for trying to give Bianca and Charlie a little space. Neither of them needs me hanging around while she navigates this impossible conversation. I keep an eye on the patio, ready to jump in if it looks like things are going south, but I need to give her father a little more credit. It's not like he would hurt her—that much, I know for sure. Nonetheless, I wouldn't put it past him to throw furniture into the pool when he can't control his rage.
Maybe I'm projecting my anger management issues onto him.
Finally, the table is clean and the sink spotless while the dishwasher hums quietly. There's nothing left for me to do except check on them. Drying my hands, I head for the door, watching as Bianca presses her face to Charlie's chest. They're both in tears, and with good reason, but at least there's no fighting.
For years, they were all each other had. I can relate to the feeling. Amanda was MIA for virtually all of Tatum's childhood, only popping in when she wanted something before breezing out again. Half the time, she asked to meet somewhere besides the house. She was that determined not to set eyes on her daughter.
I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Charlie to step back and allow someone else into her life. I'm witnessing the final moments of the two of them existing on their own—the two of them against the world.
He lifts his head, wearing a smile, and Bianca is beaming when she looks up at him. The last of the tension that's plagued me all night loosens, and I can finally breathe as I slide the glass door open. “Everything all right out here?” I ask while stepping out.
Bianca wipes her eyes with her hands, still smiling as she crosses the patio to give me a hug. “Everything's fine,” she announces, then murmurs, “He'll be okay.”
After much sniffling and clearing his throat, Charlie slowly approaches me. I'm not going to take the lead on this. He knows what needs to be said, and considering his pained expression, he knows it, too.
“Say, Callum. I, uh... well, you see...” He scrubs a hand over his short, dark hair before rubbing the back of his neck while grimacing. “I'm having a hard time deciding what to say.”
No shit. “Take your time, whatever it is.” Bianca squeezes me a little, even growling under her breath. Let her growl. I've waited a long time for what's coming. I refuse to rush things.
“I'm sorry,” he finally announces. “I'm sorry for a lot of things. I was wrong, and I made many mistakes. I can't promise I won't make more, but for now, thank you for going out of your way to help with...”
I'm not a completely heartless bastard, so I throw the man a lifeline. “I understand. I'm sorry there was nothing more I could do.”
“What else could have been done? As I told Bianca, it doesn't change anything beyond showing me how wrong I was and how much I have to make up for.”
“All that matters now is that we can all move forward and perhaps put some of this behind us.”
“I would like that.” I'm not fooled. I see the way his jaw works as he grits his teeth before extending a hand to shake. It's not going to be as easy as putting everything behind us. However, for now, it has to be enough that we're both willing to meet halfway for the sake of the girl in my arms.
A girl who releases a shuddering sigh when she watches us shake hands. “I'm a mess,” she announces, unwinding her arms from around my waist. “If you'll excuse me, I'm going to clean myself up.”
“Don't take too long. I'm not sure if I can trust myself around the tiramisu that's in the fridge.”
Charlie perks up. “Tiramisu? Now I wish I had saved a little room.”
“It was one of the few things she didn't insist on making from scratch,” I murmur once she's in the house. “I managed to convince her to pick some up at a bakery. It meant a lot to her for everything to go well tonight.”
“After all the shit I put you through, I'm amazed you let me through your front door.”
“Let's be fair,” I offer as we follow in Bianca's footsteps, returning to the kitchen. “I'm no angel. We both know that. Although, I am willing to put all that behind us for her sake and our family's sake.” His jaw ticks at the wordfamily, yet he's gotten better at keeping his thoughts to himself. Maybe there's hope of all of this working out, after all. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure.
“I have to say, if there's one thing I never expected, it was one day being part of the same family.”
“That makes two of us.” As I reach into the refrigerator to pull the pink cardboard box from its shelf, another box that the velvet box in my pocket reminds me of a conversation I want us to have. With Bianca occupied in the powder room, this might be the perfect time.
Right away, my pulse picks up speed and a cold sweat covers the back of my neck. I've brokered deals with men who tortured people for fun, and I can't find the words to ask a man for his daughter's hand.
“Charlie, I—” It's the ringing of the doorbell that cuts me off, and I grunt under my breath at the interruption. “Who the hell would show up at this time of night?”
