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I can’t help but smile. I feel my lips spreading wide across my face, probably too wide. There’s probably too much shameless glee radiating from me. “No offense taken,” I say. “Seriously.”
“I’m sorry,” James says, “for being such a dick on the date, embarrassing you at your school, and for all of it. I swear, I didn’t know how much you meant to Dad or how much Dad meant to you. I wouldn’t have gotten in the way if I had.”
“I forgive you, son,” Fletcher says. “I just hope you can forgive me.”
“What?” James snaps. “Forgiveyou?Why would I need to forgive you, Dad?”
“Come on…” Fletcher reaches over and places his hand on James’ arm. All the while, I’m trying not to punch the air, trying not to cheer or let out a lot of inappropriate happiness. “I didn’t know any of this was a trick. I thought you actually cared about Samantha, and I pursued her anyway. Let’s face it. You would never have done this if I wasn’t such a cold bastard, but I promise, James. I’m going to be better. Samantha has helped me with that. I’m going to be less of a robot.”
James places his hand on top of Fletcher’s. “Thanks, Dad, and you don’t have to wonder if I’ll forgive you. I already have.” He looks up at me with a smile. “It’s okay, Samantha. You don’t have to hold it back.”
“Hold what back?”
James chuckles. “You look like you want to cheer. Seriously, I don’t mind.”
“It’s just…” My smile keeps widening. I feel like I’m floating. “I seriously thought we wouldn’t have a chance at all. I thought it could be the end. Knowing it’s just the beginning is a special thing.”
“I’ve never seen Dad this happy,” James says, grinning. “Honestly, I didn’t know the grim old mancouldsmile.”
“Careful,” Fletcher says. “My girl doesn’t like it when people call me old. Isn’t that right?”
I laugh. James is right. I could cheer any second. Punch the air. Scream at the top of my lungs,We made it. We’re going to make it work. We’re going to do this.“You have to call himmatureorexperienced,” I say.
“Oh, is that the new rule, Dad?” James replies.
“Don’t ask me,” Fletcher says. “She’s the boss.”
We all laugh together. Even Loki gets in on the action, jumping to the floor and running in crazy circles, standing on his hind legs and letting out yaps of joy. After a moment, Fletcher reaches over and takes my hand.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Fletcher
“Thank you, Annabelle,” I say, offering my hand to Samantha’s mother.
She takes my hand and shakes it gently. She feels so frail and vulnerable, but it doesn’t matter. Now, she’s got me to look out for her. She will be my mother-in-law soon, as crazy as people might find that. At least she’s almost twenty years older than me, making it less awkward.
“If you mean everything you’ve said,” she tells me, holding my hand with sudden tightness, not so frail when she’s in mother-bear mode, “you’ll make my daughter happier than anybody else ever could.”
“I meant every word,” I say fiercely. “I love your daughter. I’m going to protect her, provide for her. I’m going to be the husband she deserves.”
Annabelle smiles. After I leave the house, there’s a spring in my step.
It’s been four days since James revealed the truth. Things were slightly awkward between us at first. I kept expecting him to resent me for pursuing my girl even when I thought he loved her, and he kept expecting me to resent the lie. We both realize it’s just better to put it behind us.
My woman said it best last night.“It’s like with me and Lexi. I could be mad if I wanted. I could hold a grudge, but what’s the point? We’ve won, Fletcher. We’ve got what so many dream of but will never have. We have a relationship worth fighting for. We have each other. We have a future so bright I almost cry just thinking about it.”
This was after we’d made love. Sometimes, my woman and I will fuck, screw, turn feral. Other times, we’ll take it slower. Last night, Samantha was on top, gently rocking back and forth as I slid my hands over her back, sitting up so we could gaze into each other’s eyes as we lost ourselves in the pleasure.
Getting into the driver’s seat of my car, I’ve got a big grin on my face. I’ve been nervous ever since I decided to speak to Annabelle and ask her for her blessing. It was the final hurdle, and I knew Annabelle might say no.
I’m older. We’re rushing into things. Samantha is too young and naïve to make this decision. These are all the reasons she could’ve given for us not working. It would’ve been easy and maybe justified for her to put up those walls to defend her daughter. Yet when she looked at me, she must’ve seen how sincere I was.
“Bad date,”Samantha said last night, trailing her fingers down my chest and stomach toward my manhood.“Good dad. It’s funny how life works out, isn’t it?”
I’m about to start the car when my cell rings. It’s Charles Malone.
“Howdy,” he says.
