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Wes - One year later
Katiestumblesintotheliving room with a box entirely too heavy for her and drops it at my feet.
“A little help, maybe?” she sasses as she crosses her arms in front of her.
I try hard to bite back my smile, but she’s too cute when she pretends to play “grumpy” Katie, and within seconds my face lights up.
“Stop,” she says, trying not to smile herself. “That’s not fair; you always make me laugh.”
“You still nailed it, kid,” I say, scruffing up her hair.
Her eyes narrow as she stares at me before finally saying, “Kids these days, no respect.”
I burst out laughing and pull her into my arms as she laughs along with me. God, I love this girl.
Katie and I have our own special thing. It started the day I told her that Gran was the “lovely lady” she was named after. Ever since then she’s asked me to regale her with stories or asked what my gran would do in certain situations. And right now, she’s playing her part. Pretending to say things she thinks Gran would say in this very moment. The moment we all move into our first home together.Our own home.
God, it still blows my mind to think that this is my life now. I have a partner, a little girl, a life away from the spotlight where I can be me, rather than the man everyone expected me to be.
There’s only two things that could make it even more perfect, and I’m working on them right now.
“Katie? I told you not to bother Wes. He’s trying to put together the… Oh, you finished it?”
Lucy joins us in the living room and looks between our new TV unit and me with a look of pure disbelief.
“What does that mean? ‘Oh, you finished it?’ You didn’t think I was capable?”
“No, I just…I didn’t hear any cursing, or things being thrown around.”
A knot forms in my stomach at her completely straight face. Did she seriously expect that? My mind flashes back to the way she was previously treated by the exes and I sigh. “Lucy—”
She bursts out laughing as she pats me on the back. “I’m totally messing with you. Now hurry up; we have to be at Dylan and Summer’s in an hour and you’re still in your sweats.”
“You love my sweats.”
A hint of pink spreads across her face as she pokes her tongue out and walks away.Yeah, she loves my sweats.
“Sweats should never be worn outside the house,” Katie says in her fake Gran voice, and I burst out laughing again. If Katie hadn’t already been born when my Gran died, I would have sworn she was a reincarnation. It’s scary sometimes.
Two hours later, the Friendsgiving party is in full swing. Just over a year ago, I barely knew these people and now they’re like my family. No, theyaremy family. Seeing the way they all look out for Katie and Lucy made it impossible not to like them, and those feelings have only strengthened over the past year. Carter and Grayson are also here today, making it even better.
“Can I stay the night here? With Joshie?” Katie asks, as she half carries, half drags Josh to where Lucy and I are standing with Joel and Delilah. As though we wouldn’t know who she was talking about if he wasn’t with her.
The way she’s bonded with Josh is incredible to see. I can’t wait to give her a sibling. It’s been on my mind ever since the day Josh was born, when Lucy accidentally mentioned us having kids. We’ve spoken about it a few times since, but never made any plans for it. First things first, and I’m taking that step tonight.
Lucy’s eyes flash toward Summer as she answers Katie. “I’m not sure, sweetie. It’s going to be a long day. Dylan and Summer might need a—”
“It’s fine with us,” Dylan says, interrupting her out of nowhere. She grimaces like she’s annoyed, and I can’t help but chuckle. I’d already called ahead and made plans for Katie to stay here. Not that Lucy knows that.
“Okay, great.Great. Thank you,” she says slowly as Dylan walks away like it’s no big deal. Don’t get me wrong, Dylan and Summer are always happy to help, but they’ve got enough on their plate with a one-year-old.
As always, after a few drinks, the karaoke comes out—only this time, it’s part of my plan. I sing a duet with Katie early on, something about building a snowman, and then let the others take over for a while, until it’s my time to shine.BeforeGrayson. I’m not stupid enough to follow him.
“I’m up next for karaoke; are you going to come and watch?” I ask Lucy when I’m able to get her attention.
She bursts out laughing, like she does any time I mention singing. “Babe, it’s sweet that you love doing this with Katie, but didn’t the two of you just sing? We might lose the crowd.”The crowd. Meaning our family and friends. She thinks that low of my singing?
I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Shut it. Katie is a beautiful singer,” I joke with a smile, knowing very well she was referring to me.
