Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

LUKAS

" Y es, we can," I say fiercely when Kayla says we can't promise we'll always feel this way. I've been struggling not to reach over and take Maci's hand all this time. I can hear the agony in her voice every time she speaks.

Kayla must be able to tell because she gestures and says, "It's okay, Dad. You can hold her hand ."

A small flurry of warmth courses through me at this. I take Maci's hand, squeezing tightly—probably as tightly as Finn is holding Kayla's. Nobody could argue this is a normal setup, but it works for us.

"How can you know?" Kayla says.

"I just knew the second I saw her," I say seriously. "My life would always be split into two: before Maci and after Maci. I'm not the same man I was then. Too much has changed. Maci has changed me. The guilt has changed me. Sebastian's betrayal has changed me. But one thing will never change: my determination to be with my woman and my dedication to her. That will always be with me."

"With us," Maci whispers.

Kayla lets go of Finn's hand and stands up, pacing up and down in front of us. "I believe you," she says, a note of awe in her voice. It makes me think of when she was a kid at the science fair, and she saw a papier maché volcano. It's a volcano, Daddy , with the same astonishment in her voice. "I do believe you."

I look at Maci. Her eyes are glistening with tears and hope. She swallows, and we both turn to Kayla.

"If I decide not to wage World War III over this," she says, standing at the head of the coffee table like a politician making a pronouncement, "I need to make something clear… to all three of you." She pauses. "No more lies. No more sneaking around. From now on, the truth, always. No matter what. I prefer the nasty truth over a pretty lie, okay? Please? Just do that for me."

"I swear," I tell her, getting choked up. "No more lies, Kayla."

"No more lies," Finn says. "I promise."

"No more lies." Maci's voice cracks. "I'm so sorry."

Kayla rushes around the table, sitting next to Maci. They hug each other tightly. I'm struggling to believe this is really happening. I'm sure I will wake up at any moment. We'll be standing outside Kayla's door. This is just too perfect. Do I really have the chance to be with my woman and keep my daughter in my life?

Finn meets my eye with a smile. I return the smile. Maci and Kayla sink into a deeper hug.

After drinking our coffees and brewing some more—it's that sort of day—Kayla suggests we play Scrabble. It feels so surreal I let out a laugh. Kayla looks at me sharply, and I wonder if it's too soon to laugh, but then she starts laughing, too. That gets Maci going, and then Finn joins in. All four of us are laughing like mad people.

Kayla wipes a tear from her eye, looking at me with a big cheesy grin on her face.

"I'll get the board," she says.

"I'll help."

"Help?" she asks, but it's too late. I'm already following her. In the study, she turns to me, her eyebrow raised. "I don't need help with a board, Dad."

"I wanted a moment alone." I open my arms, hoping she'll accept the hug. Part of me wonders if she was putting on a show in front of Maci and Finn, but when she wraps her arms around me, love flows between us. "No more lies," I say, affirming our earlier agreement.

She settles into the hug, and then I whisper, "Kayla, would you have a problem with me proposing to Maci?"

Kayla leans back, staring up at me with her mouth wide open. Her lips naturally form an upward curve as though she can't fight the smile and doesn't want to fight it anymore. After the way today started—fearing she'd hate us forever—I almost break down when I see her like this.

"Are you serious?" she asks.

Reaching into my pocket, I take out the ring box. "Pretty serious."

She glances at the door, snatches it, opens it, and looks at the diamond. " Dad , she's going to love this."

"You think so?" I ask.

"Definitely."

"I thought I'd have to trash it," I tell her, "but I wanted it, just in case. I've spoken to her mother, too. She's given me her blessing, but I think yours matters more, Kayla. We've put you through so much."

"Dad, you have my blessing," she says. "I've got an idea. Wait, how soon do you want to do this?"

"As soon as I can. Today. Now. Tomorrow. Whenever the time is right. I'm trying to think of a romantic way to do it, but?—"

Kayla cuts in, bubbling with excitement. "I've got the perfect idea," she says. "Just follow my lead, okay?"

"Okay…"

"What is it?"

Now I'm the one smiling like a loon. The smile widens, and then all the stress from the past month catches up with me. A single, warm tear flows down my face. Kayla gasps and reaches up, smoothing the tear from my cheek like she's shocked by its very existence.

"I've never seen you cry before," she whispers.

"Don't get used to it," I smirk. "It's just… us two, planning this together. I never could've dreamed of this. This is better than I could've hoped for. You and I planning the future together is perfect."

"It's crazy, isn't it?" she says. "I know it's a weird setup. Honestly, the more I think about it, the better I feel. I get to be there for my best friend and my dad. I get to see you both happy. I've always wanted Maci to find somebody, and I've always wanted you to find somebody, too."

"I bet you never thought we'd find each other, though."

"Well, no, but I'd have to be willfully ignorant to ignore how happy you make each other."

I pull her into my arms. "I love you, Kay bug."

"I love you too, Dad."