Chapter 63

Ismiled before I even opened my eyes. Graham's arm was wrapped around me. I was pretty sure it had been there all night. It would explain why I had slept so well.

It was moving day, and the thought of starting this new chapter of our lives together filled me with elation—and some anxiety. Last night had been hard. With the crazy schedule the last few weeks, there was no time for us. Being close to him had stirred up desires I had been trying to keep in check.

We didn't do anything more than share a few tender kisses last night.

"I better get out of here," Graham mumbled.

I rolled over to look at his sleepy face. "She's probably going to be up any minute, chomping at the bit to get to the house."

"Just one minute," he said, opening his eyes and looking into mine.

His hand slid up my shirt to tease my breasts. I pushed his hand away with a laugh, shaking my head. "Not now, Graham. Sloane could walk in any moment."

He sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll behave—for now."

We quickly got dressed and made our way to the kitchen. Sloane was just coming out of her room, dressed and ready for the day.

"What time are the movers coming?" Sloane asked.

I checked the time. "Not too long now."

Sloane ate a protein bar while Graham and I enjoyed coffee. Caffeine was more important than food right then. I looked around the apartment that looked so much bigger than it had before. This place had been our home for the past four years, filled with memories both happy and sad. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but I knew this move was the best thing for us.

The movers arrived and got started, loading up the remaining boxes and furniture. They carried everything like it weighed nothing. My apartment emptied out faster than I was prepared for.

"This is it," I said, putting my arm around Sloane. "Any last words?"

"I'm going to take down your suitcases," Graham said. "I'll meet you guys down there."

I knew he was giving us a moment alone to say goodbye.

Unreadable emotions played across her face. It was hard for her to say goodbye to the place she had called home for so long, but I could see the excitement in her eyes as well. She knew that this move was necessary for our family, and she was ready to embrace the change.

"I'm a little sad to be moving, but I'm really happy to move into the house," she said.

"Me too." I nodded. "So, you're sure you are good with this?"

"Mom, it's a little late now." She laughed. "And yes. I told you, I'm good."

The apartment looked empty now, the walls stripped bare of the photos and memories that had once adorned them. It wasn't home anymore. A new couple would be moving in tomorrow or the day after. They would make it theirs, and I hoped they would find as much joy and love as my family had.

With one last look around, we headed downstairs to meet Graham. He waited for us by the car, a smile spreading across his face when he saw us.

"Can I ride with Graham?" Sloane asked.

"Of course. I'll follow you guys out."

Sloane hopped into the passenger seat next to Graham. I watched them drive away, love and pride overflowing my heart. My little girl was growing up, and I couldn't be happier to have Graham join me in parenting her into adulthood.

I climbed into my own car and followed them to our new home, singing along to the radio. People rarely got second chances to fix past mistakes, but this was our opportunity for another shot at love, not just between Graham and me but between father and daughter.

I pulled up to the house right behind them. Sloane was out of his car in a flash, running around and taking selfies. Chuckling, I got out to join them.

"Let me get a picture, too," Graham said. "You two stand by the front door."

"What about you?" I asked.

He looked around and grabbed one of the movers. The guy took the phone with a smile and counted down while we got in place, standing united as one as a family. He snapped a few shots, and it struck me it was our first family picture. Fourteen years later, but there was no time like the present to make up for old mistakes.

Graham thanked the guy and came back to show us the pictures. I was glad I was wearing sunglasses because I got misty eyed. The picture made it more real. We were together after so many years, and we were standing in front of our new house.

It was a literal dream come true.

"Alright," Graham said, slapping his hands together. "I hope you guys are ready to bust your buns. We've got a lot of unpacking to do, and you two need to tell me where things should go. I have zero talent for decorating."

"Let's go then!" Sloane exclaimed and walked into the house. "I already know where everything is going. Stick with me, old man."

Graham chuckled and hopped to it. I followed after them, nearly floating on air. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of the heavy lifting had already been done inside. The living-room furniture was already in place, and the moving guys were bringing in the boxes already, arranging everything with practiced efficiency.

"I'm going to my room!" Sloane exclaimed, climbing the stairs like her foot hadn't been in a cast a week ago.

Graham laughed. "Someone's excited."

"We all are." I looked around at the boxes stacked around the house. "Where should we start?"

"Kitchen?" he suggested. "At least some of it."

"Works for me." I nodded.

We started unpacking dishes and glasses. I still couldn't believe we were doing this. We were setting up a home together. He had seamlessly integrated himself into our lives, becoming a steady and reliable presence for both Sloane and me. I knew I was lucky to have him by my side.

After the kitchen, we went upstairs to check on what Sloane was up to. For all I knew, she was trying to claim the master bedroom for herself. Once she dug in, there would be no getting her out.

To my relief, she had chosen a room at the end of the hall with a view of the backyard. I noted it was on the opposite side of the house from the master. Good to know.

At some point, she must have directed the movers to bring up her furniture, since it was all in place already. The kid was going to be unstoppable when she grew up. My baby girl wasn't afraid to take charge.

Boxes with her name on them had been stacked in the hall outside her room, and she was already placing her most treasured items just so, making the space distinctly her own.

"I'm so going for a swim as soon as I'm done," Sloane declared.

"I might join you," Graham replied.

Our daughter pointed out her window. "The pool is right down there. What do you think? Can I make it from up here? I'm a good jumper."

"You're not diving into the pool from your bedroom, Sloane," I said. "We just got you out of a cast."

"Fine, diving is out. What we need to do is build a slide. Right? Who's with me?" She looked back and forth between Graham and me, waggling her eyebrows. "No takers?"

Graham shook his head with a chuckle. "Sorry, kiddo. You'll have to get in the pool the boring way."

She sighed for what felt like a full minute. "I guess I'll survive," she said and then was all smiles again.

"We should get our rooms unpacked a bit," I said to Graham. "Before she gets any other clever ideas. Like the upstairs fridge."

Sloane shrugged and went back to arranging things on her dresser. "The upstairs fridge was a great idea. It's not my fault you're not ready for the future."

Graham and I left her to it. In the hall, he gave me a strange look, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how.

Taking a guess, I put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know it's awkward and a pain in the ass for us to have separate rooms, but it's necessary."

He nodded. "You're right. I need to set my room up. I don't want to be sleeping on a bare mattress."

With a longing look, we parted. I went to the master bedroom. Ultimately, he would be moving in there with me once we got settled. We just needed to ease Sloane into the idea of us being a couple.

We started unpacking in our respective rooms. From time to time, he or Sloane would pop in to chat and lend a hand. Sometimes I went to their rooms while I took a break. There was something so satisfying about putting all our stuff in the proper place. The familiar things made the place feel more like home.

I was unpacking my clothes and placing them neatly in the walk-in closet, bringing order to the chaos, when I heard a splash from outside. The master had a private balcony that overlooked the backyard and I went out there to see if Sloane was trying to give me more gray hairs.

I looked down and saw Sloane and Graham in the pool. They were splashing each other and laughing, and it filled my soul with joy.

Living in New York City meant sacrificing certain luxuries, like a backyard. I saw many evenings just like this in our future. I looked beyond our yard and out to the water. It was so serene and such a stark contrast to the view of the Manhattan skyline. Just the sight of nature had stress uncoiling inside me.

I smiled to myself, feeling content. My daughter and her father were playing in the pool of our new home. It was a scene I never thought I'd have the chance to witness, a simple moment of laughter that filled me with gratitude for the life we were building together.

I was so close to getting everything I had ever wanted. Maybe that was why I was so hesitant to reveal my relationship with Graham. I felt like one wrong move would bring it all crashing down around our ears.

Eventually, they got out of the pool. All of us were exhausted after the long day. We were all ready to collapse onto the couch and unwind. We decided to keep it simple and ordered takeout again, curling up together in front of the TV to watch a movie.

It was a simple evening that most families would probably take for granted. To me it was heaven.

Graham kept glancing over at me when Sloane wouldn't notice. I knew exactly what was on his mind. It was on my mind too. We were both in desperate need of each other.

The movie came to an end. Sloane had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Do we wake her?" Graham whispered.

"She's going to want to sleep in her bed," I said. "I have a feeling she'll want to sleep late."

"I'll carry her up."

"You can't," I gasped. "She's too heavy."

"I've got her," he insisted.

True to his word, Graham easily lifted her into his arms and carried her up to her bed. My heart swelled with affection at the sight of him caring for Sloane with such tenderness. And then the usual guilt hit. She didn't get to have her daddy carry her to bed when she was little. There was so much lost time to make up for. It was all the more reason to be careful.

Once Sloane was settled in bed, Graham and I moved away from her room and ended up standing outside my bedroom door. A palpable tension hung between us. I longed for him to come inside, to share my bed and my space, but I held back.

"I know we're both dying to be together," I whispered.

"But it's too risky," he finished my thought.

"I'm just worried she might wake up, disoriented in the new house."

"I understand." He smiled. "We're probably too tired to do much anyway. I'd probably only make you come twice."

I laughed softly. "You and I both know that isn't true. We always find the energy when we're together."

"Good point." He slid his hand up to cup my face, looking into my eyes. "I'm really happy to be here with you."

His lips brushed over mine in a tender kiss. I melted into his touch, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me at the contact. It was a simple gesture, but it held so much meaning behind it—trust, longing, and a promise of what was to come.

As we pulled away, a soft smile played on my lips.

"Goodnight," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

"Goodnight," I replied, my heart fluttering with happiness.

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before turning to head to his own room. I watched him go, feeling joy at the connection we shared and a growing desire for more.

As I stood there in the hallway, the silence of the house surrounded me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. Our new living arrangement had brought us closer together, not just physically but emotionally as well. I knew that what we were building was fragile and precious, like a delicate flower just beginning to bloom. It was important we do it right.

Alone in my bed, I missed Graham, and when exhaustion overtook me, he visited me in my dreams.