Brittany smiled, her lips curving up into that soft, knowing smile I loved so much. “You do. You just have to believe it.”
And in that moment, I did believe it. I believed in us. In our future. In the life we would build together, no matter how complicated the path was.
I closed my eyes, holding her close, and for the first time in months, I felt at peace. Whatever came next, we would face it together. And that was all I needed.
Everything was going to be okay.
Chapter 57
Ace
The sunlight bled softly through the plane window, warm and golden across Brittany’s face as we descended into LA. She had her head against my shoulder, fingers interlaced with mine. I kissed the top of her head and closed my eyes briefly, breathingher in. Home never felt like a place anymore. It was her. Wherever she was.
We were back to finalize everything before the big move to Arkansas. Selling my apartment, packing up Sierra’s things, and most importantly, letting go of everything that tried to break us. Brittany hadn’t met Karla yet — Sierra’s daughter, my little girl in every way that mattered. She was the last piece Brittany hadn’t seen.
The next morning, we pulled into the quiet, familiar neighborhood where Sierra’s parents still lived. Karla was already outside, sitting on the porch with a doll in her lap, her curls bouncing around her face like a halo of mischief. She stood when she saw me, beaming, and ran straight into my arms.
"Daddy! You said you'd be here yesterday," she pouted into my chest.
"I know, baby girl. The plane was slow. Can I have a hug to make up for it?"
She wrapped her arms tight around me. My heart cracked open every single time.
Brittany stood a few steps behind me, watching us with wide, curious eyes. Karla peeked over my shoulder, then whispered, "Is that your friend?"
I crouched and looked between them. "That’s Brittany, sweetheart. She’s very special to me. Want to say hi?"
Karla blinked at her, took a shy step forward, then frowned in that exaggerated toddler way. "You're really pretty," she said, then added with absolute confusion, "But you're... Daddy's girlfriend?"
Brittany knelt down to Karla’s level and smiled gently. "Yes, I am. It’s a little weird, huh?"
Karla nodded solemnly. "Does that mean I have to share you with Daddy now?"
I held my breath.
Brittany reached out and tucked a curl behind Karla’s ear. "Only if you want to. But I don’t want to take him from you. I want to be in your life too. Maybe we can all share."
Karla looked between us for a long moment, then smiled. "Okay. But you gotta like unicorns."
Brittany grinned. "I love unicorns."
And just like that, they were a team.
Later that day, I finally did what I’d been avoiding for years.
Jasper stood by his grill in the backyard, flipping burgers while his youngest, Colt, tried to climb up his leg. The house was filled with noise and laughter — Kyle and Astrid chasing each other through the sprinklers, Nathan trying to get Celic to dance to the music playing from the patio. Corinne was inside with Brittany, helping her look at houses near theirs in Arkansas.
"You’ve been quiet," Jasper said, handing me a beer. "That usually means you’re about to do something dumb or emotional. Which one is it today?"
I took a long sip and exhaled. "Both."
He raised a brow.
I set the beer down. "I’ve been in love with your sister for a long time. Since before Sierra. Before going to college. Before everything.Before I had any right to. I am also part of the reason she got into depression and anorexic"I tell him
Jasper froze, spatula mid-air.
"I didn’t say anything because I knew you’d kill me. Or worse, look at me like you’re looking now."
