I feel like a teenager taking a girl out on my very first date again. I’m nervous as hell to see Liz and Teddy after the look he gave me at Carson’s first game. Honestly, I don’t blame him for not giving me the benefit of the doubt. In his eyes, I not only ghosted his daughter, but I abandoned her and his granddaughter when they needed me most.
Of course, I’m not even going to try to bring up the fact that I didn’t know Cadence existed, or I never would have abandoned either of them.
As for leaving Kenna, I honestly thought I was doing what was best for her then.
I take a deep breath and let the nerves roll off me. Then I pick up the bouquets of flowers I got for Kenna and her mom and the bottle of Maker’s Mark I got for Carson and Teddy.
Knowing Cadence isn’t napping, I think it’s safe to ring the doorbell.
I do, and when Kenna opens the door, I literally have to rub the ache in my chest that comes from the sight of her. It’s been a long three weeks since I’ve seen her in person. She’s got her hair pulled up in a bun, and she’s wearing a Wolverines sweatshirt with black leggings. Her face is free of makeup. She looks relaxed and carefree. She’s pure perfection.
Nothing has changed when it comes to my allure for Kenna. If anything, seeing her with our daughter has heightened my attraction to her.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” she says in greeting.
I stand there awkwardly for a beat before I pull myself together.
“You’re so gorgeous it hurts, Sunshine.”
Her breath hitches at my statement.
“Your pickup lines have not aged well, G,” Carson teases from somewhere inside the house.
Ranger comes trotting around the corner when he hears the door. When he sees me, Ranger jumps into my arms and whimpers.
“Hey, buddy! How’s my Goodest Boy doing? Did you miss me as much as I missed you?”
“It’s only been a few weeks,” Kenna teases.
“Any length of time without Ranger is like a lifetime.”
“Trust me, I know. The semester I lived in the dorms was the loneliest I’ve ever felt, and I couldn’t even have my support pup with me.”
Her confession hits me like a punch to the chest. She was lonely because I wasn’t there for her. I wasn’t there because I chose not to be. Katie was her support person, and she lost her.
I need to take Carson aside and thank him for being there for Kenna when I couldn’t be.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I tell her as I pull her in for a side hug. It’s a timid move on my part—I’m not sure what she’s comfortable with. Kenna stiffens at first, then softens, wrapping her arms around my waist. I breathe her in and place a chaste kiss on her forehead.
“These are for you.” I hand Kenna one of the bouquets of flowers.
“Thank you, Griff. You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know, Sunshine,” I whisper over her temple, causing a shiver to slide down her spine.
She grabs the flowers but pulls from my embrace when her mom, dad, Cadence, and Carson come into the room.
“And these are for you, Lizzie,” I say as I hand her the other bouquet.
Liz doesn’t hesitate as she pulls me in for a tight hug. She smells the same as always, like vanilla and cinnamon, wrapping me in a comfort only smells from your childhood can.
“It’s so great to see you, Griffin. It’s been too long.” She squeezes my arm before stepping away to grab Cadence from Carson’s arms.
“Should we go put these beauties in some water, Cades?” Liz asks Cadence as she carts her off to the kitchen.
Carson brings me in for a bro hug, patting my back. “G, it’s good to see you. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Thanks for having me. I’m sorry my dad couldn’t make it. He’s been eager to meet Cadence, so he was disappointed this surgery came up.”
