She smacked me on the ass after I grabbed my keys and my sunglasses and made my way out the door.
Once I was in my truck, I adjusted my rearview mirror, catching my reflection.
I had a goofy smile on my face.
This new normal was definitely working for me.
“Well, look who it is? I didn’t think you’d show,” Myles said as Benji laughed loudly.
I’d met him for a drink at the Moose Brew, and I knew he was going to give me shit because it had been a while.
“Hey, you don’t always show up either.”
“I’m just giving you a hard time. I’m happy for you, brother.” He clapped me on the shoulder.
“Well, fuck you both for being ridiculously happy.” Benji set a beer down in front of me with a wicked grin on his face before walking off when a customer waved him over.
“So, how’s it going? I hear Violet practically lives at your place.” He took a sip of his whiskey.
“Yeah, she’s over a lot. She likes us to come to her place, too, but it’s easier at my place with all Harper’s things there. So we stay at her place on the weekends, when Harper doesn’t have school.”
“I’m glad it’s working out. I was worried you two would kill each other when she first moved into your guesthouse.” He smirked.
“Yeah. There were some close calls. And she loves to challenge me and give me shit, but it works, you know?”
“Yeah. I know. I get it,” he said. “So will you make it official and ask her to move in?”
“Hell, I’d make it official today,” I said. “But Violet needs to do things on her time. She’s pretty guarded and cautious, so I don’t want to scare her off.”
“I don’t know about that. She’s different with you. Montana notices it too. You’re different with her as well. Sometimes it’s just right, and you have to stop questioning it.”
“How are we different?” I asked.
“Well, for one, I thought you didn’t know how to smile before, but it turns out you were just a miserable fucker.” He chuckled. “And Violet is always looking all goofy around you and Harper, which is rare for her. It’s a good thing. I’m happy for both of you. You’re not going to scare her off. She’s in just as deep as you are.”
“It’s not something I ever expected, you know? I didn’t ever expect to find someone I’d want to be in a relationship with.” I shrugged. “I mean, she and Harper practically booted me out of the house tonight. They’re doing some sort of face-mask, skin-care bullshit together, and it’s fucking adorable. Violet just fits—like she was always meant to be here.”
Myles smiled. “I’m happy for you, man. It’s scary as shit when it first happens, but once you let yourself enjoy it, it’s not scary at all.”
“So you’ve got the wedding to look forward to. I take it she’s doing all the planning?”
“Yeah, that’s her thing. You know me, I’d marry her today at the courthouse and just make it official. But she wants to have our friends and family there, and I’m fine with it. I don’t give a shit who’s there as long as she’s happy.”
“You are one pussy-whipped motherfucker.” My head tipped back in laughter.
“I’m not denying it. But she’s talking about kids, and I know I want that, I’m just—”
“You’re worried you won’t be good at it?” I asked, knowing exactly what Myles was feeling.
“Yeah. I mean, any kid is going to be lucky to have Montana for a mother. I know that. But I had a pretty fucked-up father, and I don’t want to fuck up anyone, you know?”
I chuckled. “Dude, your dad is an asshole.”
“I can be an asshole too.”
“You’re a different kind of asshole.” I held up a hand to stop him from blasting me before I continued. “You can be an overbearing, overprotective asshole. That’s different. You love deeply. You aren’t a selfish prick like your father. Hell, I struggled with all of this when Harper was born. I doubted myself every single day those first few months. But let me tell you the secret I’ve learned so far that has served me well. As long as you show up and you love that child, you’re going to be fine. The only way you fuck it up is by not being there. If you show up every damn day, and you love them the best way you can, you’re going to be fine.”
“I can handle that. I just don’t like to suck at anything. I like to win. I want to be a rock star dad,” he said, holding up his glass for another one when Benji looked over.
