Page 84 of That First Flight

She smiles but another yawn quickly follows after that.

“How about we make a deal? Fifteen more minutes of this show and then it’s bedtime. Does that work for you?”

Mackenzie nods. “That’s a deal I can work with.”

She settles into me and I can’t help but think about how my life has drastically changed in the last few months. In the best way possible.

I get it now. I do.

Why Thomas would drop anything and everything for his son.

Why Thomas was head over heels for Peyton as quickly as he was.

Why Marc couldn’t stay away from Avery even if he tried.

The woman I met on a flight home from work had to go and change everything. I’m not afraid to admit that it scared the crap out of me when I heard Macey was a mom. I’ve always tried to avoid them at all costs because I knew I wasn’t built for a relationship. I never once had plans to stick around long enough with anyone and I couldn’t do that to a kid.

On top of my transient lifestyle, no part of me has felt like I had any fatherly instincts. It all came so naturally for my dad, being able to balance work and family life. Marc grew up always wanting to be just like dad. Thomas was a little more career driven. But I just never stuck around long enough for anything more than a quick weekend fling. I thought there was no way a family would happen for me.

Up until her orientation began, finding new little breakfast nooks with Macey has become a regular occurrence. We started ordering multiple plates and splitting everything, just so we can try more food together. This has actually resulted in me creating a whole new base on my blog just dedicated to NYC content. There have been a few times I've needed to go out and take some pictures for the blog and both girls will come along with me to see a little more of the city. Mackenzie loves it because she brings her camera and we take the pictures together.

This new normal is bringing me a sense of peace I had no idea I was missing.

I’ve never been more comfortable with the direction of this life and staying put with my girls. I don’t know for sure how either of them feel about it, but that’s what they are to me.

My girls.

The ones I would protect at all costs.

The ones I would drop everything for if they needed me.

A few minutes go by as these thoughts swarm in my head when Mackenzie interrupts them.

“Hey, Ollie?”

“Yeah?”

“I just want to say again that you’re really great. I don’t know if I ever actually said thank you for my room. It’s really amazing.” Mackenzie yawns again. “And this place. And for bringing us here.”

She’s sitting right next to me, but she scoots herself closer and wraps an arm around my waist causing me to drape an arm around her shoulder to hold her into me.

“I really love you,” Mackenzie confesses.

And there it goes.

My heart. Gone.

Completely lost for the taken by a little girl who’s flipped my world upside down in the greatest way possible.

No child has ever said that to me other than James who has known me his entire life. Loving your family is something you naturally learn when you grow up surrounded by healthy relationships. I beamed when he first told me “I love you, Uncle Ollie,” but there's something so special about hearing it from Mackenzie.

After taking a minute to process it, I give her a tighter squeeze on the shoulder.

“I love you too, Kenzie.”

And I mean it. I really fucking do.

“Macey, you completely killed it in the kitchen tonight!” Kevin says, holding out his fist for me to meet him in a fist bump.

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