Page 15 of Dad Bod Secret Santa

Her eyes light up, and I realize my mistake as she breaks into a smile.

“You like her, don’t you?” she asks, almost like it’s a revelation. “Likeactuallylike her.”

“Now, don’t go reading too much into it,” I say, holding up a hand. “But yes, she’s nice.”

I keep saying nice, but the truth is so far from that word. I don’t even have the right words to say how I feel. Having Maggie and Wendy here has filled my heart with a peace I didn’t realize I was missing so badly. Life with Vivian has been great, but these past few days? My heart has expanded, and my goddamned soul has been revitalized. I didn’t recognize how much I missed having a woman in my life, not only for Vivian’s sake but for mine. I didn’t want to have a string of women coming in and out of Vivian’s life, but I realize I’ve been depriving myself and my daughter by avoiding a relationship.

That ends now.

Vivian shrugs, but she still has a little twinkle in her eye that makes me smile. “Well, I think you should like her,” she says, crossing her arms as if daring me to disagree. “She’s… she’s really nice. And she makes you smile. I mean, you’ve smiled more this week than you have in… a long time.”

I stare at her, the weight of her words settling over me. It’s true. With Maggie here, I’m a happier man.

“She makes you happy,” Vivian says, quieter this time. Her face softens, and she looks more mature than I’m used to.

“Yeah,” I say, the word coming out like a sigh. “Yeah, she does.”

Vivian steps closer, wrapping her arms around my waist. I hug her back, enjoying the steadiness of her presence. My girl—she’s the reason I’ve held on all these years, and the thought of giving her something more, a family with all the warmth and laughter we’ve missed…

“You’re enough for me, Dad,” she says into my chest, answering a question I’ve always been scared to ask. “Always have been. Always will be.”

I close my eyes, hugging my daughter so tightly that she giggles and squirms. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a smart, wonderful kid who loves me with such a pure, unshakable love.

I pull back, looking down at her. “Viv, I want you to know…whatever happens, you’re my number one, okay?”

She nods, grinning. “Good. And, you know, having Maggie and Wendy around is… fun. Feels like home. Maybe… I dunno, maybe we could… keep them?”

“That was an amazing breakfast, Hank,”Maggie says, clearing the plates. “I think I might need to nap from the food coma I feel coming on.”

I laugh and help her with the plates but frown when her phone buzzes. I don’t want to share her today.

Maggie pulls out her phone, her forehead creasing as she reads the screen. Then she lets out a soft, surprised laugh. “Oh. The power’s back.”

Her words land like a punch to my solar plexus. I nod slowly, forcing myself to swallow any reaction that might show the sudden drop in my stomach. “That’s…great news,” I manage, aiming for casual. My voice sounds foreign to my ears, like it’s coming from somewhere far away.

“Yeah,” she says, something distant in her tone.

She picks up one of the plates, and our fingers brush. The warmth of her touch sends a jolt through me, lighting up every nerve. For a split second, I allow myself to imagine a different conversation—one where I ask her to stay and make this cabin her home—our home—and where she leans into my touch and says yes.

But she pulls her hand back, and at that moment, the space between us feels wider than it ever has before, like last night was a fever dream. A small sigh escapes her, and she gives me a soft, almost apologetic smile. I watch her, hoping, searching for any sign that leaving isn’t what she wants.

My throat is tight, but I force the words out anyway. “So… I guess this means you want to go home tonight?”

The question echoes in the stillness, hanging between us like a fragile thread. Her eyes meet mine, and there’s something there for a moment—a flicker of hesitation. But it’s gone too quickly to read, and I can’t be sure if I imagined it.

Maggie nods, but her gaze shifts away as she does, almost like she’s avoiding something. I want to ask her to stay. I want to lay it all out, tell her how much I’ve come to care for her and Wendy, how much I need them here. But the words stick in my throat, tangled up in fear and uncertainty. I don’t know if she wants this or if she feels the same. I don’t even know if she thinks last nightmeant anything beyond a cozy evening with too much toddy and Christmas lights.

“Yeah, I guess we should,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her words hit me hard. I nod. I understand, but my chest tightens at the idea of her not being here.

“Thank you, Hank. For everything. You didn’t have to do all this,” she says softly, her voice full of gratitude that only makes the ache in my chest tighten. “I’m really… grateful.”

I swallow hard, trying to push down the words I want to say, the words that feel like they’re lodged somewhere deep, aching to come out. “It was… I’ll always be here for you, Maggie. Always.” My voice comes out rougher than I’d like, and I take a steadying breath, forcing myself to keep it together. “Anytime.”

Words fail me. But all I can seem to do is stand here like a fucking idiot, watching the woman I love get ready to leave.

CHAPTER 9

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