Page 59 of Faking It With the Grumpy Single Dad

Joe’s eyes lock with mine. The rest of the world fades away. It’s just the two of us, standing on the beach, surrounded by the soft sound of the waves and the golden glow of the afternoon sun. There’s something raw and honest in his gaze, causing my heart to skip a beat.

“I’ve been trying to deny it,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “Trying to keep things professional between us. But the truth is, Poppy, that everything keeps leading me back to you. I played along with all of that fake dating stuff not just because I wanted to help you out, but because it felt nice to slip into a sense of normalcy like that with you.”

A breathless laugh escapes me. “Normal?”

“As normal as Poppy Minton’s life can be, I guess. I just—it felt good, Poppy. To be with you. Not just to pretend to be with you, but to spend all this time with you.”

His words are like a spark that ignites something deep inside me—something I’ve been trying to keep buried. I want to reach out and touch him, to close the distance between us, but I find myself holding back on the small chance that I’m still not reading his signals right.

He steps closer to me, his gaze flickering down to my lips. For a wondrous moment, I’m certain that he’s about to kiss me, and I’m more than certain that I want him to. My heart races, my entire body tingling with anticipation.

But then he pauses, his hand brushing lightly against mine, and I can feel the hesitation in his touch.

“You don’t owe me anything, Joe,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I try to hide the trickle of disappointment dripping down my spine. “I know my life is complicated, to say the least. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to keep things simple. Or if you wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. Especially with the stupid photos and… all that.”

He shakes his head, his fingers lacing with mine. A warmth spreads through me at the simple yet tender gesture.

“I’m done pretending, Poppy,” he says, his voice steady. “And I’m done trying to keep things simple. I’m done acting like my life is already complete the way that it is. I’ve been missing something for years. I’ve been missingyou.”

The words hang in the air, and I feel a surge of happiness so strong it almost takes my breath away. I don’t know what to say, so I just squeeze his hand, letting my silence speak for itself.

He smiles at my speechlessness; it’s a soft smile that makes my heart melt.

“How about I take you on arealdate?” he suggests, his voice light but full of meaning. “Nothing fancy. Because, I’m afraid to say, I’m not much of a fancy guy.”

I laugh. “I’d like that, Joe. I don’t need anything fancy. I like you just the way you are.”

Joe’s eyes gleam with joy as he sweeps me into his arms. The sand slips underfoot, causing me to practically float into his embrace. The earth itself is pushing us together this time, and there’s no part of me that’s tempted to resist as Joe presses his lips to mine and kisses me at last.

Epilogue: Joe

[Seven Months Later]

The beach is quiet tonight, with only the faint laughter and murmurs of other families gathered on the frozen beach in the distance, each group a little cluster of anticipation as we all wait for midnight. I shift my feet in the cold, snow-dusted sand, shaking my head a little as I look over at Cody and Eli, who are standing beside me, bundled in puffy jackets that make them look twice their size. They’re still shivering, though, their excitement tempered only by the chilly sea air and the blustery gusts of wind coming off the water.

Poppy stands just a few feet away, her hands jammed into the pockets of her wool coat as she watches the pier with a soft smile. A strand of golden hair, turned almost white in the moonlight, escapes the hood of her coat and brushes her cheek, and the way she’s looking out at the horizon makes me pause for a moment just to admire the sight of her.

Something about her still catches me off guard, even after all these months. The way she justfitsinto my life, like we were supposed to find each other all along, with a kindness andwarmth I hadn’t expected. Seven months together, and it already feels like she’s been a part of our family for years.

“Dad, how much longer?” Cody tugs at my sleeve, his nose red with cold as he tries to stifle a yawn.

“Almost there, kiddo. Just a few minutes left.” I squeeze his shoulder, pulling him closer to keep him warm.

Eli’s bouncing on his toes, wide awake. He’s been trying to keep himself still, but he’s buzzing with anticipation.

“It better be a good one,” he mutters, glancing at the pier. “They do this every year?”

I grin. “Every year, like clockwork.”

“Fireworks off a pier,” he says, shaking his head as though he’s some kind of New Year’s connoisseur. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

From beside us, Poppy lets out a soft laugh. “Just you wait, Eli,” she says. “Mermaid Shores knows how to put on a show.”

Just hearing her voice—so natural with the boys now, as though they’ve always been a part of her world—stirs something deep inside me. It took her no time at all to find a place in their lives. And they, in turn, welcomed her in a way I never thought possible. For boys who have only ever had a father, they’ve latched onto my girlfriend with all the earnestness of children reaching for their mother.

And maybe it’s too soon to be thinking that way. Maybe it’s too intense for my thoughts to take a direction like that.

But it’s New Year’s Eve, and I can’t help but feel a little emotional and romantic about everything. I’m a changed man, no longer so stoic and stern.

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