Page 95 of Quake

“All we want is for you to be happy, andclearly,you are with Lark. We don’t want you to wait so long to tell her that you waste precious time with her,” Charlie explains.

I nod, slowly taking in what they’re trying to get across. “I want to tell her, but it’s only been a few months since we met, and I don’t want to scare her off.”

Being this vulnerable about my feelings is extremely new to me, but I’m sure Dr. Fasano will be proud as hell when I tell him during next week's appointment.

“No offense, but you’d have to be blind not to see the way that woman looks at you. She feels the same as you do; I’m absolutely certain of it,” Ale says. His words fill me with a kind of hope that I can’t help but fear because when there’s hope, it’s that much easier to be crushed if the outcome isn’t what you want.

I avert my gaze, not wanting to look at any of them, as I mutter, “I’ll tell her soon. I just need a little more time to convince myself she isn’t going to run for the hills.”

***

I can’t sleep as I lie in bed, my family’s words flitting through my mind.

What if she doesn’t feel the same?The thought sinks to the pit of my stomach, but a new one quickly follows it.

But what if she does?

That’s all it takes for me to decide. I’m going to tell her how I feel,and soon.

Chapter fifty-four

Lark

“Be good today, Rex; Gianni’s gonna stop by to take you on a walk later,” I tell him and blow him a kiss. As usual, he glares over his shoulder at me and goes back to napping like his usual grumpy self.

I lock the door and head downstairs with Tiny. My phone vibrates in my pocket as we make our way to the parking lot so we can head to work.

“Hey, Dad,” I say as I open the back door for Tiny to climb inside.

“Hey, do you have any plans for tonight?”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry, I do, actually. It’s Kira’s birthday, so I’m going out to dinner with the girls.”

“You think Kira and the girls would mind if I tagged along?” It takes all of my restraint not to burst out laughing. He has known since we were in high school that Kira wouldnevermind having him around.

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem. I’ll send you the name of the restaurant when I get to work.”

“Sounds good, little bird. I can’t wait to see you and the girls. Have a good day at work,” he tells me.

“You too, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you more,” he says before hanging up.

***

We’re seated on the patio of a restaurant Kira’s uncle owns, and the sun is starting to set, creating the most beautiful halo around us.

“I’m surprised Daddy Hughes asked to join us tonight,” Kira muses beside Madison and Jade, knowing damn well it annoys me when she calls him that. She also knows that it’s her birthday, and I won’t say anything for that reason alone.

“Speak of the devil,” Madison whispers across from me as she peers over my shoulder to where the parking lot is. “And it seems he isn’t alone.” She laughs quietly.

That gains my attention. I turn to figure out what she could be talking about, and sure enough, Shay is walking hand in hand with my dad.

Finally.

I knew they had a thing for one another.

Dad and Shay approach our table, Shay’s bronze cheeks literally glowing in the sun with the massive smile she’s wearing.

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