Page 68 of All of Me

Luke:

Oh, good idea. Kids are a guaranteed win. Nobody can say no to a cute proposal with kids involved.

Me:

I don’t know… What if it’s too much? Too soon?

Will:

Dude, you’ve basically been co-parenting for months. You already feel like their dad.

Vince:

You ARE their dad in every way that counts.

My breath catches for a second. Am I really ready for this? I glance into the living room, Sara is still stacking blocks, her little tongue poking out in concentration. She places the last block on her tower, but it wobbles, and before I can say anything, the whole thing crashes to the floor.

Sara lets out a frustrated huff and swats at the pile of blocks with her hand, sending them scattering. The commotion wakes Ruby, who stirs in her swing, her face scrunching as she lets out a tiny wail.

I flip the lighter shut and stick it back in my pocket, as I head into the living room. “It’s okay, Sara,” I say, kneeling beside her. She looks up at me, her lip quivering. “We’ll build it again, yeah? Together.”

Her face softens, but Ruby’s wails grow louder. I reach out to rock the swing gently with my foot, murmuring, “Shh, it’s okay, baby girl,” as I start helping Sara rebuild her tower.

It’s chaotic, but it’s also perfect. These loud, messy moments are full of love and make all of this worth it. They’re why I know I want forever with Callie and these girls.

Me:

But what if I mess it up? What if I freeze?

Luke:

You’re Owen Klein. You don’t freeze. You’ll be fine.

Will:

And if you do freeze, just drop to one knee and mumble something about loving her forever. That’s all you need.

Me:

Gee, that’s fucking romantic. So the bar is “don’t screw it up completely”?

Vince:

Pretty much.

Luke:

You’ve got this, man. Just remember, it’s about her, not some perfect plan.

I take another sip of my water, though it does little to quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. The sound of tires crunching in the driveway pulls my attention to the window, where I see Callie stepping out of the car. She’s home.

My heart gives a little jolt, a sensation that’s reassuring and unnerving all at once. The anxiety weighing on me all day, heavy and unrelenting, begins to lift. It’s not gone, not entirely, but it feels lighter somehow—like just knowing she’s here, walking back into this house, is enough to remind me of what truly matters.

I know they are right. I don’t need a perfect plan, a roadmap to solve every problem or fix every crack in the foundation. I just need her. Her laugh feels like sunlight breaking through clouds. She looks at me like she sees more than what I show the world. I see her quiet strength, even when she doesn’t think she has any left. I take a steadying breath. Whatever comes next, I’ll figure it out, because anything feels possible with her.

twenty-five

THRIFT SHOP - MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FEAT. WANZ

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