Page 106 of Always Been Yours

I nod. There’s no point in being mad. I should have thought about that. Itwascareless of me. “Do you want me and Vivi to stop?”

Stella and Daisy both look up at me, conflicted. I continue, “You two are the most important people in my life. You come first.Always. And… if you need more time, then I can tell Vivi that we need to be non-kissing friends right now.” The thought of having that conversation guts me. I can’t imagine being just her friend after the last couple months of slowly gaining every part of her. I know she would understand but it doesn’t stop the ache.

Stella shakes her head, a tear slipping over her cheek. “No. You’ve seemed really happy. You smile a lot more here than you ever did in Phoenix. I don’t want you to stop smiling.”

“Me neither, Daddy.” Tears start falling down Daisy’s cheeks too. “I like when you’re happy and I… I want Vivi to be my friend.”

My eyes start to burn but I blink back my tears, trying to hold it together for them. I cried in front of them once when their mom moved out, and it was a mistake. My tears only made them even more sad. I look at Stella and she nods in agreement, more tears falling.

I walk around the island and scoop them both up into my arms. They each wrap their arms around my neck as I walk to the couch and get settled. “I’ve only felt overflowing love and happiness since you two were born, but I want to be a dad who smiles more. And you’re right, Vivi makes me smile.”

“She makes me smile too,” Daisy says in a small voice as she wipes her eyes.

“Stell? What do you think? Could Vivi be someone who makes you smile one day?”

She looks at me for a long time and I use my thumb to wipe the lingering tears on her cheeks. She places her head back on my shoulder and gives me one quick bob of her head. “Can we watch a movie before bed?”

“Sure, sweetheart.” I grab the remote and open the Disney Plus app. Stella and Daisy snuggle into each side of me and we lay like that for the entirety of the film.

After Daisy’s in bed, I stop by Stella’s room and sit on the edge of her bed. I push her hair out of her face while she gives me a contemplative look. “I’m sorry I haven’t been very nice,” she adds after a second. “I promise I’ll help Patrick with his math tomorrow.”

I lean down and place a kiss on her forehead. “It’s okay to have big feelings and not know how to handle them. You’re still learning, and you will be for the rest of your life. It doesn’t stop but thank you for talking to me tonight.”

She nods, her hands tucked in between her head and pillow. “I know I don’t act like it sometimes, but I do like Vivi… I just miss mom too.”

“I know, Stell. Neither trumps the other, okay? You get to feel both of those things.”

She nods again and gives me a small smile. I sit with her for a while longer, until her breathing slows, and she looks like she’s in a peaceful dream.

I go downstairs to clean up the bowls of ice cream that were forgotten earlier. Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I go straight to Vivi’s contact and call her. Even just hearing her voice while I tidy up sends a rush of relief and domesticity through me.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Grady

Mine and Vivi’s eyes immediately snap to each other. We aren’t sitting directly across from each other tonight so we both have to turn our heads to the right a little. Everyone is quiet, and for some reason Lexi looks the most surprised out of anyone.

Daisy’s words still ring through the air like an anvil.

Yeah, Daddy and Vivi kiss now. Right, Dad?

She’s so innocent and sweet. She has no idea that she just dropped a bomb. One that’s about twenty-five years in the making.

It has been exactly three days since I sat my daughters down and talked to them about Vivi. Daisy snapped back to herself like a rubber band after that. I even found her hanging out in Vivi’s classroom on Friday. Stella’s adjusting at a slower rate, but Vivi and I are patient, giving Stella the time she needs.

Her little sister obviously has other plans for all of us.

No one mentioned kissing, or even Vivi. My mom asked how Daisy’s week was and if we did anything exciting. She has no idea howexcitingthat nugget of information is to my mom and Bonnie. I slowly drag my eyes away from Vivi’s mortifiedexpression and look around the table.

I’m pretty sure that everyone was just letting Vivi believe that it was a secret even if they all had some idea about what was going on. We’ve been seen around Amada Beach with each other more than once in the last few weeks, first of all. Not to mention that her siblings were all at Yellow Cab—where we showed up together, disappeared for twenty minutes together, and left together.

We haven’t been doing a very good job at hiding anything, not thatIever wanted to.

I roll my eyes at Lexi and her fake shock. Her eyes are wide, one hand clutching the chair’s arm and the other covering a gasp. Asher and Calypso are both leaning back in their chairs with huge grins, looking like they’re tucked in for the show. Hudson’s expression is indiscernible—flat lips and raised eyebrows—but he doesn’t look angry. It’s pretty much what I would’ve expected from him. Even Blake has a small smile playing on her lips, but her husband has his arm draped around her shoulders, beaming next to her.

At the same time, Bonnie and my momsqueal—it’s a sound I’ve never heard from either of them, but one Daisy makes daily—and jump out of their chairs. My dad chuckles at the end of the table.

Look, I’m happier than anyone about me and Vivi. Probably more than even her. I know there was a part of her that feels like she lost some game between us and it’s a win I’ll never brag about. But their reaction feelsa littledramatic. Especially once we get yanked out of our chairs for a group hug.

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