Page 55 of Mercy Lake

It also helped that he won over my family. My parents thought he was their saviour as under his tutelage, Dad had recovered back to his normal. Just looking at him, one wouldn’t have known he had experienced such a debilitating health scare not so long before.

Alicia was thankful for Owen’s input, and Austin followed him around like a shadow. Owen went above and beyondfor my boy, and in return, Austin thought Owen was on par with his indestructible Spiderman—the biggest compliment ever received.

That’s when little voices infiltrated the bubble that Owen and I had found ourselves.

“I heard Daddy say that Uncle Owen wants to beyourdaddy, Austin. Then, Daddy called him a pussy, but I don’t get it, since he doesn’t look like a cat,” Cooper said so casually to my son. As if he didn’t drop a loaded fucking grenade between me and my man.

Austin didn’t even flinch, and pitched his attention our way. Owen and I stood completely frozen on the spot. “Is that true, Coach? You wanna be my daddy?”

Owen blushed and gave it to him straight. “Ah, yes. I would love to… But that’s something me and your mum would have to—”

“Owen can be my daddy. Right, Mum?”

Oh my god. What do I do?

The unintentional showdown had garnered the attention from everyone in the vicinity, all of them waiting for my answer.

Then, I glanced at Owen. He had become my courage, my support, my home. And that’s when I saw it. The blatant hope shining in his eyes. He truly wanted us—Austin and me. Together.

So I gave my unerring truth in return. “I would love for him to be your daddy.”

Owen beamed, his arm circling my shoulders as if to make sure the moment was indeed real. I could feel him trembling against me, the monumental change only taking a second but lasting a lifetime.

“Alright,” Austin called, unperturbed. “But you should stop spanking mummy. That’s not nice. Even if she is being naughty.”

OWEN

I stood on the outskirts of the party, taking a minute to soak everything in. With the initial shock, my gaze hooked on Liam, ready to go in for the kill for outing me—yet again. The smug bastard mouthed, “You’re welcome.”

I still wanted to wring his neck, but his response quickly put everything into perspective. Alexis and Austin had accepted me into their family. I was a partner, lover… and father.

I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I didn’t know what to do with myself. They were everything I’d ever wanted.

Phil made a beeline for me, landing at my side as we perused the group together.

Then, he cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology.”

My brows lifted at the random comment. “For what?” I asked, truly flabbergasted.

“For the time I punched you. It never should have happened.”

“Based on the limited information you had at the time, I think it was warranted.”

He didn’t reply to that. Instead, he chose to switch up on me.

“Owen, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us. I wouldn’t have recovered to what I am today without your help. And… you brought my baby girl home.”

“She came home for Austin. For you and Harriot.”

“It may have begun that way. But she stayed foryou.”

A certain acceptance bloomed in my chest. Having that confirmation from Phil meant a lot.

“Thank you,” I said with full sincerity.

“No,thank youfor taking care of my family, son.”

Son?I shifted to the side so he wouldn’t catch the water gathering in my eyes. I knew I failed when Phil squeezed myshoulder in reassurance, then left me to rejoin the party, giving me some reprieve.

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