Page 81 of Here's to Tomorrow

I smile at their exchange. Gaige is a natural with kids, but he kind of has to be. He has four siblings at home he takes care of so he’s had a lot of practice with them.

“Is Uncle Tuck here, too?”

“I’m in here, dude!” Tucker calls to her.

I listen as her feet hit the floor and she comes running down the hall, barely skidding to a stop before I can see her.Little shit.She tiptoes casually into the living room,almostmaking it all the way to Tucker, going slowly before she runs at the last moment, launching herself into his arms.

“Uncle Tuck, did you bring me anything?”

“Joey!” I scold. “It’s not polite to ask things like that.”

“Sorry,” she mumbles.

“It’s okay, Joe. I brought you this,” Tucker says, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a small porcelain ladybug painted a bright green and hands it gently to her.

It’s something so tiny and simple, but she loves it. He brings her a different “bug” every time he sees her. It’stheirthing. It’s also the reason we call her bug. She’s sort of had a fascination with ladybugs since she was four.

“Cool! This one is the best yet!”

“What, no hug? No ‘thank you’?” Tucker teases her.

She throws her little arms around his neck and squeezes him tight. “Thank you so much, Uncle Tuck.”

I watch with a smile on my face as Tucker closes his eyes and hugs my little girl right back with just as much ferocity. It tugs at my heart.

I love that my best friends love my daughter like their own. I love that they accept her and her weirdness. I love that they accept me and my dad status, even though it’s a game-killer sometimes for two single dudes.

I catch Tucker’s eyes as he opens them back up.I see you,I mouth.

I see you, too,he mouths back.

“Don’t worry, assholes, I helped Ma out,” Gaige announces as he walks back to the living room.

“Seventy-five cents, Uncle G!”

“Seventy-five! I thought it was fifty?” Gaige argues with Joey, but still digs in his pockets for a dollar and holds it out to her.

“Inflation,” Joey says with a shrug, taking the dollar and running out of the room to put her money away.

Tucker and I laugh. Gaige just stares after her.

“Dude, what kind of kid are you raising?” he asks, sounding awestruck.

I shrug. “A smart one.”

“Touché.”

The doorbell chimes and I freeze.

Rae is here.Rae. Is. Here.

“Breathe, man. The worst that can happen is she falls in love with me,” Tucker says.

“Asshole,” I mutter with a smile. I get up and head to the front door, only to discover my mother standing in the doorway.

“Rae, it’s so great to finally meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things from both Hudson and Joey. Please, come in,” my mother tells her, stepping aside to let her walk in.

The air leaves my lungs because holy hell is she gorgeous…and all she’s wearing is a damn t-shirt and jeans.

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