Page 259 of Mountain Daddy
I feel Kendra’s shoulders slump against my arm, and I know she’s thinking about the cancer conversation. “There’s nothing else. I swear. I’m sorry.”
Joe sighs. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t’ve said that. You told me when you could.”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s fair. But…you’re okay? With… us?” Kendra asks hesitantly.
I hate that she’s nervous, but I understand it.
This is a big deal.
Not just because I’ve been friends with Joe. But becausewe’rea big deal.
There’s no going back, not for either of us, so Joe had better learn how to be okay with it. Because Kendra and I… we’re each other’s person. Until the end of time.
Joe lets out another heavy groan. “There are no two people in this world that I love more than the two of you. And if you can love an ugly man like him…” He jabs his finger into my chest. “Then yeah, I’ll be okay with it.”
Kendra sniffs.
Joe shakes his head. “No crying.”
Kendra lets out a watery laugh, and I let go of her hand so I can wrap my arm around her shoulders and hold her against my side.
Joe turns his gaze on me. “You better mean to marry her. Because if you break my daughter’s heart, I will kill you.”
I grin.
“I’m serious. I will literally fucking kill you.” He jabs me in the chest again, and I flex my pecs, making him jerk his hand away.
I keep grinning. “Oh, I’m going to marry her. And I’m pretty sure you just gave me your blessing.”
Joe lets out another long sigh. “Fine. But no touching each other in front of me.”
“Dad.”
He points his finger back and forth between us. “I mean it. When we’re watching TV, you aren’t sitting on his lap or anything like that. Not in my house.”
“Oh my god, Dad.” Kendra sounds both horrified and amused.
I look down at Kendra. “You can move in with me?—”
“You can move in with him when you’re officially engaged.” Joe talks over me.
Kendra rolls her lips together and nods. “That’s reasonable.”
I nod too. Because I plan to getofficially engagedas soon as fucking possible.
Joe steps back out into the hallway, pointing toward the kitchen. “Now get the fuck out of my house. I need to sleep, and you aren’t staying over.” Kendra and I glance at each other, and Joe presses his palms to his eyes again. “Nope. I don’t want to know!”
Feeling happier than… I ever have, I lower my mouth to Kendra’s.
“Night, Baby.” My lips brush against hers. “I’ll come over for breakfast tomorrow.”
Her lips smile against mine.
But before she can reply, Joe grips my shirt and drags me out of her room.
“Love you!” I call out as I let myself get manhandled down the hall.
Kendra peeks her head out of her bedroom. “Love you too.”
