Page 132 of One and Only

He smiled. “Maybe a bit more than that.”

Josie and Micah traded a long, wordless look, then she nodded.

“We’re glad you did tell us,” Micah said. “And Josie and I agreed that we’d have one more conversation with you about it before we made our final decision. See how we felt after we’d slept on it.”

Beckett inhaled slowly. “If you decide to stay, Josie, I respect that. Just … please don’t keep her from me because of this.”

Josie’s eyes shimmered. “I won’t,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t,” she amended. “You and I decided a long time ago that we’d always put Olive first. And I’m not going to back out of that promise now.”

Beckett let out a quiet, relieved breath, and I slid my hand over the top of his.

“I’m gonna go with Micah,” Josie said. “But my visits home during the year might be a little longer. Two weeks instead of one, if you’re okay with that.”

Beckett’s eyes fell closed, his shoulders slumping in relief. “Yes, of course I’m okay with that.”

I squeezed his hand, my heart near to bursting at the relief stamped all over his face. “Thank you, Josie,” I told her.

She smiled. “I’m glad you two worked it out,” she said. “For two people who were faking it, you did a really shitty job of not looking like you were in love.”

I laughed, leaning my head against Beckett’s shoulder when he wrapped his arm around my back.

“And Olive loves you, Greer,” she added. “This might not have been so clear cut if she didn’t.”

“I love her too,” I said. “She’s … amazing.”

Josie wiped away a tear when it slipped down her cheek. “I need you to take care of her while I’m gone. Even if it means you’re pissing off the other parents at the school.”

I nodded with utmost sincerity. “I can guarantee that with no problem.”

Beckett laughed, smoothing a hand over my back.

They left a little while later, Josie and Beckett sharing a long, sweet hug that had me wiping quiet tears.

It’s what unselfish parenting should look like.

We said goodbye to Olive, with a promise to go shopping for cat supplies as soon as Josie and Micah left for London at the end of next week.

Beckett and I stood on the front porch while they drove away, his chest at my back and his arms wrapped around my waist.

“You ready to do this?” he asked me quietly. “Me and Olive and Clarence and all the rest of it?”

I turned in his arms, my eyes closed and my heart so full that I could hardly believe it was real. It was the easiest truth I’d ever told in my life.

“I’ve always been ready for this. I just hadn’t met you yet.”

Epilogue

Beckett

7 months later

Prior to Greer’s presence in my life, the day of a game, I would wake up in a quiet house. I would eat my breakfast—an omelette, some fruit, and a smoothie—in a kitchen by myself, with only the sound ofSportsCenteron in the background.

Things were just a little different now.

“Clarence, you twisted little shit, bring that back,” Greer yelled.

Calmly, I finished the last bite of my omelette, watching the chaos unfold with a quirked eyebrow.

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