Page 120 of Tempt

Liv smiles, approaching along with Andy.

“How was class? Mean teacher?”

Liv sticks out her tongue.

“Miss O is the best,” he says. “And if she wasn’t”—he cuts Liv an innocent look that’s one I’ve seen on Daniel plenty of times—“you shouldn’t say that in front of her.”

She scoffs and Andy giggles.

I reach into my bag to produce the envelope I opened earlier. “I got some news today…I got into grad school. With a scholarship.”

“Yes, I knew it!”

Liv hugs me and we jump around.

Murmurs go up from the dance moms and I glance back to see what’s happened.

“Dad!” Andy cries, delighted, as Daniel enters wearing a long gray coat with the collar flipped up. “What are you doing here?”

When he sees his son, his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Of course I’m here. I wouldn’t let you walk home.”

After ruffling Andy’s hair, his gaze lifts and locks on mine. “Hi.”

My heart flips over.

“Hi.”

“I thought I was picking him up and taking him to Mary’s.”

“Dammit. I thought I was.”

Andy dissolves into laughter.

I feel all of it.

Love. Acceptance. Compassion.

I hold up the letter.

“Grad school?”

He straightens, instantly as tense as I was when I got the envelope. “It’s a yes?”

I press my lips together but can’t hide my smile. “Yes.”

The feeling of joy inside me is so huge, it’s a wonder my ribs don’t crack.

More than that, it’s pride and accomplishment.

I made this happen. But not alone.

“Then it’s a good thing we’re celebrating tonight.”

Daniel pulls me against him and kisses me.

Months ago, he would never have done this in public.

But we’re in a good place.

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