Page 57 of Mine To Keep (Southern Wedding)

“The one and only,” I confirm, holding out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Addison.”

“Trust me, the pleasure is mine.” She smiles big. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“That seems to be the running comment.” I look over at Grace, who just looks away. “I hope I’ve gotten better.”

“Time will tell,” Addison says to me, then looks at Grace. “We’ll catch up tonight.”

“Oh, no,” Grace quickly says, “I have plans.”

“Oh, a date.” Addison pushes her shoulder, and my stomach tightens at the thought.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I have a huge assignment due next week.” She lies to her, or at least I hope it’s a lie.

“Oh, that’s a bummer. We leave tomorrow,” Addison says. “Next time, or you can come down and spend the weekend.”

“That sounds like fun,” Grace replies, and I ignore how I feel about her leaving for the weekend. Especially since it’s the only time we get with each other. I look down, hoping she doesn’t see I’m bothered by it and then makes me out to be too needy.

Addison is called away, and I turn to look at Grace. “I’m afraid to even ask what you told them about me.”

She tries not to smile. “It’s not a secret how much of a dick you were, Caine.” She folds her arms, pushing her tits higher. “It was within ten seconds that you were a dick.”

“I’m never going to live that down,” I state. She’s about to say something when Meadow comes running over. Her ponytails are now slanted to the side as she pushes the stray hairs out of her face.

“Daddy, I have to go pee,” she says, and I look around, seeing a little brown building with one door for women and one for men.

“I can take her,” Grace offers. “It might be easier than taking her in the men’s bathroom.”

“Usually there is a family bathroom,” I tell Grace, looking around once more. “Are you sure?”

“Yup,” Grace assures me, holding out her hand. “Let’s go, Meadow.” She turns and guides her to the bathroom. I watch both of them walk away and everything in me shifts, or perhaps it shifted a while ago.

I walk over behind them and wait for them to come out. When they do, they are both laughing. I see Meadow’s ponytails are now fixed, and she is looking up at Grace with a smile. “Hey,” I say, and they both look at me. “What’s so funny?” I ask.

“Grace was making funny faces at me in the mirror when she was fixing my hair,” Meadow replies, “like this.” She sticks out her tongue and tries to do something with her eyes. “I’m going to play,” she declares, running away from us.

“Want to go and make out somewhere?” Grace asks. My head snaps back to her, and she winks at me. “It was just a thought.”

“A good thought,” I say as we walk back over to the party. Even though she knows everyone here, she stays pretty much by my side and includes me in the conversations. I hate that she introduces me as her boss, but it is what it is. When it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday,” our fingers graze and I want to wrap my arm around her.

After we each have cake, Meadow comes over to us. “Can we go play in the park before we go?”

“Yeah,” I agree, looking around, thinking of how I’m going to ask Grace to come with me.

“Come on, Grace, you can come too.” She grabs her hand, and I’ve never been happier in my life. She gets to eat two desserts tonight. She skips over holding Grace’s hand. “We can go on the swings,” she tells Grace who just nods.

“I have a trick to go high, high,” Grace shares with her, and Meadow looks over at me like I’ve been keeping her from the state secrets. “I’ll show you.”

They run their way to the swings. “When I push, you keep your legs bent, and then when you go high, put them out again, and then when you come back down, bend them.” She sits on the swing. “Look at me,” she instructs her and shows Meadow, who watches her like a hawk. “You got it?”

“Got it,” she parrots, and I sit back and watch the two of them. She sets Meadow on the swing. “Okay, I’m ready,” Meadow calls, holding on.

“Don’t let go,” Grace tells her as she pushes her on the swing. “That’s it, bend your knees tight.” I listen to the two of them giggle with each other, and it fills my soul.

“Dad, I’m going to fly to the moon!” Meadow shouts, and all the words are stuck in my throat.

“Come back,” I say as I listen to the two of them laugh when Meadow thinks she’s too high, but really, she isn’t.

“That was so much fun,” Meadow says when she finally gets off the swing. “I’m hungry.”

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