Page 168 of Butter My Biscuit

“Fuck yes,” he says, and I laugh. “Next week?”

“Can’t. Your brother and Summer are getting married.”

“Oh, right,” he says with a laugh.

When Harrison walks off to get a glass of champagne for us, my dad walks up and dances with me. I see my mom chatting with Tanya, and they’re laughing about something. I guess it all works out, doesn’t it?

My dad and I make small talk, and I see Harrison standing off to the side with his hand in his pocket, smirking. He lifts his glass at me, and I grin.

“You know, I don’t think I ever got to tell you this, but I’m sorry about everything that happened between me and your mom.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” I tell him. “After everything that’s happened, I actually kinda understand it. Sucks it happened, but it all worked out. Mom is happy. You’re happy. I learned that I’d rather see people in a happy relationship than to pretend. That’s not a way to live.”

Dad chuckles. “No. It’s not. I’m proud of you,” he tells me.

“Thank you,” I say, not knowing why I feel my emotions bubble. Maybe because it’s the realest conversation I’ve had with him since they sat me down and told me they were divorcing.

“Let’s not be strangers anymore,” he tells me. “Maybe you and Harrison can join us for dinner one night?”

In the past, I’d skip every invitation he gave. It’s not that he wasn’t trying; it’s that I didn’t give him a chance.

“Okay, yeah, I’d like that.”

A few tears fall, and I wipe them away.

Moments later, Harrison is cutting in.

“May I dance with my wife?” he politely asks, and my dad gives him a firm handshake, then passes me off to him.

“You okay?” he whispers, keeping his mouth close to my ear.

“Yeah, he invited us to dinner.”

“And?” Harrison meets my gaze, then smiles, knowing I actually said yes this time. “Just tell me when.”

“I will,” I say, swaying to the music, drowning in the smell of his cologne and his touch.

“You ready to get out of here?” Harrison finally asks, and I nod.

In one swift movement, he’s lifting me up and carrying me in his arms. “Bye, y’all. Have fun.”

Everyone laughs, but he’s not joking as he carries me to the truck. And that’s another reason why I love him. He doesn’t give a shit. Not when it comes to me, to us.

Then, when we’re away from the crowd, he sets me down on my feet, then interlocks his fingers with mine as we look up. The sky is full of sparkling stars that look like diamonds.

“Wow, this view will never get old,” I say, glancing at him, and he’s looking directly at me.

“Agree.”

We get to the truck, and somehow, Emmett was able to move so Harrison doesn’t have to crawl through the other side.

When he cranks the engine, he looks over at me. “Ready to go home?”

“Yes,” I say, but when we drive past his house, I look at him, confused.

Then, we pull up to the small cabin that Beckett lives in.

“Did he already move out?”

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