G R A Y

A week crept by.

Then another.

Like a fucking ostrich with his head in the sand, I kept pretending like everything was normal. That everything was fine. Reality suggested otherwise, but I ignored it.

To my relief, Gracie was, true to her name, gracious enough to play along with my act. We carried on like before. I'd pick up our baby girl from daycare and bring her home with me. Then, Gracie would take her for a few days. Together, the two of us continued to take care of Stevie as though I was still her real father.

I knew this couldn't go on indefinitely. Gracie and I never finished our conversation.

If you want to go, I won't try to change your mind.

I was terrified, however, of bringing up the subject again.

I'm okay with whatever you choose to do.

To me, it sounded like she didn't want me around but was too polite to say it aloud.

Or she simply didn't care what I chose to do.

Which would hurt even more.

Still, the elephant in the room needed to be addressed.

I had no right to stay.

But the last thing I wanted was to leave.

If it was up to me, I'd remain in Gracie and Stevie's life. Forever.

Gracie seemed tenser than usual during this time, but she never called me out on my indecisiveness. She was pleasant and accommodating to the point that, at times, it felt as though she was trying to overcompensate for something.

By the third week, I arrived at a decision. I decided to simply stick around until Gracie kicked me out of their lives.

If she was chill with our arrangement for the next eighteen years of Stevie's life, who was I to rock the boat?

***

On Friday morning, Gracie texted me out of the blue. She needed someone to babysit Stevie. Apparently, something unexpected had come up. I agreed to help out and showed up at her place later that afternoon.

"Hot date with Andrew?" I teased as I walked into her apartment, forcing on a grin even though it felt like a punch to the gut every time I uttered that bastard's name.

"No date," Gracie muttered, looking beautiful but flustered as she dashed around to get ready to go out. "Just a doctor's appointment."

Concerned, I asked, "Everything okay with you?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. It's for my allergies."

"Ah."

"Thanks for coming so last minute. I know I kinda put you on the spot."

I shrugged. "No worries. Happy to help."

Heading for the front door, she grabbed her keys and purse while tossing me some quick instructions, "So, um, Stevie's napping in my room. Bottles and formula are in the kitchen. Help yourself to leftovers in the fridge if you get hungry."

"Great, thanks."

She gave a pause by the door. Her brow was creased. Gracie looked as though she had something else to say. "By the way..."

"Hmm?"

She gave me a tight smile. "I've been meaning to share some news with you..."

My eyebrows rose. "Good news or bad news?"

Gracie averted her gaze, glancing down at her purse. "I guess that depends on your perspective. It's about Andrew and me."

The grin froze on my face. "Oh, yeah?"

Dread seized me as my thoughts torpedoed toward the worst-case scenario.

Did the bastard finally propose?

Oh, fuck.

What if Gracie said—yes?

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

She coughed. "I meant to tell you sooner, but..."

"Yes?"

I stole a quick look at her ring finger. No ring. But that didn't mean anything. The suspense was killing me. It took every ounce of self-control to not lose my shit right then and there.

Her eyes drifted back to me as she confessed, "I... broke up with him."

Wait, what?

Shock coursed through me. "When?"

"About two weeks ago."

My eyes literally popped. "But I thought you guys were going strong?"

Blushing lightly, Gracie shrugged and mumbled, "What we had was good—for a while. But it wasn't what I wanted—forever."

I grimaced. "I guess it wasn't meant to be, then."

"Guess not," she echoed softly.

I let it all sink in.

No way.

No fucking way.

Was I dreaming?

Earlier, I had to force a grin on my face.

Now, I was struggling to contain the happiness inside me.

This shit was too good to be true.

For a minute, I simply stood there like a sucker-punched idiot. Gracie was watching me, closely, for some reason. Waiting for me to react. To say something else. It seemed my response actually mattered to her. Or something.

Shoot.

Was I acting like an asshole?

Gracie was probably heartbroken. I needed to proceed with some tact and sensitivity. Give her space. Or support. Whatever she needed to get over that bastard.

It took a second to regain my bearings and find my voice again, "I, um, am so sorry to hear it. I'm here for you, though, if you need a friend."

That was the correct thing to say, right?

Even though I felt like punching my fist in the air in triumph and throwing a fucking victory party?

Her lower lip quivered slightly. "A friend, huh?"

Why did Gracie look as though she was about to shatter?

Feeling worried as hell, I moved closer to her and offered, "You know I'm here for you, Gracie."

She gazed up at me and whispered, "Are you, though?"

The sadness in her voice gave me pause. Gruffly, I insisted, "Of course I am."

Pain flashed in her eyes. "Then, why haven't you told me what you're planning to do with Stevie?"

Her question caught me off guard. "I—"

"I'm going crazy over here. Please. Put me out of my misery. I need to know."

Panic rose in me.

Oh, no.

Are we having this conversation right now?

My heart thumped against my chest. I felt nervous all of a sudden. I couldn't help rambling, "I-I guess I've been biding my time and trying to go with the flow..."

"Why?" she prompted.

Our gazes locked.

Tensions soared.

Then, the truth burst out of me, "Because I didn't know what you wanted from me!"

"But it doesn't matter what I want! I-I've always wanted whatever you wanted!" Gracie fired back in a shaky breath.

"Really?"

"Really!"

I stared at her in disbelief. "I always thought you wouldn't care that much about my decision because of Andrew."

Surprise stretched over Gracie's lovely face. "What?"

I tried to explain, "Don't you see? I'm the odd man out. I'm not Stevie's father. I'm not your boyfriend. I didn't think you'd want me around, so I was hesitant to bring up the subject of staying or leaving."

Her expression softened. "Oh, Gray... I don't care what the report says. I see you as Stevie's father in the only way that matters. You've been there for her since day one."

Emotion swelled within my chest. "Thanks... that actually means a lot. Especially coming from you."

She shot me a pointed look. "And, for the record, I'm not with Andrew anymore."

I frowned. "I know. You told me."

Gracie sighed in exasperation. "Gray!"

I blinked. "What?"

Why was she getting upset again?

Gracie groaned, "There's a reason why I'm not with Andrew anymore!"

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say is—I don't care about Andrew. The only guy I care about is you. It's always been you, Gray."

What?

My jaw tightened even while my heart dared to hope. To rejoice. I couldn't believe what she was saying to me. "Fuck, Gracie. Are you telling me that... you want me to... stay?"

Gracie cried out with tears in her eyes, "Oh, my God! Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Do I have to spell it out for you? I want you to stay with us, Gray, for fuck's sake!"

"Then," I demanded, "why didn't you tell me when I asked you two weeks ago?"

Her face crumpled. Remorse shone from her eyes. "Because I've been so shitty to you when you didn't deserve any of it! I'm so sorry for everything Lydia put you through. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through. I know I don't have the right to ask anything more of you, but will you forgive me?"

Understanding, at last, dawned on me.

Gracie hadn't said the word out loud, but, as I read in between the lines of her passionate confession and recounted all of the heartbreak and misunderstandings that had led us to this moment, I arrived at an overwhelming realization—

Gracie loved me.

She loved me.

Isaiah Gray Jones.

For all my flaws and my faults, she still fucking loved me.

This realization nearly brought me to my knees.

Suddenly, nothing else mattered.

Fuck my childhood.

Fuck my time in Afghanistan.

Fuck Lydia's lies.

Fuck everything that had tried to keep us apart, including us, Gracie and me, being our own worst enemies.

From here on out, I was ready to let go of it all.

Because only Gracie mattered.

Softly, I commanded, "Stop already. There's nothing to forgive."

She looked confused. "What?"

I set my jaw.

Without another word, I closed the distance between us, swept her into my arms, and proceeded to kiss her with everything I had to give as a man.

I groaned against her mouth, "I love you, Gracie Anne Katz, and I'm not going anywhere."

Shock danced across her features.

Then there was the joy.

The pure, unmasked joy, shining from her beautiful brown eyes. Gracie smiled through her tears and practically melted into me as she whispered, "Love you, too, Gray. So, so, so much."

I couldn't keep the smile from my face even if my life depended on it.

That was when I knew.

She was mine again.

And I was hers again.

At last.