Walk the Line (Kings of Chaos 5)

“In all honesty. I could. You have a very…masculine vibe. You’re already the male figure in my life. I mean, I have Pa, but he’s not up on modern problems like you are. He’s super old-fashioned, and I’m more of a liberal kind of gal.”

“To say the least,” I say thinking of the last time I’d spoken to her and she’d been high off a joint. Experimenting in college was normal. As long as she doesn’t go any harder than grass, I’m okay with it.

“Did Mom put you up to this?”

“No. Tomorrow your mom will be taking my last name, and I want you to have it too. I’d like to adopt you, Whitney.”

Her jaw drops. “You. You want to adopt me?”

I nod my head. “I want us to be a family. Your mother will have my last name, our children will have my last name, and I don’t want you to be left out.”

“You’re having a baby!” she squeals.

I laugh. “Not yet. Marriage first, baby second.”

She nods her head and all but bounces in her seat.

“Is that something you want?”

She jumps out of her chair, and launches herself into my arms, holding me tight as her shoulders shake.

“Whoa. Hey. You don’t have to say yes.”

“I want too,” she sobs.

“Then why are you crying?” I ask softly. I’ve learned from her mother that tears can mean a lot of things.

“I used to think I would never have this again. That I’d be some sort of orphan. I have a father, but how could I claim him? I saw this lonely stretch of life with no one to walk me down to aisle or dote on my children. And then you showed up and took more of an interest than my father had in years. You know what my grades are, which classes I like, and which I hate. You check in on me, and it’s… It’s everything I’ve always wanted.”

I smooth my hand over her hair and kiss her temple. The girl makes me feel like I’m on top of my world. “I’m always going to be there for you, Whitney. I’m new at this Dad thing, though, so we’ll have to learn together.” I pull my head back and meet her watery gaze. “Do you think we can do that?”

“Yeah. I’d like that a lot.” She moves back to her chair swiping away her tears.

“We looked into the process, and we have all the paperwork. We just need to sign it in front of a notary.”

“You want to do it this soon?”

I nod. “When your mom and I marry, I want it to complete our family. This is my Groom’s gift to your mom.”

“Alright, then we’ll do it.”

“Yeah?” I ask with a grin.

“Yeah. Pop.” She pops her P. “Whitney Ryan. I like the sound of that.”

“I do too, kid.”

“Back to this sibling’s thing. How many are you planning on having? Are we about to turn into the Brady Bunch?”

I snicker. “Definitely not. We’re aiming for two.”

“Wow. I don’t know what to think. I’ve been an only child for so long. I just got used to the ideal.”

I stiffen. “Are you upset?” I tense. I know our news is going to be meet with less enthusiasm because of my injury.

“No. I think it’s a good thing. My mom was amazing growing up. I had so much fun with her, and I know she always wanted more. I’m glad she’s getting a second shot at this with you. I think you’ll be awesome parents.”

“Thanks, kid,” I say struggling not to grin like a mad man. Her approval means a lot. It’s something B, and I were both concerned about. It’s a huge jump to just to go from an only child for nineteen years to a future half-sister. You add the request to adopt, and it’s a whole lot going on at once. She took it all in stride, like the rock star she is. This kid is a fighter… No, My kid. My kid. I’m like the Grinch with a heart growing two sizes. These women are changing me into the kind of man I could never imagine being. It’s a good thing.