He smiles, too. “Yeah, he did. I told him you guys should just shack up like young people do, but he told me he couldn’t do that as long as there are impressionable kids in the house. He said that Seth will learn how to treat women from the way he treats you and that Joey and Mellie will learn how to treat men from the way you treat him. And vice versa. So, he wants to marry you and make it all legitimate.”
My heart warms at the very idea of it. “He hasn’t asked me yet.” But I know what my answer would be. I feel for my ring finger with the pad of my thumb. I want to wear Matt’s ring. I want him to be my husband.
Dad takes in my grin. “He’s the one, huh?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “He’s the one.”
“I had a feeling he would be. I met him when Kendra was sick. He seemed like a wonderful person. Good and kind. And persistent.” He narrows his eyes at me.
I laugh. “He’s definitely persistent. But you know what I love about him most, Dad?” I ask.
He quirks a brow instead of responding.
“I love that he was willing to give up tonight and walk away for the good of the kids.”
“I don’t get it.” He looks confused.
“I ran to my apartment because I didn’t want to face him. He came there and told me he would give up if I would just go back to the kids, because they didn’t deserve for me to leave them. He quit our argument. He walked away. And that makes me love him even more than I did before.”
Dad walks over and gives me an awkward hug. He’s not nearly as good as Seth is, but he’s trying. He gets points for trying.
I look up at my dad. “Did you tell him yes, Dad?” I ask quietly.
He brushes my hair back from my face. “Yes, Sky. I did.”
I grin. “I’m glad.”
“Me, too. Glad you met him. Glad he’s capable of loving you like you deserve.” He kisses my forehead. “Well,” he breathes. “Since I’m here, do you want to go see him? I was planning to stay the night.”
Go see Matt? I chew on my lower lip and think about it. “Would you mind?” I ask quietly.
He pulls me close and kisses my forehead. “I’d mind if you didn’t. Go get your happiness, kiddo. You deserve it.”
Before I go, I look in on Mellie and Joey, and Seth’s door is half open, so I look in on him, too. He stirs when I pull the ear buds from his ears.
“Aunt Sky?” he says, sitting up on his elbows. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I whisper. “I was just checking on you.”
“My mom used to do that,” he murmurs as he rolls over. “Love you, Aunt Sky,” he says quietly. Then I hear a snore erupt from his throat.
I grin. I can’t help it.
Dad is waiting by the door on my way out. “Take your raincoat. It’s pouring.”
I take it from him and shrug into it. “Thanks for being here, Dad,” I say.
He nods and rocks back on his heels.
I let myself out so that I can go to Matt. I just hope he wants to see me as much as I want to see him.
Matt
Fuck my life.
I close the door behind April. I have no idea what to say to her. She looks like she got hit by a makeup truck. And left. On the side of the road. In the rain.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she says.
I see Paul get up and start toward the hallway to his room. “Don’t you even think about going anywhere,” I say to him. He freezes. He goes and gets a beer instead.
“April,” he says with a nod. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” she mutters. She sniffles.
He doesn’t linger. He goes back to the lazy chair. Fucker.
“Why are you here?” I ask. She’s dripping all over the f**king floor.
She hugs her arms around herself and shivers. I look closely at her face. Her lips are a little blue, and her teeth are chattering.
“Go get her a f**king towel, asswipe,” Paul calls. But he doesn’t get up to help me. I turn toward the linen closet, but suddenly there’s a knock on the door.
Shit. If that’s Kenny, I’m going to shove her out into the hall and straight into his arms. I steel myself and open the door.
My heart clenches when Sky raises her little hand at me, waves, and says, “Hi, Matt.”
I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life. “I am so glad you’re here,” I say. I hook my hand behind her neck and draw her to me because I have to kiss her. I just can’t wait another second.
She mumbles against my lips. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” she says.
I lift my head and look down at her. “I’m so glad you couldn’t wait,” I tell her.
Paul chuckles from the couch and slaps his knee. He’s enjoying this too f**king much. Sky looks over my shoulder and freezes. “What is she doing here?” she asks. Her eyes search mine like she’s going to find the answer in my gaze. But she’s not going to find anything there because apparently I have shit for brains.
“I don’t have a f**king clue,” I whisper vehemently.
She stares at April for a minute, and then her face softens. “You have to help her,” she says.
“Help her with what?” I ask fiercely.
“Get her a f**king towel,” Paul calls again. “Duh.”
I ground my teeth together. I don’t want to get her a towel. I want her to leave. And to take all her waterworks with her.