His Forever Girl

“Noah’s here.” My other daughter Riley says as she comes into my office. She drops down in the chair in front of my desk, kicking her feet up while staring at her phone. The thing is always glued to her freaking hand.

“I’ll get the door.” I stand, putting Zoey in my seat. When I make it to the top of the stairs I see Izzy has already let him in. I take a few steps down. Izzy is extra animated with her hands as she speaks with him.

“There is no reason to tell him,” I hear her say as I take a couple more steps down.

“I’m not lying to your father or anyone for that matter. He’ll find out anyways.”

“Find what out?” They both turn to look my way.

“Yeah, what?” Of course Riley is behind me. Riley is a brilliant girl, the top of her class, and gets test scores like her mother, but she’s nosy as shit. Sometimes I love that shit and sometimes I hate it. “You pregnant?”

“Riley!” Izzy shouts at her. “No,” she quickly adds.

“Not today,” Noah puts in. My body grows tight thinking about my little girl having a little one herself. I relax when my wife's hand rests on my back.

“Hi, Noah,” she says to him.

“Morning, Zoey,” he greets her. “Reid.” He gives me a nod before answering my question. “Find out that Izzy is moving in with me.” I’m actually a little surprised this hasn't happened sooner, but Noah kept his word when he promised me that he’d let her get through her freshman year in college. It might have been wrong for me to ask that of him because of my own history, but I did it anyway. Everyone knows that while Zoey and I both technically had our own places freshman year of college, we never spent a night apart. Freshman year is now over for Izzy, and it looks as though Noah is not willing to wait another second to be with her.

“Why don’t we move this conversation into the kitchen? I could use some coffee.” I put my hand on Zoey’s back to guide her down the stairs with me. Everyone heads toward the kitchen but not before I get Noah’s attention and motion toward the sitting room.

“I love her,” he says before I can say anything.

“I know that.” It’s all over his face. A look that has always been there when it comes to Izzy. It’s one I know well because I’ve seen the same one every day for most of my life when I’m in front of a mirror.

“I kept my word.”

“You did.” I’m being hard on the kid, but it’s good for him. Me too, as a matter of fact. No matter how much I’m sure he wanted to tell me to go fuck myself last year when I made the request he do it, because more than wanting Izzy all to himself, he wanted her happy and put her first. Not wanting to start a fight with me that would hurt her. He puts her first and does what he thinks is best for her even if she gets pissed about it. Story of my life.

“You know I’m not here about the moving in shit, right?”

He shifts on his feet.

“Yeah, and it’s why I need another promise. One that tells me you’re in this forever. And that you’re going to love her until the end of time.”

“That is a promise I can keep.” He stands up a little straighter. “The only life I want is one with Izzy.”

“You have our blessing.” Noah lets out a breath, and I can see the tension leave his body. He asked me out of respect. Noah isn't letting Izzy go. He’d fight me on it—as he should if he truly wants to marry her. I pull him in for a hug, patting him on the back.

“Are you guys…” Izzy stops when she sees us. A smile lights up her whole face, making her look more like Zoey than usual.

“We’re coming.” I walk over to her, dropping a kiss on top of her head before heading into the kitchen. They linger behind.

“What’s up?” Riley asks when I enter the kitchen. Zoey hands me a mug of coffee. I take a sip before putting it down. “No one is dying or something, right?”