I nod, and we all take seats on the beanbag chairs and form them into a little circle. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be able to get up from mine, but that’s neither here nor there.
“So, Chloe, how are you liking college? Where is it you go again?”
“Berkeley,” she says with a smile. “And it’s great. I’m really having so much fun.”
“Oh man, that’s a terrific school. I’m sure your fun isn’t all academic, though,” I add with a laugh. She blushes a little, and a bolt of panic shoots through me.
Oh geez. I wonder what Jake Brent’s going to think about his baby girl dating college dudes.
I’m seconds away from diving into some doctor-mom spiel about being safe when Garrett arrives, thank God.
I’m not sure if I would have been able to stop myself, and it’s really not my place to be telling that girl any major things about how to live.
She’s not my daughter or my patient, and I literally just met her.
Abort, abort.
I climb to my feet off the beanbag and turn to face the new arrivals.
Hayden takes the lead, running ahead of Garrett down the stairs off their back deck and slamming into me with a hug. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel amazing to have him be so excited by my presence.
This family really is special—even in a way that my own isn’t—and I feel like it’s a huge blessing to be a part of it.
“Hey, Hay,” I say cutely before winking at Garrett’s mini-me with a smile. He laughs and pulls back to dive into the food table, and when he steps aside, I finally see Garrett in all his glory.
Not one, not two, but three bouquets of flowers fill the space of his giant arms.
One by one, he starts handing them out to us girls. First, Sarah, who rolls her eyes, but I swear is absolutely glowing from the inside out. Then, Chloe, who gets up on her toes with a squeal to give Garrett a kiss on the cheek. And finally, me. My insides feel like they’re screaming, I’m so overcome by the simple gesture, and it’s all I can do to keep the noise inside.
Garrett leans down, places one gentle kiss to the corner of my mouth—which is the first PDA we’ve ever displayed in front of his kids—and then looks me dead in the eye. The sincerity I see in his makes my knees feel weak, and any thoughts about fleeing are gone like the wind.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Lauren.”
I nod, too afraid that if I say anything back, I’ll burst into tears.
Garrett chuckles. I’m pretty sure he can tell I’m on the verge of a chick-meltdown.
Instead of addressing it directly, he spins back to the kids and propositions loudly, “Have the participants decided on the film for tonight?”
I jump at his volume at first, and then I have to bite my lip to keep from snorting as Sarah and Chloe dissolve into giggles. I’ve never seen Sarah this free of inhibition before, and it is a beautiful sight.
“Yes!” Chloe proclaims with the same energy. “We have selected…Valentine’s Day!”
“Oh, come on!” Hayden whines, but the girls talk over him in tandem.
“We thought it was appropriate,” Sarah says.
“Considering the holiday and all,” Chloe finishes.
“Plus…well….”
“Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, and Bradley Cooper are all involved.”
“Oh! And Eric Dane,” I add helpfully.
“Who’s that?” Chloe asks.
“You know, McSteamy. Mark Sloan from Grey’s Anatomy.”
“Oh! Yes!” she shouts, and Sarah laughs again.
Garrett sighs, turning to Hayden to console him. “Sorry, bud. Looks like we’re outvoted.”
“There are three girls!” Hayden contests. “We didn’t stand a chance.”
Garrett shakes his son’s shoulders, leaning down to tell him carefully, “Trust me, son. It’s always better to be outnumbered by women. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.”
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud and revealing my little bout with eavesdropping.
Yeah. There is a definite possibility he is the perfect man.
The movie plays outside while Sarah, Chloe, and Hayden laugh and sprawl on the beanbags set up in the yard, and Garrett and I are carrying food into the house to be put away.
He sneaks a kiss when we get into the kitchen, and thanks to a raging case of hormones, I spin him around, pin him to the refrigerator, and take it to the next level.
I’m breathing heavily when I pull away, and Garrett’s face could light up a pitch-black night sky.
“Okay, I’m going to take that as a good sign that you’re not pissed at me for how we’re spending our Valentine’s Day.”
“Are you kidding?” I snap back. “It’s been perfect.”
And it has been. The kids are starting to warm up to me, and against my better judgment, I’m starting to feel like this could actually be my life going forward.