Chapter 30
POV: Abby?
As I watched Cole work his magic upon the unruly crowd, all I could think about was one thing and one thing only.
That I was proud of him.
That I was proud to be his.
Cole was a complicated man. But the truth was, I knew what was going on between us was not. Things between us weren’t complicated.
This was what love felt like…and I knew that now.
A voice sounded from behind me.
And it surprised me who it belonged to.
My father.
“Abby…”
“Dad,” I began, giving him a look, heaving out a breath.
“Wait, Abs,” he said, sincerity in his gaze as he stared out at Cole breaking up the fight in the distance.
“Please, Dad,” I said, my voice tighter than I meant it to be. “I don’t want to hear anything else about Cole. Not today and not right now. I’ve heard enough.”
His forehead wrinkled before he finally opened his mouth and spoke again. “Abby, I think I was wrong.”
The words that came out of his mouth took me completely by surprise, leaving me momentarily speechless.
“Wrong?” I asked in shock, staring at him with wide eyes. “About?”
He wrapped me into a hug then said, “About Cole…about how he feels for you. I always wanted you to be happy, Abby and it seems like he makes you happy.”
I wanted to cry.
I wanted to cry literal tears of joy right now. My father, who was against Cole from the very start, had finally admitted that he was wrong about his predispositioned beliefs. I hugged him tighter.
“He cares about you, Abby,” he paused, his gaze softening. “And I think I was too wrapped up in the age difference and the rumors that I didn’t want to believe it.”
I sucked in a breath then said, “It’s okay, dad.”
His arms tightened around me. “Oh, my sweet girl. You have such a big heart and big dreams. I guess I always pictured you with someone…safer.”
“Safer?” I laughed, “What, like an accountant?”
“No, not an accountant,” he laughed.
“Well, that’s a pretty big hope for a girl who was raised by a man who owns a bar,” I teased.
“Well I guess you got me there,” he chuckled then took a step back at me and looked at me, his gaze sincere. It said everything that he intended it to. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ever doubted your choice. And I see now that Cole is more than I originally believed.”
“And you got all that from him breaking up a fight?” I shot him a look.
“He’s loyal and he’s protective of you. That’s two good qualities in a man, especially one who will become a husband and a father.”
My cheeks reddened from his words. “Dad—it’s not like that. I’m not pregnant and we’re not getting married.”
He gave me a look, like he knew something I didn’t. “Not yet, sweetheart. Not yet.”
“So you go from disapproving to over approving now?” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, now is as good a time as any to get back to work, honey.” He gave me another hug before walking away behind the bar, and all I could do was just shake my head and laugh.
The fight was over, thanks to Cole, and he was making his way toward me with a measured, confident stride. His lips curled into a smug little smile.
“Someone’s happy,” I teased, my cheeks blushing the closer he came.
God, he was a dream. A literal dream of a man. Loyal. Protective. Built like a god. Rough. Complicated, but perfect in his own way.
“I’m just happy you listened to me for once,” he said, like the true grumpy control freak that he was.
I rolled my eyes. “For once, okay…well, tone it down there mister.” I went to walk away from him and back towards the bar.
“Not this time,” he replied, lacing his arm around my waist and tugging me back towards him. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m not?” I laughed, pressing my cheek into his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat. It grounded me. He grounded me. “I guess I sort of like it here—in your arms.”
“Sort of?” he chuckled, holding me, not caring who in the bar saw.
But the locals were used to us and I guess so was my dad, now.
“I like this,” I admitted. “Always.”
He pressed a kiss into the top of my head.
“I think you’d be happy to hear that my dad has changed his mind about you,” I said.
He shifted, lifting my chin up to look at me. “Really?”
“Really,” I affirmed.
He smiled. Cole actually smiled.
And that made my heart nearly explode, seeing him wide eyed and smiling, unlike the usual, cold, callous, rough Cole I was used to. He had a sweet side when he wanted to.
“And when did he have a sudden change of heart?” Cole asked.
“Maybe he thinks you’re only half asshole now,” I teased.
Cole’s fingers found my side, and I couldn’t help but giggle, squirming as he tickled me. I swatted at his hand, laughing, but he only grinned wider.
“Okay! Okay! He thinks you’re loyal and he thinks you’re protective and I guess he finally realized that I’m happy—that we’re happy, together.”
The word lingered on my lips, barely audible, as if I were afraid to let it fully take shape.
Together.
It felt infinite.
“Together,” he whispered back.
And I repeated the word back to him. “Together.”
We didn’t need to make things more complicated than it was. Because being together, well that was enough.