Extra Epilogue
EXTRA EPILOGUE
BLAKELY
T he sound of a rumbling engine made my heart skip the way it always did ever since I was a little girl.
Megan was the first to notice. “Grandpa Joe’s here!”
She darted across the lawn in a blur of pink tulle and sparkly sneakers, balloons bobbing beside her in the breeze. The yard was a riot of streamers, gift bags, and cupcakes, all decked out in her current obsession—unicorns with mohawks. Where she’d even stumbled across them, I had no idea. But her room was now decked out with the unique creatures on her bedding, throw rug, and posters. So of course her birthday party needed the same theme, no matter how hard it had been to find everything.
Lucas and Cobi weren’t far behind, their little legs pumping as fast as they could while they chased after their big sister.
My dad didn’t even get both boots off his bike before all three of my children launched themselves at him. His helmet hit the seat with a thunk, and then he was crouching, arms wide, laughing as his grandkids tackled him.
“Whoa!” he chuckled. “Love you guys with my whole heart, but you gotta take it easy on your grandpa. I might not look it, but I’m gettin’ old.”
“Me too!” Megan beamed and held up six fingers. “I’m six today!”
“That so?” he teased, slowly straightening with Cobi on one hip. Lucas gripped his leg, and Megan tugged on his free arm. “Guess that makes you the boss today, ladybug.”
My breath caught in my throat. Hearing him pass my nickname on to Megan, made something flutter and ache at the same time.
He looked over at me then, eyes crinkling. “Hey, ladybug.”
“Hey, Dad.”
Gideon came up behind me and pulled my back against his chest, tugging me close. I leaned into him without hesitation, my gaze locked on my father as he walked toward us with our kids hanging off him like vines.
“He’s early,” Gideon murmured.
“He wanted to be,” I replied, blinking back the emotion that always crept up when I least expected it. “Didn’t want to miss a minute.”
“I get it.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. My dad lost so many years for protecting me. But that was behind us now.
He set the kids down gently and pulled a sparkly gift bag from his saddlebag. Megan squealed and twirled, showing off her unicorn tiara while Lucas and Cobi argued over who would help open it.
“Damn,” Dad said as he walked up and kissed the top of my head. “They grow so fast.”
“Don’t remind me,” I whispered.
His voice went quiet, his tone serious. “Missed too much with you, ladybug. So many birthdays, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to get those back.”
My throat tightened. “But you did an incredible job with the ones before everything went down, and you’re here now. My kids will get you for everything. The best darn grandpa they could ever ask for, even if we have to deprogram them after too much time with you because you spoil them way too much.”
“There’s no such thing.” His eyes shimmered as he shook his head. Not with actual tears, but there was no missing the depth of the emotion he was feeling. Or that it was similar to the look he used to give me when he’d pull me onto his lap after a long ride and tell me I was his whole world.
I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “You’re not missing anything else, okay?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” His gaze shifted above my head, toward Gideon. Then he nodded. “I chose well all those years ago. Thanks for giving her this.”
Gideon tugged me closer. “You have it backward…she gave this all to me. I just do my best not to screw it up.”
Dad snorted. “You’ve done more than that. I’ve seen my daughter glow like this maybe once before—when she first rode on the back of my bike, holding on tight, no fear in her eyes.”
“That explains her thing for dangerous men,” Gideon drawled.
Flint’s brow lifted. “You calling yourself dangerous?”
Gideon shrugged. “Not unless someone comes near what’s mine.”
Dad gave a slow nod. “Good. Just remember, I might be older, but I’ve still got faster aim. Especially if you forget how to treat my ladybug right.”
“Not gonna happen,” Gideon replied without missing a beat. “But you’re welcome to keep me on my toes.”
Megan ran back just then, waving a frosting-smeared sticker. “We’re playing pin the tail on the unicorn! Come on!”
My dad ruffled her hair. “Only if I get a turn too.”
“You’re gonna lose,” she warned with a grin.
“I like your confidence.” He winked. “But don’t be too sure about that. I’ve got more experience being blindfolded. You better watch out.”
As she led him toward the game table, I stood there for a second, just breathing in the moment. The laughter. The sunlight. The sound of Gideon’s quiet heartbeat behind me.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded. “I’m perfect.”