Noah
I’m in such a good mood as I walk down the hallway toward the kitchen this morning. No, I didn’t get to have Chance in my bed last night, but that truck date was incredible.
It was something I never thought someone would do for me. Something I never could have dreamed up. But I know things like that just come to Chance. He’s that kind of man.
It meant the world to me when I pulled up and saw him in the back of his truck with blankets and cocoa.
The cold night air couldn’t have cooled the lust and love I felt for him. And there really is nothing like a country night sky. It was breathtaking.
And he shared that with me.
“Dad?” LeAnn looks up from her seat at the kitchen table as I walk in. “Are you whistling?”
Holy shit. Was I? “No,” I quickly deny and turn my head when I hear my son-in-law chuckling as he stands by the coffee pot.
“You so were,” LeAnn says excitedly.
“Was not,” I say again and try to wipe the grin off my face, but I can’t seem to do it as I make my way toward the coffee. Daniel rejoins his wife at the table, and I grab a cup.
I sit down with them both but can’t escape my daughter’s curious gaze. “Spill.”
“About what?” I ask, trying to keep my cool as I sip my coffee.
“Dad.” Her eyes narrow, and I sigh, ready for whatever she’s going to ask me. Or say. “You snuck out last night, and you’re whistling this morning.”
“LeAnn . . .” Daniel tries to stop her, but there’s no quieting my daughter. Hell, I’m probably mostly to blame for that. I raised a strong woman, and now I’m paying for it. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“How do you know I left last night?” I ask.
She grins at me. “I heard you leave. You’re really bad at sneaking out. If you need some pointers, I can give them to you.”
I shake my head at my daughter. “I’m lucky I made it to forty.”
She laughs. “I wasn’t that bad.”
No. She really wasn’t. She’s always been a good kid with a smart mouth. I couldn’t be prouder. “LeAnn . . .” I start, but I can’t seem to finish it. I want to tell her who I went to meet last night. That I’m bisexual. That I was happy with her mother, but now I’m with a man, and I’m happy now too.
That I want her to accept Chance.
But I’m frozen.
She waves me off, but with a happy little smile. “Fine. Keep your new relationship or hookup or whatever it is to yourself.” I groan as Daniel chuckles at his wife’s antics. “It’s your secret.”
The word secret is a knife to the heart, even though I know she doesn’t mean it in any more than a playful way.
I close my eyes briefly and take a deep breath. When I open them, I promise myself I’m going to tell her, but fate has another plan.
There’s a knock on my door, forcing my eyes open and my mouth shut. I don’t know who it could be, but I excuse myself from the table and go to the front door to find out. I nearly go weak at the knees when I see it’s Chance.
I open the door, and he’s standing there in jeans, a heavy coat, and gloves on his hands as he holds up a pastry box. “Is this okay? I grabbed some pastries from the bakery in town.”
Yeah, I’m back to grinning like a fool. “Yes,” I say easily and let him in.
“Are you sure, Noah?” he asks quietly, looking far too unsure. “I can go. I just . . .”
I shake my head and let him in, closing the door behind him. “I want you here.” I keep my voice fairly low, but I hope it’s firm and convincing. “I’m sorry I haven’t told them yet, but I want you here.”
He takes my hand and quickly squeezes it before releasing me. “I want to be here. But I’m fine playing the friend/assistant coach role in front of everyone else for now.”
I know he means it, but it still makes me feel like an asshole. Instead of dwelling on how damn unfair it is, I take his coat, hang it up, and then lead him into the kitchen. “LeAnn. Daniel. Chance brought us breakfast.”
LeAnn lights up at that. “Oh, food.”
Chance chuckles and places the box down in front of my daughter.
“Let me get you some coffee.” I say, walking over to the cabinet and grabbing a mug. He walks over to me, his eyes intense, but I’m not sure anyone else would notice it but me.
“Thank you,” he says as I fill the mug and hand it to him.
“So, Chance . . .” LeAnn starts, grabbing one of the danishes from the box. “Do you know anything about this mystery date my father had last night?”
Chance’s eyes go wide as he looks at me, and I shake my head, making my way back to the table. “LeAnn, don’t start.”
She waves me off as Chance sits down between LeAnn and me at the table. “Yeah, I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
My daughter pouts. “Oh, come on. We’re all adults here. We can totally talk about this.” Her eyes meet Chance’s. “All I care is that my dad is happy.” She looks at me and takes my hand. “I want you happy.”
“I am happy,” I say and squeeze her hand. God, does she know? She can’t. There’s no way she can, but it sure feels like she’s sending me a silent message.
“And whistling,” she adds, mischief swimming in her eyes.
“Whistling?” Chance asks with delightful amusement that makes me grumble.
“I was not whistling.”
“He definitely was,” my daughter says to Chance, which makes him laugh. “He’s been so pleasant lately. It’s weird, but I like it.”
Chance chuckles again, taking a sip of his coffee. “No way. Are you sure?”
LeAnn nods her head excitedly, picking at her danish. “Yup. Pretty sure my dad is smitten.”
Chance is beaming, his eyes move to mine. “Oh yeah? Are you smitten, Coach?”
I roll my eyes and grumble some more, but I realize, in this moment, this really can all work out someday.
At least with LeAnn.
I don’t see the town being nearly as wonderful as my daughter, but who knows? People can surprise you.
I’ve definitely learned that over the years.
I think it should be a conversation between LeAnn and me first, so I won’t tell her right now like I’m bursting to do, but soon.
Very soon, I’m going to finally tell my daughter that I’m in love with the most amazing man I never saw coming.
And as she jokes around with Chance and they both tease me, I’m pretty damn sure it will be just fine with her.