Epilogue
“I don’t understand why this is such a big deal.” My daughter is bringing her new boyfriend over for dinner. It’s the first time we’re meeting him but we’ve met boyfriends before without such fanfare.
“Because she said it’s serious! She claims he’s the one.” Jules rolls her eyes at me.
The day our daughter started dating is the day I started getting gray hair.
She’s attracted to the dumbass ranch hands who don’t deserve her.
Juliette likes to point out that I was a dumbass ranch hand and I rebut that I knew her before becoming one.
So I don’t count. But my daughter, she picks the ones who don’t respect her worth a damn.
“Whatever. She’s nineteen. How serious can they be?”
“I think you’d be surprised. She’s already talking wedding.”
I choke on the water I just sipped.
“No. Jules, come on, that fucker better not be coming to ask for her hand.”
“What if he does?” She slides her arms around my middle pulling me close.
I furrow my brows. “What do you know, woman?”
“Nothing other than she is really happy. Besides, we knew when we were fifteen. What’s so crazy about nineteen?”
“She hasn’t known this boy since she was fifteen.” I roll my eyes back at her. I do not like the feeling I have about tonight.
A knock sounds at the door before Reece walks in holding the hand of a man in the dark of the porch.
“Mom, Dad.” She draws our attention as if it wasn’t already there.
“Hey, baby girl, what are you doing? Come in here.” I step toward her.
“Dad, do not freak out,” she warns.
“Why would I–” Her boyfriend steps in. “Jaycob?”
“Reece?” Juliette waits for an explanation.
“I told you guys not to freak out. But Jaycob is who I’ve been dating. We’re in love.” They still haven’t stepped fully into the house yet.
“Mr. Cal…” Jaycob starts but I cut him off.
“Nope. Not happening. You are almost twenty-five Jaycob! My girl is only nineteen! How the hell long has this been going on?”
Juliette places her hand on my forearm. “Come in, dinner is almost ready and we can talk then.”
“I’m not coming in until I know Daddy is going to be nice.”
“Don’t Daddy me now, baby girl! How long have you been dating?” I stare at Jaycob as I speak, waiting for him to man up and stop letting my girl take the brunt of my anger.
“A year, sir.”
“Oh, well shit, I mean at least you waited until she was legal. Jesus fucking christ. Do you hear this Jules?”
She shakes her head curtly. “Not. Now. Cal.”
I walk toward the door. “Jaycob and I need to have a chat.” I grab him by the collar and out toward the barns.
“Son, you better start talking and fast.”
“I promise, sir, nothing happened between us but friendship until a year ago. I swear it.” I scrutinize his face as he talks, waiting for him to slip up in a lie.
“Why my daughter?”
“She’s my everything. I know we’re young, well she’s young. But I can’t imagine my life without her. It’d mean the world to us to have your blessing.”
I freeze mid step and turn to face him “Blessing for what?” I narrow my eyes.
“Dating! Just dating.”
“Just dating? Is my girl not good enough to marry?”
“No..no that’s not… She’s perfect, honest to God, but she’s still in college, and I’m here. And we just want more time. But one day I’ll ask for her hand. Just not today.”
“Good. I wouldn’t give it today. You’re a great guy, Jaycob. I’m proud of the work you’re doing here at the ranch with me and your daddy. But, she’s my whole world.” I slap him on the shoulder. “You shoulda manned up and told me yourself. Not blindsided me.” He nods. “Do your parents know?”
“Not yet, sir. We wanted to tell you first.” The kid is shaking in his boots.
“Well that’s a strike on your side isn’t it?”
He gulps hard. “Let’s go tell ‘em then, huh?”
“Only if Reece wants to. I won’t push her, sir. This whole timeline is hers and I’m just along for the ride.” He holds firm on his position, protecting my baby girl, even if it is from me.
“Good. You do right by my girl and we won’t have any problems.”
His shoulders slump forward and he relaxes. “Yes, sir. I promise I will.”
I nod once, walking back to the house.
How the fuck did I not know my daughter was dating Jaycob right under my nose?
“You handled dinner really well tonight.” Juliette runs her fingers along my abs.
“We’ll see. Tell me the truth. You really didn’t know?”
“Nope. Neither did Dakota. There is no way she would have kept that from me. I just knew she was serious about the guy. And now it makes sense. They’ve been friends their whole lives even when their ages didn’t make sense. They’re soulmates.”
I run my fingers through her hair splayed out around us on the bed. “I’ll trust you. And him. But only for now, I’m keeping a close eye on him.”
“Cal. It’s Jaycob. We’ve known him his whole life. He’s like the son you never got. Now he’s just one step closer to officially being your son.”
I grunt in response. Her pregnancy with Reece was hard, and the toddler years were hell on our marriage for a second time.
Luckily, the second time we had the tools needed to communicate and keep ourselves focused on each other.
But having a toddler didn’t help. So we never tried for a second, happy with one.
“Can we change the topic? I’d like to focus on my very sexy, very naked wife.” I roll her on top of me, pinching her nipples.
“Mmm, your very naked wife would thoroughly enjoy that.” She grinds down on my cock.
My favorite place to be. Buried deep in the woman I love.