Page 22 of Awaken My Heart

“About fucking time,” Dane mutters.

“It would be so great. You deserve that,” Daphne says.

“Absolutely, Dad,” Garrett says. “No one deserves happiness more than you.”

I stare at them in awe. I’m not exactly sure how I thought this moment would go. Mostly because I never thought this moment would come. I didn’t expect to fall for another woman.

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

“Did you meet someone?” Dane asks.

I scrub at the back of my neck.

“That’s one way to put it,” Grady mutters under his breath.

I roll my eyes, not sure how I feel about my adult children giving me shit about my sex life. Because I might actually have one. A sex life, that is. A relationship. Dare I say it, a second chance.

“What does that mean?” Garrett asks.

“You should see the claw marks on his back.”

“Get it, Dad,” Dane says.

“Eww, please don’t,” Daphne pleads. “I want you to be happy, Daddy, but I don’t ever need to know that there are bedroom activities.”

“We never even made it to the bedroom,” I say, then laugh when she shakes her head and covers her ears.

“On more than one occasion, we discussed it,” Garrett says. “You remarrying. I don’t remember any of us hoping that would never happen. Dad, we want you to be happy. We know how much you sacrificed raising the four of us. You and mom were a great example of a good marriage. I hope Felicity and I will be just as happy.”

“Women have been talking about you and how hot you are since I was a kid,” Dane says. “It’s damn disturbing.”

“You’ve got the biggest heart of anyone I know,” Daphne says. “It would be a tragedy for you to never love again.”

I grip the back of the chair. “I love y’all,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.

“We love you too,” Grady says. “And I told you they’d be on board.”

I nod, then step away. “Her name is Emma and I hope to introduce you to her soon. But I have some groveling to do before that happens.”

chapter

fifteen

Emma

Luna picks up on the second ring. “Hey babe, what’s up?”

“Can you come over?” I know she can likely hear the tears in my voice, but I don’t care. Right now I need someone, and frankly, she’s the only person I have. My closest friend.

“Of course. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Thanks.”

Seven minutes later, there’s a knock on my door, and I open it to find Luna with an armload of Blue Bell ice cream. A variety of pints.

“I didn’t know what kind you liked, so I brought options.”

“Thanks. I might take you up on that. I just need to talk to someone.”