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Ollie rubs the back of his neck. “Still standing,” he says. “That's about all I've got right now.”
“You’re a good man, Ollie,” Dad comments with a loud exhale. “Not many would’ve handled the recent events the way you have.”
Ollie ducks his head, uncomfortable with the praise. “I'm just doing what’s right, sir.”
“I think we've earned first names by now. Richard will do.”
“Alright, Richard. You know, that's my middle name, so saying it seems a bit strange.”
Dad laughs. “I'd say that's appropriate. You're fitting in around here pretty well.”
Emotion catches in my throat. I’d braced myself for Dad to question every relationship choice I make after leaving my marriage. Instead, he welcomed Ollie into the family without hesitation. I slip my fingers between Ollie's and give his hand a squeeze.
Mom clears her throat. “So what now? Are you staying there with him?”
“Yes, that's the plan.”
I don't look at Ollie as another pause stretches over the line. Then Mom asks something that surprises me. “Do you love him?”
The question hangs in the air between us. I lift my eyes and meet Ollie’s across the table. He’s watching me completely still, his coffee cup forgotten halfway to his mouth.
I nod as an answer before speaking, making sure he was the first to know the answer. “Yes,” I say aloud, holding his gaze. “Very much so. I…I want to stay in New York with him. I want us to be together, taking care of Tilly and any future babies we might adopt or foster later.”
Across the table, he stares at me like his brain needs an extra moment to catch up. Then his chair scrapes against the floor and he stands. Before I can even process what he’s doing, his hand slides to the back of my neck as he leans down and kisses me, the touch of our lips full of promise.
Letting out a surprised laugh against his lips, I remember far too late that my parents are still very much on the phone.
“Mom, Dad, I’ll call you later,” I tell them.
“Wait, Peyton, don't you dare—”
I end the call before Mom can finish the sentence. The phone barely leaves my hand before Ollie cups my face and kisses me again. This time there's nothing sweet about it. Every bit of surprise, relief and love he'd been holding back pours into the hard press of his lips against mine.
When Ollie pulls back, our faces remain only inches apart. “I love you too.”
“I love you so much it kind of scares me,” I whisper back, staring into his icy blues. “If you don’t mind, I would very much love to stay here in Brooklyn with you and Tilly.”
I’ve never permanently lived in another city before. Even so, I know this is where I’m meant to be, with the two people who mean the world to me.
“I would love nothing more,” Ollie says.
I slide my fingers into his hair and study his face. The small wrinkles from smiling. His tempting lips I never seem to tire of kissing. And those mesmerizing eyes that always make me feel completely seen. I love every single little detail that makes him him.
“Listen carefully, Oliver Richard Braxton. It might not come as a surprise, but know this; I’m choosing you. Tilly. Us. I’m also finally choosing myself and what I want instead of what others are expecting from me.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “You look very pleased with yourself right now,” I add.
“Can you blame me? You just chose us.”
“And I’ll do the same every single day until the day I no longer can.”
Ollie cups my face. “Promise me one thing, though.”
“Anything.”
“I never want to be the reason you make yourself smaller. I want you to grow as a person, explore the world and chase every dream you have. Trust me with all your dreams. Trust that I keep them safe. I'll spend the rest of my life making sure loving me never means giving any of them up.”
I do trust him with every part of me. It’s because of the way he makes it seem like loving me isn’t something he has to think twice about. The doubt that used to live inside me after my failed marriage isn’t there anymore. I trust in love and what it can bring to my life.
“You’re what all my dreams are made of, handsome,” I tell him earnestly.
