Page 80 of 27 Kisses

“No, Da. It’s fine. I mean, you tried, and no one wants to go through that again.”

He laughs. “No one does. Garrett offered, but…” His voice trails off, but we both know why that would never happen. The same reason I don’t drive Lanie places unless it’s the three of us or an absolute necessity. The two people he loves the most in the world being in a vehicle together and something happening…that’s Aidyn’s nightmare scenario. Add in an inexperienceddriver, and he’d be a nervous wreck. Even having him agree that she can learned to drive is a concession I wasn’t sure he was ready to make. Another concession is that he’s agreed to talk to a therapist as long as he has veto power. “I don’t want some fancy-talking shrink telling me how to raise my daughter.”

Aidyn hands me a present he must have been hiding behind his back.

“What’s this?”

“I know you don’t celebrate Christmas much, but you actually open the presents.”

I smack his leg. “You already gave me my present. An Advent calendar. Remember?”

“I love Advent calendars,” Lanie says, looking up from her phone. “Why didn’t I get one?”

“Hm. I’m not sure. Aidyn?”

He scoffs and points a finger at me. “Stop instigatin’.” Then he turns to Lanie. “I got you one last year. You said you were too old for them. Remember?”

“Yeah. But that was last year.” She gives a little shake of her head, like her logic makes sense.

“Next year, darlin’.”

But Lanie is already back on her phone. Texting her boyfriend? Probably.

I kiss Aidyn and then grab his hand and pull him in for another kiss. His cheeks are pink, so I kiss him there too. “All right. Just open it.”

Inside is an ornament with the wordsOur First Christmas Aidyn and Garrett. It’s such a simple but thoughtful gift that I’m overcome with emotion. “Thank you, Aidyn. I love it.” My voice is a little rough. Aidyn squeezes my hand.

That’s when I realize I don’t have a present for Aidyn. Well, not exactly true. I have a present. I just can’t give it to him. Not on Christmas.

How had I forgotten that Aidyn proposed to Emily on Christmas? Had I shoved it so far down that I couldn’t see it?

“Da? Can Riley come over? We want to exchange presents.”

Aidyn looks slightly ill. “I guess that’ll be okay.”

She kisses his cheek. “Thanks, Da.”

“I’m excited about this,” I say with a grin.

That stops her. “Why?”

“I get to finally meet your boyfriend. Does he know you basically have two dads? I mean, a dad and an uncle, but close enough, right?” I grin, and she lets out a sound of protest.

She glares at me. “You’re my favorite uncle, but that could change.” She stomps off but doesn’t go far before she turns back. “And I’m not calling you dad.”

“Having fun?” Aidyn asks.

“I am. Is that wrong or something? I don’t know crap about raising kids.” Then I realize what I said. “Not that I’ll be raising her. You’re her dad?—”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

We make out in the living room under the Christmas lights. And it’s pretty great.

“I guess we should invite Randy to dinner.”

I laugh. “You mean Riley?”

“Him too.”