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Throughout that bit, I kept a half-eye on her boyfriend, impressed by his polite attentiveness and how he seemed genuinely interested in what Harper had to say. They were sweet together.

Young love.

It turned out that Alex, or AJ, short for Alex Jason McGuire, was a good kid who smiled a lot. As we waited for our pizzas, the conversation drifted naturally to the future, something that always seemed to come up with teenagers around. Alex and I, almost in sync, began pressuring AJ about his plans after high school.

“So, AJ, what do you see yourself doing in the future?” I asked, curious about the boy who had captured my daughter’s attention.

Harper, ever protective, chimed in with a laugh. “He’s sixteen, Dad. Did you even know what you wanted to do when you were his age?”

I smiled at her, a rush of old memories flooding back. “I wanted to be a soldier.” My tone softened as I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “I’m sorry, Harper, for all the times that took me away from you.”

Her eyes met mine, filled with a warmth that squeezed my heart. “I love you, Dad,” she said, her grip tightening.

AJ broke the moment after everything was so emotional. “Uhm… I want to be a veterinarian, like my mom.”

“You like animals?” I asked.

AJ nodded with enthusiasm. “Yeah, I’ve grown up around them. Helping out at her clinic has always felt right.”

Alex, catching on to the interest, leaned forward with a grin. “You know, we should take you to the animal shelter we work with. They could always use more hands, and it’s a great experience if you’re going into veterinary work.”

AJ and Harper loved the idea, so we made it our plan for after dinner. As we finished our meal and went to the shelter, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of rightness about the evening. It wasn’t just about getting to know AJ better or reconnecting with Harper—it was about these small moments of connection and understanding that brought our lives closer.

It was family.

We entered the shelter, greeted by excited barks and immediate demand for affection from a dozen guests with their wagging tails. The atmosphere was perfect for ending our double date. Harper and AJ laughed and played with the dogs, and Alex stood beside me, his hand finding mine and squeezing as we watched the young couple.

“Everything is perfect when you add puppies,” I whispered to him, watching Harper throw a ball for a particularly enthusiastic spaniel.

Alex chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the edges as we sat cross-legged with the oldest dog here. Still looking for a home, Barnaby-Blue was a cross of probably a hundred breeds, fresh from the care of his elderly owner who’d passed away. The gorgeous bundle of fur and licks was desperate for affection. If I had my way, with Alex by my side and Harper only a few feet away laughing and smiling, I could sit in this corner for the rest of the night.

And for the first time in forever, I felt peace.

Chapter Thirty

Alex

Jazz satcross-legged on my bed; a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously between us. The soft glow of the laptop screen cast shadows across his face, highlighting the relaxed curve of his mouth as he crunched popcorn. He shifted so his knee brushed mine and the casual contact sent a warm ripple through me, one I tried to ignore as I focused on the movie. Or at least pretended to.

The plan was simple: a low-key night with a movie and snacks, but sitting this close to him, his presence filling the small space of my room, made my heart race in a way that had nothing to do with the action playing out on the screen.

Jazz stretched his arm along the back of the bed, his fingers lightly brushing my shoulder. It wasn’t intentional—or maybe it was—but the touch made it even harder to focus.

“Are you even watching this?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

“Of course,” I lied, avoiding his gaze.

“Oh yeah? What just happened?”

I opened my mouth to respond but faltered. “Uh, they… you know, the thing with the car chase…”

Jazz’s laughter was warm and rich, filling the room. “Nice try.”

I groaned; his voice softened, and his smile became almost shy. “I really enjoy this—being here with you.”

“Me too,” I admitted, my cheeks warming.

We sat in silence for a moment, the movie forgotten. Jazz’s hand slid from the back of the bed to rest on my shoulder, his thumb brushing my collarbone. The small, tender gesture made my chest tighten.