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Grayson and I stood side by side, not saying a word.
“Have you heard from Glen and Marjorie’s attorney?” Grayson asked, breaking the silence.
I nodded. “I hired an attorney that’s helping me navigate the situation.” My voice sounded stilted.
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
I started to say no until Zoey’s giggle reached me. I needed to put away my anger and pride for a moment, especially if it would help to keep my daughter with me. “I might have one thing.”
“We’ll do it,” he responded, his deep voice resolute.
“You don’t even know what it is.” I couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped my mouth. It felt good to laugh with Grayson. Too good. I still hadn’t forgiven him yet. “I could be asking you to donate your kidney.”
“I’ve got two. It’ll be fine.” He looked over at me and smirked.
I blew out a deep breath. “I need you and your family to be my character witnesses. I need other people to corroborate that I’m a good dad.”
“Done. I’ll give everyone a call tonight. Mom and Dad will stop by for the party, and Avery said she might too. We’re all behind you for whatever you need.”
“Thanks,” I got out, my voice hoarse. His family was my family. They always had been.
“Thank you,” Grayson responded.
I raised my eyebrow. “For what?”
“I know you’re still mad at me.”
“Gray—”
He held up a hand. “Let me get this out, please.”
I gave him a stiff nod.
“I appreciate you asking for our help even though I know we have a ways to go before I make things right between us. I didn’t set out to hurt you, Beckett. I know it feels like I turned my back on you and what you needed, and I want you to know I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” I did. We knew each other as well as we knew ourselves. He’d never intentionally hurt me or Zoey, but the fact is he did. “I just… I still need time to get my head around it, Gray.”
“I’m not him. No matter how mad you are, we’ll figure this out. You’re stuck with me.” His voice lowered, and he stared at me, intent deep in his gaze.
“Not who?” My hackles rose with a vague assumption about who he meant.
“Your dad,” Grayson said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m not talking about him.” The last time I saw my dad, I’d been five. It had been just before I met Grayson. Dad had decided family life was too much for him, and he abandoned me and my mom. The bastard didn’t even care that she had to run herself ragged to keep a roof over our head.
He threw up his hands at my sharp tone. “Okay.”
The bell over the front door of the bakery jingled as it opened.
“Grandma! Grandpa!” Zoey shrieked.
I whipped my head around to stare at the last two people I wanted to see. “No fucking way,” I growled.
“I take it you didn’t know they’d be here.”
“Nope.” I clenched and unclenched my fists. On top of everything else today, I did not need this.
I strode forward, only stopping when Grayson reached out and yanked me back.