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“Being a father.” I’m starting to become more and more afraid that I don’t know what I’m doing, that I’ll mess up our kid somehow or even be like my dad and be absent.

One thing I know is I’ll never be as mean as he was. But is that enough?

“Oh.” Grayson lies on his back, floating around. “It’s not easy. I won’t lie to you about that. But it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. When I realized Max was mine… It was like everything fell into place. Like it was always meant to happen.”

“So, you just took to it like a duck to water?”

“Something like that.” He swims to the shallow end to sit on the steps, and I follow him, sitting next to him in a pair of his borrowed trunks.

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy for me. You know what it was like for me growing up. It wasn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows.”

Grayson nods. “I understand. I didn’t know if I’d be a good dad. It’s not like my dad was around all the time either, always too busy with work to spend time with us.”

“Yeah.” Worry rushes through me. “What if I’m not good enough?”

He groans. “What is your deal with that? You’ve always been good enough, Logan. I’m sorry that you had people in your life who made you feel like you weren’t.”

We go silent for a moment and then Grayson pats my shoulder. “Let’s go see what the girls are up to. Lillian decided to try it one last time with my mother, so she and the kids are on their way. If my mother so much as looks at Lillian wrong, we’re out of here for good.”

By the time we make it back to the main house, Meredith and Mallory are decorating, and her father has just arrived. He looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Meredith and I no longer have to steal kisses while we help plan, but we do, anyway.

Grayson catches us once, out on the balcony.

“You don’t have to hide it anymore, you know?”

We both dissolve into laughter.

When Lillian and the kids arrive, Max makes a beeline to Meredith.

“Aunt Meredith, guess what? My game updated, and now you can use even more magic!”

I blink, having no idea what the kid is talking about, but then Kylie shyly grabs my hand.

“Uncle Logan? Can you take me to the pool? Mama says it’s okay as long as you’re with me.”

I nearly melt. “What about your swimsuit?”

She grins and pulls up her shirt, showing the swimsuit underneath.

I laugh. “You were ready, huh?”

“She loves to swim,” Lillian pipes up. “Meredith, why don’t you go with them? I’ll handle things here.”

Meredith looks a little frazzled and agrees immediately. We take Kylie out to the pool and before we even get there properly, she’s stripping down to her swimsuit and running.

Meredith sprints to catch her. “Floaties first, missy!”

Kylie giggles but allows Meredith to put the inflatable pillows around her arms. Then she breaks loose and jumps into the pool, yelling, “Cannonball!”

I laugh as Meredith and I are both sprayed with water.

“Just think. We’re going to have one of these in a couple of years.”

“Do you think it’ll be a boy or a girl?”

She leans against me as we sit at the edge of the pool, watching Kylie splash around.