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She stayed quiet for a moment, and I grunted, “The hesitation isn’t giving me tons of confidence, Liv.”

Chuckling, she said, “You know, after Nicole, I expected you to take a break from dating. But when five years passed, and then ten, I just kind of thought you would stay single forever. I knew you’d make a great uncle, but I never expected you to look at someone the way you looked at Farrah that night.”

My chest constricted. I didn’t know how I looked at Farrah, but I damn sure knew how I felt about her. “None of it will matter if I can’t get along with her kids.”

“I know, and I understand that you’re worried, but you’re a good guy, Gage. It might be awkward at first, but you’ll stick around and make it work because that’s what you do. Don’t forget who you are.”

“Thanks for reminding me.” I leaned my head against the window for a moment as I drove closer to the hotel. “You know, times like these, I’m really glad Mom disappointed me by having a little sister.”

“Only took you twenty-eight years to come around, but I knew you would eventually,” she teased. “I’m actually about to go to a babysitting job, so I’ll talk to you later?”

“Sounds good.” We hung up, and a few minutes later, I reached the parking lot of The Retreat.

There were more cars than had been there since construction finished, and my chest instantly loosened when I saw Farrah’s van. Now there was blue paint on the back window saying GO TITANS! The O in GO was designed like a baseball. That must have been the mascot for Levi’s summer team.

The sight brought a slight smile to my lips, and I allowed myself to imagine what life would be like going all in with Farrahandher family. I pictured myself as a baseball dad, watching all Levi’s games on Saturdays, taking everyone out for dinner afterward to celebrate his hard work.

I imagined sitting with Cora and Andrew in the stands, explaining the game to them while Farrah cheered the loudest of everyone there. I already knew she was that kind of mom—the kind who loved her kids so loudly they never questioned where she stood.

I imagined wrapping my arm around her waist, cheering and kissing her after Levi scored a home run.

And by the time I walked into the building, I was smiling as if my imaginations were real instead of a preemptive fantasy.

A flurry of activity greeted me in the main lobby. The entire main floor was set up for the photoshoot with racks of clothing, bins full of props, and fully assembled lighting equipment, along with a dozen people from Farrah’s family and the photographer’s employees.

Cora yelled, “MR. GAGE!” and sprinted up to me, slamming into my legs and hugging me tight.

I chuckled, taken off guard. “It’s good to see you too, Princes Cora.” Already some of my nerves had eased.

Andrew came running next, holding up a piece of paper. “I drew this for you! It’s your hotel pool with a dragon in it... Mom said you’d let us go swimming there when it’s done.”

I ruffled his curls and said, “You can come swimming any time you want. Hopefully without the dragon.”

He pumped his arm, saying, “Yes! I knew you weren’tthatgrumpy.”

Farrah’s cheeks already glowed pink as she walked toward me with her parents and her oldest son, Levi. He had her dark hair with natural golden highlights, but his short, messy cut revealed straight hair instead of curls like the other two kids. When they reached me, I realized he was just a few inches shorter than me, nearly six feet tall as a freshman. “You must be Levi,” I said, extending my hand.

He shook it, his grip big and clumsy like most teenagers. He still had growing to do, and with his size, I could already see him going places in baseball if that was what he wanted. “Thank you, sir, for getting the Ropers coach to help with practice,” he said. “I’ve already gotten a starting spot on my summer team.”

“I’m happy to help,” I replied. “And you can call me Gage.”

Farrah smiled between the two of us, then said, “Gage, I’d like you to meet my parents, too.” The older woman on her other side looked just like her, short and curvy with salt and pepper curls and a contagious smile. The man wasn’t much taller, but he wore a happy expression with kind blue eyes and weather-worn skin. “I’m Barry, and this is my wife, Jenna.” His shake was solid, and I realized I instantly liked him.

“It’s nice to meet the man who’s helped my daughter so much, professionally speaking,” he said. “She’s always talking about how much she loves her job. I guess now I know why.”

A fresh wave of color overtook Farrah’s cheeks. “Dad.” I could feel the tips of my ears heating too—damn, it had been a long time since that had happened.

Barry chuckled, patting my arm. “Only teasing, son.”

A few claps sounded, and Pascale’s voice cut through the chatter. “Let’s get everyone in hair and makeup.”

Cora asked, “Can I sit by you, Mr. Gage?”

“If it’s okay with your mom,” I answered, glancing up at Farrah.

Her nod was jerky, a little strained, and I wondered what was behind it. But Cora slipped her hand through mine, hanging on mostly to my first two fingers. Her little hand did something strange to my heart, requiring me to clear the unexpected emotion from my throat as we walked to the chairs set up for makeup.

While Farrah, her mom, and Barry sat at the hair stylists’ station, Levi, Andrew, Cora and I sat in makeup chairs.