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“Home?” I asked.

He smiled. “Midnight starts a little earlier when you get to be my age.”

I shook my head at him—he may have been nearing sixty, but he worked as hard as any man my age. “Goodnight, Dad.”

“Night, kiddo.”

I waved goodbye and watched as everyone began leaving the prom, just Fletcher and me staying behind as music played softly over the speakers.

“What happens now?” I asked.

He had an evil glint in his eyes. “After-prom.”

“I assume we’re not watching a movie?”

He shook his head and took my hand. His lips were hot on my ear as he said, “I told you, tonight is my do-over. There’s no way I’m letting you go home without you screaming my name tonight.”

I shuddered against his words, my eyes drifting closed.

“Follow me,” he ordered.

I nodded, letting him lead me outside to his truck. There was the same giddy feeling in my chest as all those years before. Back then, I’d been hoping he would take me home and kiss me on my doorstep. Now, Iknewhe was going to fuck me like his good girl. It was way better than any movie could be.

But there was still something tugging at the back of my mind as we pulled out of the parking lot. I bit my lip, wishing tonight could be perfect like he’d worked so hard to make it be.

He glanced over at me in the dark cab of his pickup. “What are you thinking?”

I freed my lip from my teeth. “You were so sweet with Maya tonight.”

“I love her with all I have,” he said earnestly.

“Have you ever thought about having more children someday?”

He slid his fingers through mine as he drove slowly down the empty city streets. “I want to have a million babies with you. A big family just like the ones we grew up in, with noisy dinners and rowdy birthdays and holidays with every seat in the house full of friends and family.”

My heart melted at the picture he painted, but it broke too. “My endometriosis...”

“The surgery will help,” Fletcher said, squeezing my hand. “And if we have trouble conceiving, I already have what I need in you and Maya. Besides, I don’t mind trying with you every damn night if that’s what it takes.” He winked at me.

I laughed, so much weight off my chest.

The pickup slowed and then stopped as he parked in front of the practice.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“I wanted to show you something.” He got out of the truck, coming to my side and letting me out, then walked down the sidewalk. “You know Doctor Deb owned this practice, right?”

“I didn’t,” I admitted. “I didn’t know someone could own a doctor’s office.”

“Yeah, this one is a private practice. And she offered to sell it to me.” He paused at the door with his keys. “Her party tomorrow isn’t just to thank her for all she gave to this community. It’s also a celebration of new ownership.”

“You’re kidding!” I said, in awe of all he’d accomplished. “You’re only two years older than me, and you have a whole business, and I’m just—”

He kissed my lips, silencing me. “You’re the woman who made me feel strong enough to chase this dream. Because I knew I’d have you by my side through it all.”

I looked up at him, seeing nothing but the truth in his eyes.

He unlocked the door and walked me inside, toward the storage closet by his office. When he opened it, he pulled out a metal sign. I ran my hand over the letters...