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“We’ll tell him together,” Liv said. “Sometimes he forgets I’m not just his little sister. I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions. He’ll come around.”

I leaned my cheek against her head and hoped like hell she was right.

“What do you think your mom would say if she knew we were together?” Liv asked.

I couldn’t help but smile. “I think she’d say it’s about damn time.”

* * *

When Hayes brought Maya home,Liv was making dinner and my chest felt tight with nerves. This was the second woman I’d dated since the divorce, and Maya hadn’t handled news of the last one very well.

I tried to keep things positive leading up to the news, asking about her time with Hayes while Liv plated the dinner she made.

Maya said, “Uncle Hayes showed me how fast the four-wheelers go at Grampy’s farm.”

I groaned at the same time Liv chuckled.

“Typical Uncle Hayes,” she said with a smile.

Maya added, “He told me people race four-wheelers. Can I do that?”

“When I’m dead,” I grunted.

Liv thought that was funny too, but Maya pouted.

“But, Daddy—”

“Too many kids get hurt that way. I hope your uncle was safe with you today,” I said, but I already knew he was. Hayes might be a risk-taker, but he loved my daughter like his own. He’d never put her in a position to be seriously injured. And I remembered being a little kid. Picking up just a bit of speed felt like flying.

Maya dug her fork into the spaghetti. “Grampy said he could make me a four-wheeler carrier for Graham.”

Liv leaned forward on the counter. “You have the coolest grandpa and uncles.”

She nodded happily, focusing on her food.

Liv and I exchanged a glance, and she nodded.

“Maya, I need to talk to you about something,” I said, sliding into the chair next to hers at the counter.

“What is it?” she asked, looking up at me. She had a Parmesan crumb on her cheek, and I reached out to wipe it away.

“I asked Livvy to go on a date with me, and she said yes,” I told her.

Maya’s mouth fell open, and her eyes pinballed between Liv and me. “Really?” she asked.

I nodded with a smile.

She looked at Liv. “Really?”

Liv smiled and nodded. “I hope that’s okay with you.”

Maya jumped up, running and wrapping her arms around Liv. “Yay! Will you wear that dress again?”

“Which dress?” Liv asked, drawing her eyebrows together. “The disco ball one?”

“No, the purple one?”

Liv thought it over for a moment than laughed, squeezing Maya just a little tighter. “I don’t have my prom dress anymore, but maybe you can help me pick one out for our first date... on Friday?” She looked to me for confirmation.