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I glance around. “Well, if you don’t need anything else …” I begin to back away.

“Wait.”

I stop, but when her phone dings, she visibly relaxes. “Oh, never mind. That was all I needed.”

“Okaaaay.” Why is she acting so weird?

When I get inside, the men are relaxing in the living room, laughing and having a beer.

JD jumps up to introduce me to Anthony. The man looks so out of place in his designer suit here at the junkyard. JD keeps his hand on my back, reassuring me that I can trust this man.

“This is my daughter, Lexie,” he tells him.

Anthony takes my hand in his. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Wait, what? Even my own parents never introduced me as their daughter.

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to get on the road,” Anthony tells us.

I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor as JD walks him out.

Elizabeth hurries in. “Oh my gosh. I didn’t realize how late it was getting. Ash will be here soon. Can you cut some vegetables for the kababs? Willow told me they were Ash’s favorite.”

I spin in a circle, shaking my hands in front of me.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, coming to my side.

“JD told Anthony I was his daughter.”

She laughs. “And that surprises you?”

Everything comes rushing back to me. I remember hearing JD yell as the EMTs loaded me up.“I’m her father!”

“Honey,” she says, rubbing her hands up and down my arms.

“How am I going to leave you guys?”

The slight creases at the corner of her eyes soften. “Lexie, JD and I know what you and Ash want to talk about tonight. Word gets around in the club. Don’t worry. We’ve been expecting it.”

JD walks in and finds us in an embrace. He doesn’t say anything. He just joins us.

“I’m sorry,” I tell them, tears streaming down my face.

He hugs us tight. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m proud of you for choosing you for once. Ash is a good man. I don’t have a problem with this, Lex. But you better bet your ass I expect you to come over for Sunday dinners every week.”

“And maybe Wednesday’s too,” Elizabeth says, squeezing me tight.

“Okay, but only if you guys come to my house on Fridays.”

They both laugh, and I can’t tell you how much it fills my heart. Every day it grows with love from the people around me.

Ash knocks and steps inside, freezing in his spot when he sees us.

“Oh shit, they know.” He takes a step back and glances at the door. He’s preparing for a quick getaway.

The three of us laugh at the look on his face.

“Get your ass over here. We’re having a family hug,” JD says, letting go of us with one arm to invite him in.