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The mask on Ford’s face that hid away whatever he was feeling pixelated as if a computer program failed. His eyes misted over, and he swallowed stiffly. Within a second, he ran a hand over his unshaven face, and just like that, he was back to the man who let nothing affect him.

“You sure ’bout this?” he asked and cleared his throat. “Seriously, I know I’ve been teasing you about Cory, but he’s a good kid.”

“Eh. I’m fifteen, Dad. Besides, if it’s meant to be, we’ll find each other again. Maybe we’ll try long distance since we’ll be back to visit a lot. Or, maybe I’ll fall for some cowboy wherever we end up living.” Dimples deepened in her cheeks with her smile. “Apparently, Bernie has a brotherwho—”

“Absolutely not.” Ford immediately shook his head and crossed his arms. “I will not be related to that motherfucker, no matter how much I love Raiden. That’ll just be another thing that’ll go to Bernie’s already massive head.”

I threw my head back and laughed as a vein popped in Ford’s forehead.

Azelie wiggled her brows. “See, I heard Raiden broke up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna move to Idaho. We’ll go live by Griffin and Jane. Mikey and Scottie are closer to them anyway. Montana is out,” Ford stated and shook his head.

Azelie grinned even wider and batted her lashes. “I also heard that Montana—”

“Nope. Absolutely not,” Ford reiterated.

I shook my head as the chuckle died in my throat. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, go enjoy being with your friends. We’ll bring out your cake soon.”

“Yeah. Go be with Cory. He’s a good dude. I like this whole long-distance idea. We’ll fly back often to visit. A lot of times. Frequently. How about every time I’m out on orders, you guys come stay with my mom and pops? Besides, I bet your parents will appreciate it because it’ll give them plenty of opportunities to continue to try and repair their relationship with you guys,” Ford blurted out as if he were unable to control his thoughts and words.

I patted his arm and sighed. “Sounds like an excuse to avoid my parents on your end.”

His eyes narrowed. “Possibly. I never said I was going to try and have a relationship with them.”

Azelie giggled, and her sundress swayed in the breeze as she skipped away. We watched her go with excitement buzzing in the air, but in my heart, there was nothing but peace. I never would’ve guessed how much life would change in such a short period of time. I would’ve never believed it. But here I was, with the love of my life and our daughter, making plans for the future. Plans that involved all of us.

“I’ll miss the spider lilies. You know they’re my favorite,” I said and leaned up against Ford.

He smiled, slid his arm around me, and tipped his face up to the sun in the sky. “Good thing I get to take mine with me.”

I studied his face. The weight that had been on him when he first arrived seemed lessened. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened with a soft smile, and my heart fluttered like I was sixteen and just starting out on this insane journey with him. Yet, here we were, with a lifetime of memories behind us and a lifetime more to make.

He was my best friend, my lover, and the greatest blessing to have ever waltzed back into my life.

Plus, this time, he came with a hell of a lot more family, and I loved it. “By the way, the girls were talking about Kat’s friend, Emma.”

Ford glanced down at me. “What about her?”

“Apparently, she’s Dom’s type and—”

“You too? You don’t need to get involved in their meddling shit they like to do.” He pursed his lips, but his eyes sparkled.

“Okay, but here’s the thing,” I continued, and he shook his head.

“Cher, I love you. But I ain’t gonna get involved in this. Go gossip with the girls or something,” he said and smiled.

“I love you too, you big oaf,” I answered with a smile.

And there was nothing that could happen that would change that.

Not even death.

THE END… sort of