Page 147 of Save Your Breath

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Everything came together just in the knick of time, our guests who had doubled as party planners taking their seats and settling in to relax and enjoy the wedding with just ten minutes to spare. Daddy P stood begrudgingly at the altar made of reclaimed wood and draped with greenery, fairy lights, and chrysanthemums.

With the help of Chloe and Ava begging him, he’d agreed to be our officiant. I knew he was perfect because it would be short, sweet, and to the point — which was exactly what we wanted.

There were no groomsmen, no bridesmaids, just all our family and friends seated in the cozy space as the snow fell harder outside. A violinist played softly in the corner of the room as everyone settled in, and I stood by the stairs again, knowing it was just about time for me to take my place next to Will.

And then Mia would walk down the aisle to me.

I shook my head in disbelief, a smile curving my lips as my heart squeezed in my chest.

“Now that’s the face I’ve always dreamed of seeing on the man about to marry my little girl.”

Charlie met me with a warm grin when I turned to face him, opening his arms wide for a hug. He clapped me hard on the back, holding me longer and tighter than usual before he released me.

“Shouldn’t you be with that little girl right now?” I reminded him.

“She’s having a moment with her mother, and if I have any prayer of holding myself together through this ceremony, I can’t witness my two favorite girls in the world crying or I’ll be in a puddle on the floor, too.”

“I’ve given up on any hope of holding back tears,” I confessed.

“Well, we can be a mess together, then.” Charlie’s smile softened, his eyes searching mine. “It’s a great day for this father. I have always been so proud to call you my son, even if you weren’t technically family. Now, you will be.”

Proud.

My chest seized at the word. I knew he’d been proud of me as a hockey player, maybe even as a student. But… was he proud that I was the one his daughter had chosen?

I thought about a moment in this house where I was everythingbutproud, when this man had found me with a handful of pills and talked me down. The next day, he’d insisted I get help, and I had. Other than that, we hadn’t spoken of it since.

But could he really be proud Mia chose me if he knew what lived inside me?

Charlie shifted on his feet, glancing out the window at the snow as it thickened, the flurries sticking to the glass. He let out a breath that seemed heavier than the moment called for, his hands finding his pockets before his gaze returned to me.

“You know,” he started, his voice low, “there’s something I need to say before we do this.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask for her hand,” I said immediately, knowing this was a conversation I should have had before this moment. “I know I should have gotten your blessing, your permission, before I even—”

“Permission?” Charlie’s eyebrows shot up, his lips twitching as if to hold back a laugh. “Aleks, she’s my daughter, not my property. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission to live her life.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “It’s just… I wish I’d told you sooner. I know how you feel about—”

“Do you?” Charlie cut me off, his tone light but firm, his brow furrowing. “Because I’m not sure you do. You think I don’t approve of this?”

“I know you’re not happy about it,” I said, standing straighter under his gaze. “I know you don’t think—”

“How do you know what I think?” he interrupted again, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Son, I’ve been protective of my daughter since the day she was born. Do you blame me for keeping an eye on the teenage boy living under my roof with her at such a vulnerable age?”

I opened my mouth, then shut it again, unsure how to respond. I didn’t blame him. Like I’d said to Mia, I would have been more upset if hehadn’tthreatened me. He was protecting her, just like I was now — like I’d always wanted to.

“And when you two came to me with this whole ‘pretend to date’ stunt, I’ll admit, I was worried,” he continued. “Not because I didn’t trust you, but because I’ve always known how Mia feels about you.”

My stomach hollowed at his words, and Charlie’s eyes softened as he nodded.

“Oh, I’ve seen it,” he said, a faint smile curving his lips. “The way she looks at you… it’s been there for years. I just wasn’t sure what you wanted.”

I couldn’t fault him for that. Sure, he’d put boundaries in place when we lived under the same roof, and at the time, I’d resented it. But after that… we never spoke about any of it again, mostly because I was afraid. Afraid of what he’d say. Afraid he’d confirm my biggest fear — that he didn’t think I was the right one for his little girl.

“I honestly thought you’d go after her once you both moved out of this house,” Charlie added, like he was reading my thoughts. “But you didn’t. And I guess I worried that maybe you didn’t feel the same way. At least, until that July Fourth.” He swallowed then, his expression serious. “I wondered then if you loved her so much it was killing you.”