Page 143 of Your Last First Kiss

The SUV door practically bounces when I rip it open, and I slam it shut once I’m in.

Miller doesn’t even open his eyes. “Didn’t go well?”

“How do you share DNA with that fucking twat-sucker of a scumbag dingle-dicked asshole?”

I know I’m not making any sense. There are a million emotions warring in my head right now, but anger outweighs them all, and I pound my fists on the steering wheel.

Miller sighs and pulls his seat upright. “There are laws in Connecticut, you know.”

I spin to glare at him. Of course I know there are laws.

“Get to the point.”

“One of them, in particular, is about incarcerated parents. I’m not a lawyer, but I think I read something online about parental rights and how they can be revoked if there’s no contact for a period of time.”

I’m speechless. Truly speechless.

“You knew this the entire time and didn’t think to say anything? What the actual fuck, Miller?”

He shrugs like he didn’t just waste half my day.

“I sat in there biting my tongue, and it was all for nothing? What is wrong with you?”

“It wasn’t for nothing. Eddy’s scars go deep, and I don’t think he’ll ever change, but as a single dad, I had to be sure. I don’t take stripping fathers’ rights lightly.”

Miller’s left eye twitches. I have a feeling there’s much more to being a father and his right to be a single one than I know about.

“I held out my last hope that he’d put his children first. I needed to be sure that there was nothing good left in him before I encouraged you to adopt those kids and make it right.”

“Make what right?” I almost don’t recognize my voice. It’s wobbly from these interactions I haven’t been able to process yet.

“They’re your family. Adopt them and make it right. Give them the happily ever after. Protect them. Love them. Fight for them.”

“That has always been my plan, Miller.”

He nods but remains silent.

For the first time since I met Miller, I feel like I don’t really know him. Not fully. He hides a world of hurt behind good deeds and a charming smile. Maybe Penny was right. Maybe it’s time for Miller to find love.

I process everything from Eddy to Miller on the long drive home. Miller closed his eyes and fell asleep as soon as we hit the highway.

When I finally pull into Penny’s driveway, I find Gage tussling in the mud with a foam roller.

“Ah, hey, buddy. What are you doing over there?” I ask when I step out of the SUV.

He grins like he’s the luckiest kid in the world, even if he is covered in mud. “I’m practicing tackling. I wanna play football.”

Internally I groan. The one sport I was never particularly good at. “Looking good, kid.”

“Thanks,” he yells, then piledrives the foam roller.

I have to get that kid some gym mats before he hurts himself.

I trudge up the steps, suddenly exhausted. Exhausted but happier than I’ve ever been. When I step through the door, I trip over Kai’s basketball shoes and smile as I kick them to the side. Then I remove my own shoes and toss them into the pile.

Who would have guessed that a pile of shoes would make me happier than I ever remembered being?

Picking up Gage’s sweatshirt, I hang it on the hook, then call out, “Honey, I’m home.”