“Sorry! Oh God, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
He doesn’t let me go, just holds me tight in his arms. He places his cheek on the top of my head as he hugs me.
“I have a few bruises, but I’m fine.”
“I love you.”
“Love you, too, bug,” he says.
He gives me a kiss on the head, and we finally let each other go.
I almost bump into Eli, not having realized he’d come up behind me.
“Sir.” One of his arms wraps around me, pulling me to him. The other comes out to shake my dad’s hand. I tense because Eli is making it clear we are together. No more hiding. Not that it matters because there’s no way my dad doesn’t know what’s happening after what he walked in on. My dad looks down at Eli’s hand, and I start to panic. Please no. I need us to be a family. No more time apart. I say the silent prayer in my head and wait.
My dad takes his hand, but instead of shaking it, he pulls him into a hug. I’m encased between the two men as my dad wraps his arms around both of us.
“Did you take care of my little girl while I was gone?”
“Or course, sir.”
My dad steps back, looking down at me. “Guess you aren’t my little girl anymore.”
I see a flash of sadness in his eyes. “I’ll always be your little girl, Dad. I’m just not, you know…” I don’t even know what to say.
“You’re mine now,” Eli finishes for me. Heat hits my cheeks at the thought of my dad hearing that. But it’s true. I’m his and he’s mine.
My dad smiles, and it shocks me a little.
“Sir, I want you to know that—”
“You can stop right there, Eli.” My dad holds up his hand. “I know you, and I know the kind of man you are.”
“I’ll protect her and keep her safe until I take my last breath,” Eli says, holding me close.
“Good. Let’s sit down. It’s been a long day.”
“Can I get you anything?” I ask my dad. He glances around the room before shaking his head.
Eli and I sit on the sofa, and my dad sits in his chair.
“You’re okay with this, Major?” Eli breaks the silence.
“I’ve known this was coming for a while.”
“You have?” I blurt out.
“Since the first moment I saw you two together. You looked star struck,” Dad says, looking at me. “And you looked like you’d seen heaven for the first time.”
I glance over at Eli, who looks shocked.
“But I wasn’t worried about it. I watched closely at first, and I knew Eli wasn’t going to make a move or act on it. I wasn’t sure what his plan was, to be honest, but I have to say it pissed me the fuck off when he left.”
Eli drops his head a little, and I can see regret all over his face. I grab his hand.
“Dad—”
“Let me finish, bug.”
“I knew why he took off. I respected that as a father and was happy he didn’t want to cross lines with you. But to see my little girl broken up about it, well, like I said, it pissed me off. So much so I used to call and drop things about you dating so I could make sure he was feeling that pain, too.”
“Of course I fucking was. It was like being ripped in two,” Eli snaps. He goes to stand, but I pull hard on his hand to drag him back on the sofa. I know he only does it because I silently asked him to. I move a little so I’m half sitting on him. My dad sits there with a smile on his face.
“Glad to hear it. I get it now. Trust me. I more than get it.” He says it like he’s been through something like that himself.
“Dad, I’m going with Eli. You know that, right? I don’t want any more time away from him.”
“I made Eli your guardian because I knew one day you’d belong to him. I also knew he’d do anything for you, including ripping himself in two if he thought it was best for you. You have my blessing. I won’t be something else that keeps you apart or puts a sad look on your face.” My eyes water. “That said, a ring and a wedding better be in the near future.”
“Closer than you know, Major.”
I turn to look at Eli. He leans in and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. I bite my lip as excitement takes over. This couldn’t be more perfect. But there is one more thing I want to know.
“No more secrets,” I say, turning to look back at my dad, and his body goes still.
“I never wanted to keep it a secret. She wouldn’t let me tell anyone,” my dad says.
“Who wouldn’t let you tell me I was adopted?” I ask in confusion.
My dad’s jaw drops, and he looks shocked. His mouth falls open, but then he turns angry.