We both laugh at that one. Talk about an awkward day.
“Or when you were sad about missing your mom, Millie. I was so afraid I was going to say the wrong thing.”
“You were perfect, Dad. You always seemed so confident. Like you knew exactly what to do. I had no idea you were scared.”
“I just figured it out as I went. One day at a time. I’ve only ever had one goal when it came to being your dad, and that was to make sure you found your happiness.”
I hope you’re out there finding your joy because you’re the reason we found ours.
Kai’s words written on the back of our family photo.
My dad nudges his shoulder into mine. “I’m not telling you what you should or shouldn’t do with your life. I just don’t want you to be so afraid to fail at something new that it keeps you from finding your happiness when you’re the reason I found mine.”
“Geez, Dad.” Lifting the collar of my shirt, I use it to wipe at my face. “I thought you’d call me back today and tell me how proud you were of me for doing these great and impressive things with my life. I didn’t think we’d be having this conversation.”
“I’m always impressed by you, you know that. It really doesn’t take a lot. When you were a kid, you got a Lego stuck up your nose and I found that impressive.” He chuckles to himself. “But there are other avenues in life that are equally great and impressive. You don’t need everyone to know your name for it to mean you’re doing something great with your life. Trust me, when the right person knows your name, it’s enough.” He nudges his shoulder into me. “Or in your case when the right people know your name. Two to be exact.”
Kai and Max.
“This is bullshit, by the way,” I say, pointing to my tear-soaked face. “This is the worst part of learning you have feelings.”
He smiles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “That’s love, honey.”
“I don’t think love is supposed to feel like this. It’s too overwhelming. Too consuming. I don’t know how people get through life this way.”
“That’s because you, my girl, fell in love with two people at the same time. I’ve been there. It’s a lot.”
I suck in a shuddering breath, trying to get my shit together.
“Miller, when you think of Max, what do you want for his future?”
“I just want him to be happy.”
“Would you ever expect him to repay you for loving him?”
“Of course not.”
He looks up to the sky, the sun beating on his smiling face. “Exactly.”
We’ve had this conversation before, but it hadn’t sunk in until today. I didn’t relate to him until today.
“I think you understand,” he continues. “Leaving my career to become your dad doesn’t seem like much of a sacrifice now, does it?”
I shake my head. “Not when I’m thinking of doing the same.”
He turns to me, brown eyes soft, looking at me as if I were his entire world. I understand that sentiment more than I ever thought I would.
“Go find your happiness, Miller.”
When I get back to Luna’s for my Food & Wine interview, I’ve got an annoyingly giddy grin on my face and so much clarity on my mind.
I leave the kitchen to take a seat across from the interviewer, crossing one leg over the other. We shake hands, introducing ourselves.
“I feel honored to have landed this interview with you, Chef,” she says. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“I’m looking forward to this too.”
“With the restaurant closed tonight, do you have any big plans after we’re done?”
“I do,” I admit with a smile. “I’m gonna go see about a boy. Two boys, actually.”
Chapter 40
Kai
With Max already buckled in the back seat and my truck engine on, Isaiah finally pulls up to my house.
“He’s alive,” my brother observes as he hops into the passenger seat of my truck.
“Barely.”
Isaiah chuckles. “Well, it looks like you showered, so that’s a good start.”
My brother turns around to say hi to my son while I pull out of the driveway and start the short drive to Ryan’s house.
“How big is this wedding?” he asks.
“It’s small. Fifty people, I think Ryan said.”
“Too bad Miller couldn’t make it.”
If my truck reacted the same way my body does at hearing her name, we’d be parked, frozen in the middle of this street.