Page 492 of Face Off

“Come on, Dad.”

“I will cancel the guesthouse.”

He immediately releases me. “Understood.”

Charm laughs so hard she bends forward, and Briggs uses the opportunity to steal a cinnamon roll from the bakery bag. “Do I get to pick the furniture?” he asks.

“Maybe,” I say.

“Can my guesthouse have a gaming room?”

“No.”

“A hot tub?”

“Zero fucking chance.”

He takes a bite of the cinnamon roll. “We should plan sleepovers.”

I stare at him. “You will live in the yard.”

“Yeah, but sometimes I might get lonely.”

“Then call us on the phone.”

“What if it’s cold?”

“You play ice hockey.”

“Can Marco visit?”

Charm points at him. “Marco is never allowed inside the guesthouse. He stole your watch.”

“He gave it back.”

“After Ryan took you to ask for it because you were scared you’d hurt his feelings.”

“He was borrowing it.”

“He sold it to a man named Spider.”

“Spider gave it back too.”

I turn toward the skillet and pick up my spatula.

Behind me, Charm and Briggs begin discussing whether the guesthouse needs its own Christmas tree next year while everyone else starts climbing the stairs to watch me open a gift Charm already gave me.

Then I realize this was the big gift she had hinted to the last three weeks.

I assume it’s nonreturnable and decide against asking Charm whether I can exchange it for Rider.

I look at the key to Encanto resting beside the stove, then at the woman and the idiot who’ve somehow become the center of a life I never believed I’d have.

A business in my city. A home built around us. Roots deep enough to hold all three of us.

Briggs leans over my shoulder. “Can we please get a dog?”

I close my eyes, but he and Charm both have sad eyes caused by the ‘no’ I am itching to say but bite it down. I muster what little strength I have left and nod.

I guess we’re getting a Briggs and a dog.

Fuck!

The End