other and the happiness they brought to their lives, it was these two.
“I’ll grab Summer for a dance.” Declan released Dad in my care, then headed in the direction of my baby sister, who sat alone, texting on her phone.
“She okay?” Dad asked with a frown as we moved slowly to the rhythm of the music.
“Missing Penny.” I squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry about it. Today’s your wedding day, and we’re grown up enough to take care of our own problems. Summer will be fine.”
He still didn’t look too convinced, and we watched her talk to Declan briefly before she put away the phone in the tiny gold bag that matched her heels. She took Declan’s proffered arm and smiled at him as he led her to the dance floor.
“I’ll look out for her while you’re gone, Dad.”
Dad finally glanced away from Declan. “Sorry, I just worry about her. All of you. Do you see how good Declan is with her?”
“He’s an amazing guy,” I agreed, feeling light-hearted at the way he had Summer laughing. “He’s good to all of us, but he’s awesome with you, and that’s what really matters.”
I’d never thought I’d see the day Dad blushed at something I said to him. He ducked his head almost shyly, but the smile on his face was radiant. He was in love, and I enjoyed seeing him this way. For so long he’d been alone, raising three kids.
“He’s the best.”
“And you deserve nothing but the best. I can’t say enough how much we appreciate you, Dad.” Since our other father, James, reentered our lives and Dad felt betrayed that we hadn’t told him, I still carried around a modicum of guilt over it.
If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have kept the secret for so long.
“I know you do.”
“Good, because you’ve done everything in your life up to this point for us, and it’s time for you to do for you now.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Focus on your marriage. Go on your honeymoon with your husband and have fun. Don’t worry about us, and don’t think you have to call us every single minute to check up on us either. We’ll be fine because you raised us to be independent.”
“That’s easier said than done, son. I’ll always be a father first. Declan understands that.”
“And that makes him even more special, but we’re not six anymore. Promise you’ll not spend your honeymoon calling us to find out how we’re doing.”
“Auggie—”
“Summer and Oscar can manage. And if they have an issue, they know they can always come to me.”
He released my hand and patted my cheek. “I’ve told you that I’m proud of the man you’ve become, haven’t I?”
“Many times.”
“You’ll make someone a very happy partner someday, Auggie. I can’t wait to meet the person who’s worthy enough of you and your love.”
Just at that moment, I caught sight of Charles standing at the bar instead of dancing like almost everyone else was doing. I followed his gaze to the blonde—Poppy—who danced with another man. Those two had a strange marriage. She was carrying Charles’s child, but they didn’t seem to be talking to each other. They’d more than likely arrived at the ceremony together, but they hadn’t even sat together during the reception.
They completely ignored each other, which was no excuse, but it made me feel less guilty about being interested in Charles. We’d only spoken directly to each other a handful of times before today. Once when he tried to comfort me about Summer’s disappearance and the second time when it was the opposite.
The cancer benefit. Charles had completely broken down in my arms that night, whether or not I’d wanted it. As far as I’d seen, no one else had offered him a shoulder to cry on, so I’d done it for him. Declan hadn’t been in a better frame of mind, and Dad had had to be there for him.
The problem was, I couldn’t get Charles out of my head. Of how vulnerable he’d been. I’d heard enough that he hadn’t been a good father to Declan, but that only made me even curiouser.
There was a lot more to that man than a terrible father.
I glanced away before Dad could follow the direction of my stare. I still had no idea what was happening to me when it came to Declan’s father. The man triggered my dominant side.
“It’s not so easy finding someone to connect with outside of the club,” I said, sticking