The hurt she was trying so hard to hide cut into his heart. “It is for me. I’ve been pretty lonely. Plus I’ve been kicking myself for taking so long to figure out what’s important to me.”

She looked down at her thumbnail, brought it to her mouth, then seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled it away. “Yeah, I guess you missed Button a lot.”

Her insecurities were still so close to the surface they made him ache. “How’s the little rug rat doing these days?”

“Pretty good. She says lots more words now. She calls Squid Skid.” She shot him a glare filled with reproach. “But she never says Da anymore. Not ever.”

“I miss her a lot.” He paused, then moved closer again. “But I miss you even more.”

“You do?”

He nodded. “I love Button, but she’s still a baby. You know how that is. I can’t really talk to her about anything interesting or play basketball with her. And don’t look so surprised. You and I have understood each other from the beginning.” He paused. “Did you ever hear of a soul mate?”

She nodded warily

“I think the two of us might be soul mates.”

“You do?”

“Don’t you?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you—”

“You’re such a jerk.” He smiled at her. “When are you going to figure out what a great kid you are?”

She stared at him and then her face crumpled. “I didn’t think you ever wanted to see us again.”

He no longer cared whether she wanted to be hugged or not. He grabbed her and pulled her tight against his chest. “I’m a lot bigger jerk than you. I missed you, Luce. I missed you so much.”

One hand crept tentatively around his waist. He rubbed her back and blinked. How could he ever have walked away from these females? “I love you, Lucy.” It should have been hard to say, but it wasn’t. In fact, it was so easy that he said it again. “I love you so much.”

She buried her face in his shirt. Although her words were muffled, he didn’t have any trouble hearing them. “Loveyousomuchtoo.”

They stood that way for a while, both of them embarrassed, but neither of them willing to let the other go. When they finally parted, she looked vulnerable and scared. “You’re not going to try to take us away from her, are you?”

“I’d never do anything like that! Thanks a lot.”

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “I had to make sure.”

“No, you didn’t. The fact is, I need some help, and you’re the only one who can give it to me.”

She instantly responded. “What do you want?”

Now he was the one who had to look away. “I saw Nealy this morning, but I got nervous and screwed everything up.”

“For only the millionth time.”