I slowed at a stop sign, taking a longer look at Will. “You guys have really connected, huh?”

Will’s cheeks reddened. “He’s cool. And a good guy. And no one else is going to celebrate with him. We should.”

“You’re right.” A plan was already forming in my head.

“You know. I could babysit, and you guys could go out on a date.”

I almost sent the SUV off the side of the road. “What? We don’t need to go on a date.”

Will grinned. “You guys would have fun.”

“It’s not like that between us.” But the words felt like a lie. As each day passed, there were more lingering touches, more reasons Griffin found to take my hand. And every single one drove my hope a little higher.

Will stared in my direction. “It might not be that way now, but it could be. You deserve a life, Caelyn. You more than anyone deserve to be happy.”

I pulled the SUV to the side of the road and turned to Will, studying his face. “I am happy. You and Ava and Mia make me happy. My job and my friends. And Griffin, too. I have a great life, Will.”

He turned his gaze out the front window. “You gave up your life for us.”

I grabbed his arm. “That is not true. You make my life better than I could’ve dreamed. You always will. Even when you go to college. Even when you make a family of your own one day. You and the girls will always be my greatest joy, the people I’m most proud and happiest to see.”

He swallowed hard. “I just wish you could have more.”

“I don’t need more.” But as I said it, the thought of those cooking classes, the dream of traveling the world to learn different cuisines, marriage, babies, it all flickered in the back of my mind. I cleared my throat. “You let me worry about what makes me happy, okay?”

“Okay,” he mumbled.

“Now, how are you going to get Griffin out of the house tomorrow so we can throw him a surprise party?”

Will grinned. “I’ve got an idea…”

32

Griffin

“You’re sure this is what you want to spend your paycheck on?” I asked as pavement turned to gravel. The money had already been spent, but we could always return the tools.

Will ran a hand over his brand-new toolbox. It had all the basics that he usually borrowed from me. “I’m sure. I really like working on the house.” He was quiet for a moment. “I’ve been thinking a lot about college…you know, if I go. And I’m thinking architecture. Maybe minor in music.”