Overtime(145)

Karl held his gaze for a long time and then nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, you don’t drive a Prius, so you’re already a better choice than that one idiot.”

Jordie laughed as Karl grinned. “What, you thought I was gonna say no?”

Jordie shrugged and he nodded, holding his gaze. “Yeah, I don’t deserve her!”

“Well, no shit, but you got her and she loves you. And I love you, son. You’re great for her and you’ve done really f*cking good with your life. I think you two will be very happy for the rest of your life.”

With his throat thick with emotion, he slowly nodded. “You think?”

“I know,” he answered, reaching out to cup Jordie’s shoulder. “Don’t doubt yourself, Jordie. You have really done great things with your life and I, for one, am very proud of you and would be honored to have you as my son-in-law.”

Swallowing hard, he smiled, holding his hand out. “Thank you.”

Karl pushed it away and then pulled him in for a tight, backslapping hug. “I’m very proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, Da—Karl.”

Pulling back, Karl gripped his shoulders. “Well, as long as she says yes, I’ll be your dad and I’ll expect you to own up to that.”

Jordie smiled shyly. “I already do.”

Wrapping his arm around his shoulders, he squeezed him. “Well, then you’re halfway there, just need her to agree to it.”

“No pressure, right?”

Karl chuckled. “None at all,” he added with a wink. “She could say no and reject you, which would leave you broken and trying to take care of a new baby, and then you might start drinking, and shit would be bad. But no, no pressure,” he teased and Jordie smiled.

“Man, you’re the best dad in the world,” he said sarcastically but laughing since, of course, he had thought all that crazy already. He knew it could happen, but he wouldn’t start drinking again. He was done with that. He was more than an alcoholic; he was a good man. One who was gonna marry Kacey and have a family for once.

“I have a mug, you know,” Karl informed him. “Kacey gave it to me, and I’ll make sure you get one too once my new granddaughter is born,” he said with a wink.

Jordie laughed, thinking that nothing could get better than this. He had his family, he had his woman, and he was about to have a baby. Life was good. No, great.

But glancing back at his soon-to-be dad, he laughed, “I can’t wait. Make sure it’s blue for my son.”





“So apparently, I can’t go without my medicine yet.”

Oh God, Kacey thought as she drove down I-24 to get to Radnor State Park for her couples’ shoot with Jordie. He was meeting her since he had therapy today while she checked out a few places for her gym. Still no luck though, but her issues with that would need to wait. Lacey was having a crisis.

“Do I even want to know why you have come to this assumption?”

Lacey exhaled a long breath over the phone. “I stopped taking it like a week ago and things were fine. But then I woke up in a cold sweat last night and rushed to Mena’s room, tearing off her sleeper and checking her for breast cancer. It was insane, and Karson is trying to help, but I’m just screaming at him, Mena is screaming and, ugh, it was horrible.”

Kacey’s heart broke for her. “Oh, Lacey.”

“Oh, I know,” she said softly. “I took my meds today and I apologized to Karson this morning, and Mena, though I don’t she understands, but yeah,” she said, and Kacey could hear the tears in her voice. “I just feel weak, almost, and pathetic. I have to stop this.”

“You do. Have you thought about going to therapy? Maybe the ABC group isn’t enough?”

“Yeah, we talked about it this morning. I called Jordie too and he gave me his chick.”

“Julie is wonderful,” Kacey informed her. “I think you’d like her.”

“I’m gonna call her. I just wish I weren’t so f*cked in the head.”

“You had a pretty traumatic thing happen at such a young age with no help, Lacey. Unlike other people, you know there is a problem and you’re gonna get help.”

“Thanks,” she said softly. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“Just a bit, but I still love you,” she teased and Lacey laughed.

“Sure you do,” Lacey teased back, her laughter coming from deep within and that made Kacey happy. She didn’t like Lacey all messed up, it scared her. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” she beamed. “I’m actually heading to Jordie and my couples’ shoot at the park. Maybe I should have waited till I was big. I just look fat.”

“Fat is the last thing I’d say about you, but I think it’s sweet you’re doing it now. You need pictures for the house, for sure. Do it again when you’re big.”

Kacey shrugged. “I guess, I mean I’m in it to win it at this point. I’m wearing cute clothes, and my hair is on point, along with my makeup. Thanks for suggesting Michelle, she was amazing.”

And she was. Kacey’s hair was in beautiful curls, framing her face in a sweet, country girl way. Along with light makeup that brought out the brown in her eyes, she looked flawless. With black leggings, a long beige sweater, and brown riding boots, Kacey was sure she could pass as if she had grown up in the South her whole life.