Page 128 of Stay Wild Darlin’

“Morning,” I said back, stepping into the room and letting go of the doorframe.

She turned back to the pan, and I stood there for a second, watching her—bare legs, sleep-rough voice, my daughter giggling beside her like this was the family we’d always been waiting for.

Is this what love felt like?

For a second, I stood there, watching her move around my kitchen like it was hers. She’d plated up eggs for me, scooped some onto Cora’s tray, then gently pulled the high chair closer to the table so we were all sitting together again. Like a family.

Fuck, that was what gutted me. For so long, I’d kept holding out hope that Brooke would come back.

Not because I loved her. Because I thought if she returned, we could patch the damage and give Cora the family she deserved. I’d convinced myself that was the only way I’d ever be “whole.”

But sitting here, watching Poppy laugh at something Cora babbled through a mouthful of eggs, it hit me with a quiet certainty.

This was whole.

I almost missed it and let it slip right past me because I was too wrapped up in what should’ve been.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, cutting through the sound of Cora’s spoon clattering against the tray.

Poppy looked up at me, brow creasing, fork dropping to her plate. “For what?”

I swallowed hard, eyes locked on the girl who gave me more peace in one night than I’d ever felt in years. “I’m sorry for not asking you this sooner.”

She blinked. “What’re you talking about, Dalton?”

My chest felt like it was on fire, but I said it anyway, because it had lived in me too long not to finally break free. “Will you be mine?”

Her lips parted. Her eyes went wide. “I need this job,” she whispered. “I-I want to be a teacher, but I need this job and . . .”

“I didn’t know you wanted to be a teacher.”

She gave a shy little nod, eyes flicking away from mine for a second. “I’d love to teach. I have my credentials. I never landed a position. I’d have to transfer my license out here, which is a whole process, but, yeah. That’s the goal.”

There was something so damn pure about the way she said it. Like she still wasn’t sure she was allowed to want things for herself.

I crossed the room and stopped beside the table, then reached out and brushed my knuckles against the back of her hand.

“That’s amazing. Seriously. I think you’d be an incredible teacher. Any school would be lucky to have you.”

Her eyes flicked up to mine again, surprised by the softness in my voice.

“And yeah,” I added, giving her hand a light squeeze. “I still want you here, with Cora. You matter here.” I cracked a smile. “Besides, remember? No HR department in this house. Just me.”

She let out a soft laugh, but her smile wobbled.

“But be mine too?”

Her breath caught. “L-like boyfriend and girlfriend?” she asked, then shook her head and giggled. “God, that sounded so immature. Sorry.”

“Absolutely, I want to be your boyfriend,” I said, grinning. “Get me one of those cheesy-ass shirts with the giant arrow that says I’m with my boo—I’ll wear it proudly. Everywhere.”

She burst out laughing, her head tipping back as Cora flinched in her high chair, a mouthful of egg, still mid-chew.

Poppy clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle it. “Oh my god—sorry, sweetie,” she said to Cora, still giggling. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Cora blinked wide-eyed at both of us, then slowly grinned, egg smeared across her cheek.

I sat back in the second chair we’d picked up at a thrift store, watching them—my girl, my daughter, my life—and felt like I was exactly where I was always meant to be.