Right Where You Left Me | Grayson Dolan

5

Brooklyn

After dinner was over, Grayson and I put a movie on in the living room, so that Ivy could settle down, and so that the two of us could have a private conversation in the kitchen.

Close enough that we could keep an eye on Ivy, but far enough that she wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on us.

I knew we had a few serious topics to cover, so it was good that we got Ivy settled in the living room.

Grayson ran his hand through his hair, pacing back in forth in front of me before he stopped and gave me a concerned look. "So, did you know you were pregnant when you left?"

"That's why I had to leave. I couldn't stand the
thought of my father ever coming near her."

"I guess I don't know why you didn't take me with you."

"Grayson—"

"Brooklyn, I spent four years worried sick about you. I didn't know where you went, or if you were safe. Hell, I thought I'd never fucking see you again. You know I would've dropped everything for you."

"But I didn't want you to," I said, already starting to tear up. "I wanted you to have a great college life. You had that amazing football scholarship with Ethan, and I didn't want to take that away from you. Your family is here in Missouri. You deserved to have fun in college, and I didn't want you to waste those years leaving it all behind for me. I wanted you to find a nice girl who could give you the relationship that was better fit for you."

"Brooklyn, you're the only girl I could ever want to have a relationship with. Don't you know that? I've never loved anyone as much as I loved you, and I don't think I ever could again. At least not anybody else. You're the only person I can imagine having a life with."

"Grayson, you have no idea how much I prayed that I'd be able to come back someday when it was finally safe again, and how much I dreamed about you meeting Ivy. It's all I thought about."

Grayson gently took my wrist, pulling me into a hug. "I thought about you every day since the day you left. I haven't stopped. I missed you so fucking much, Brooklyn."

Feeling his arms around me, and breathing in his familiar scent that I missed so much was an overwhelming feeling. So much so, that I started crying even harder.

"I missed you so much," I said. "You have no idea."

"So, what happens now?" Grayson asked, looking down at me as his thumbs wiped my tears away. "I want to be a part of yours and Ivy's lives."

"I want that too," I said. "Maybe I can get my job to transfer here. I know the company I work for has a firm near St. Louis."

"You could live here with me," Grayson said. "I wouldn't have to miss another day of our daughter's life."

I smiled. "You'd want that?"

"Of course. Brooklyn, I want us to be a family. I mean, a real family. I want all of the Christmases where we spoil her, and all of the birthdays. All of the PTA meetings, and dance recitals. I wanna be there for her, and for you. I don't know if you knew this, but I never stopped loving you. I thought about you every day in hopes that you'd come back to me, and now you're here. It feels like my world is whole again, plus I have a daughter. We have a daughter. That's the most amazing thing that's ever happened. We have a child. We made her, and we did that together. Now we could raise her together."

"I dreamed about this for so long," I said, another tear falling from my face. "Now that my dad's gone, it's finally safe for Ivy and I to be here. And I thought about you too. Every single second. I want Ivy and I to be in your life. I really do. I never stopped loving you either, Gray."

Grayson nodded as he wiped another tear from my face. "I missed you so damn much," he whispered.

Burying my face into his chest, I felt at peace. "I never wanna let go of you ever again."

"Good, cause I don't want to either," he said.

"I think I made a decision. Ivy and I are going to stay in St. Louis. We can finally be a family."

Grayson kissed my forehead. "I would love that."

"So, what does that mean for you and I?"

"I don't know. But what I do know is that you're the only girl in the world that I want to be with, and I would be so happy if we could be together again."

Reaching onto my tiptoes, I attached my lips to Grayson's. My heart swelled as he tenderly kissed me back, our tongues gliding together as the kiss continued. Pulling away for air, Grayson rested his forehead against mine. "I can't believe this is real. I finally have you back."

I smiled as I kissed him again, this time the kiss being a quick peck. "I love you."

"I love you," he said, squeezing me in a hug. "Gosh, I can't believe we actually have a daughter."

I giggled, both of us glancing to the living room. Ivy was still watching the movie as she was huddled in a blanket on the couch. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"She is," Grayson said. "She has your laugh, and I can tell how amazing of a mother you are to her."

"Come on," I said. "Let's go sit with her."

The two of us went into the living room, and Ivy climbed onto my lap immediately. Then she whispered in my ear. "Is he my daddy?"

"He sure is, sweetie," I told her. "If you want him to cuddle with us, you can ask him."

Ivy smiled at me before looking at Grayson. "Daddy, do you wanna cuddle with me and Mommy?" she asked.

Grayson smiled. "Of course, sweetheart. Come here, girls," he said.

Grayson put the footrest up before the three of us got settled, Ivy cuddled up between Grayson and I.

I think today might've been one of the best days of my entire life.