Never Say Never (Haven Harbor #3)

Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

IS THIS REAL? AM I HALLUCINATING?

D aisy

The piazza is relatively quiet at this time of day, with only a few people wandering the streets. We’re still sitting outside a little café where we bought pastries and cappuccinos, the morning sun already warming our skin, and the scent of coffee beans and sugar tempting our noses.

We should get going with our day–there is so much I want to show Tucker–but neither of us seems able to summon the energy.

There was so much making up for lost time to do yesterday. How long had we been in bed? The sky darkened and my tiny hotel room went black until we were silhouettes, but it didn’t stop us. We finally fell asleep, sated and spent, around three in the morning.

We’re exhausted today, but it doesn’t matter. I needed him just as much as he needed me.

But this morning there were things Tucker wanted to say. He told me all about the talk he had with his dad, how Uncle Mark had apologized then told him he was proud of him.

Tucker’s dad must have realized that his son wasn’t going to back down, not this time. I’m sure he knew I wasn’t going to either. So, if he wanted to have a relationship with his only son and the goddaughter that he’s always considered his own, he’d have to admit he was wrong. I know how hard it must have been for Tucker to take the first step, and I’m relieved my Uncle Mark received him so well.

But most of all, I am proud of my boyfriend. Tucker, with his big, beautiful heart, forgave his dad whether he deserved it or not. Even if he has been unnecessarily hard on him for most of his life, Tucker found a way to forgive him.

It makes me love him even more, if that’s possible.

“I think he’s changed,” Tucker murmurs, picking at his pastry.

I hope it’s true. For Tucker’s sake.

“And what if he hasn’t?”

Tucker reaches across the small iron table to push a lock of hair from my face. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing else matters. Nothing but you and me.”

I grin, feeling myself melt a little inside. Tucker is sweet and wonderful and so different than I thought he’d be. It feels like we’re getting a second chance, like we’re starting over. Everything in this moment feels almost too good to be true.

Tuck’s gaze shifts toward the piazza, to where a mother is carrying a cloth bag full of groceries as a little boy around 4 years old skips beside her.

“Do you see yourself having kids?” he asks, watching the little boy chatter away to his mom in Italian as he eats his cream-filled maritozzi.

“That came out of nowhere.” I laugh.

“I’m curious. It’s something we’ve never talked about.”

“No, I guess we haven’t.”

“So… do you?”

“I do. At least two. I’ve always wished I had a brother or sister.”

It never dawned on me until right this second that maybe that was one of the reasons our parents always treated us like siblings. Because I didn’t have any of my own.

“What about you? Do you see yourself having kids?”

I sit perfectly still waiting on his answer. Tucker would make a great dad. I’m not sure how I will react or what it will mean if he says he doesn’t want children.

“I didn’t, until recently,” he says. “I’ve only ever had one dream for myself, and that is the NFL. When my chances of making it to the league as a player disappeared, I shifted my focus to coaching there. It’s always been the goal, but I think I’d probably be happy living on Haven Harbor for the rest of my life coaching the Outlaws too.”

Tucker is meant for the NFL, and I know it’s only a matter of time before they come calling. I’ll have to deal with that when it comes. Would I be able to leave Reed Point and follow him to a new city? Would he want me to come? Neither of those questions need to be answered today, but if the time comes, I’ll make the decision that feels right for me. But deep down, I know I’d follow Tucker to the ends of the earth.

I rest my elbows on the table watching him take a bite of his pastry. “Technically, you didn’t answer the question.”

“Whether I want kids?”

“Yes.” I wait, trying to keep my heart in check.

“With the right girl.” Tucker licks the cream from his finger then leans over the table toward me to press a lingering kiss to my mouth. He chuckles when he sits back down.

I really hope he means me, but maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Yes, we’re very much in love, but in the big picture we haven’t been together very long.

I look out at the piazza, which is slowly starting to fill with locals running errands and tourists setting out on their days. The mother and her son have stopped at a small market across from us. She’s sorting through a pile of lemons, passing the good ones to her little boy to carry. He says something to her, and she smiles at him, ruffling his hair. The moment so sweet, I can’t help but smile.

“You’d make a great mom, you know.”

I turn to face Tucker. “How do you know?”

He laughs like it’s obvious. I’m not sure that it is. “Because I know you. I know every little detail about you. You’re caring. You’re good. You accept people for who they are. You are the best person I know.”

Something tugs at my chest. I’m pretty sure it’s my heart expanding two sizes.

“You say the sweetest things,” I murmur. This is the side of Tucker that I never expected. He is a man who is comfortable wearing his heart on his sleeve. Open, vulnerable.

I blink before the tears can start. I’m not going to cry.

“Come on.” Tucker shifts in his seat. “I only have five days, and I want to see as much of Italy as I can.”

I want that too, so I toss my napkin on the table and grab my things. The air is already growing hot, the morning temperature spiking to a record high for this time of year.

When he stands and holds out his hand, I notice the way his T-shirt stretches across his chest and his hard stomach. Tucker Collins rivals any of the stone statues I’ve seen on my trip. He’s a sight to be seen. He smirks like he caught me staring, then he clasps my hand and leads me through the piazza, toward the train station.

“Wait.” I stop, tugging on Tuck’s hand, dragging him toward the monument in the center of the little town. “Let’s take a selfie.”

“In front of that guy? Tucker motions to the stone statue of a man on a horse. “Do we even know who he is?”

“It doesn’t matter who he is. I want a photo to remember my first morning in Italy with you. You can replace that old grad photo of the two of us in your bedroom.”

There are endless photos of Tucker and me, there are albums full of them that our moms have been hoarding for years. But we do have 10 years to make up for.

“I happen to like that photo.” His arms snake around my waist, holding me tight as I hold up my phone. “That dress was fucking hot. The fuchsia pink. The way it hugged your ass. I couldn’t stop staring all night.”

“Your poor date. What was her name again? Rachel? Ronnie?”

“Not Daisy, so who gives a fuck.”

I laugh when he smashes his lips to my cheek as I’m taking the photo. “One more,” I plead. Tucker moves around me and takes my phone from my hand, holding it at arm’s-length.

“I can’t even see the screen,” I giggle.

“Perfect. Now, kiss me.”

Going up on my toes, I meet him halfway. “I love you,” I say before kissing his mouth. He snaps a few pictures before sweeping me into his arms.

“I have loved you all my life.”

“Say it again,” I tell him, burying my face against his chest.

“I have loved you all of my life, Daisy Carter.”

My mouth meets his again as his fingers thread into my hair. I cling to him, eyes closed. Oh, god. Here I go again. Don’t cry, Daisy! Why does he do this to me? No other man has ever stood a chance with my heart. It has belonged to Tucker since the day I was born.

Tucker breaks the kiss, a blinding smile stretched across his face.

“You are it for me, Dais. You know that, right? We’re together for good when you get back home. I’m not leaving you at the airport ever again.”

Five perfect days later, Tucker and I roll our suitcases into the arrivals terminal at Reed Point’s airport, exhausted from the 10-hour flight. We weren’t ready to leave Rome—I think we could have stayed in our tiny apartment forever, just the two of us. But Tucker needed to get back to training camp and I decided I didn’t want to be in Italy without him. Luckily, there was a seat on his flight.

We walk through the terminal hand in hand and as we exit the baggage claim area, a chorus of familiar voices makes me stop in my tracks.

“Daisy! Tucker!” My eyes go wide when I see all four of our parents standing just inside the entrance. Tucker looks just as surprised as me.

“What are they all doing here?” I mumble under my breath.

“Do they ever do anything without each other?” is Tucker’s smart-ass response.

“Welcome home!” My mom bellows as she descends on me first then pulls Tucker into her arms.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“Saving you an Uber ride. We couldn’t wait to see you.”

Tucker looks at his parents. “And you two? I’ve been gone less than a week so I know you can’t miss me already.”

“It was your mom’s idea,” Tucker’s dad says.

“Oh, he didn’t take much convincing,” Aunt Daisy interjects, swatting his arm. “He was practically in the car as soon as I suggested it.”

Uncle Mark smiles sheepishly then turns to face me. “Welcome home, Daisy. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

Had Tucker not already filled me in on their discussion, I might have had my guard up. But when Uncle Mark motions to two chairs a few feet away, I nod and follow him. His expression turns apologetic as soon as we sit down.

“I need to apologize to you, Daisy,” he says, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. “I never should have interfered in your relationship with Tucker. It wasn’t my place. I allowed my fears to cloud my judgement when I shouldn’t have. It’s clear that he loves you.” He pauses, his gaze shifting to his son still chatting with the rest of the family. “Tucker is a good man. You’re both amazing kids. You’re lucky to have each other.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. “That means a lot.”

“I mean it. I’m happy for you two. I hope you can forgive me.”

“It’s forgotten, Uncle Mark.”

He smiles and then we stand and share a brief hug. A second later, Tucker is behind me, wrapping his arms around my neck.

“Everything okay here?” Tucker asks, kissing the side of my face.

“I apologized to Daisy. We’re good. I’d like to see you both at Sunday dinner. That should be enough time to kick the jet lag.”

“We’ll be there,” I say. As he leaves, I turn in Tucker’s arms to face him.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Things with Tuck’s dad may not be perfect, but they’re good enough for now. I only hope that it stays that way.

“What happened?”

“He apologized. Said it wasn’t his place. Told me you’re a good man.”

“He did?”

I nod. We start toward the exit, trailing a few feet behind our parents. Tucker looks down at me, and the smile that lights up his face reminds me of summer bike rides and late-night swims under starry skies. He is the boy who kissed me when we were 16, and he is the man I’ve loved as long as I can remember. He stole my heart a long time ago.

“I think you’re right. It seems like he’s changed. He seems to genuinely feel bad for how he acted.”

Tucker holds out his hand and I lace my fingers in his. He brings my knuckles to his lips for a kiss.

“Did you ever think you’d see the day?” I ask him.

“That my dad has something good to say about me? No, never. Is this real? Am I hallucinating?”

“It’s real, Tuck. He’s proud of you.”

I’m hopeful this is a new start for Tuck and his dad. I hope that Uncle Mark will want to be at his games, that next season he will be in the stands, on his feet, cheering for the Outlaws just as loud as the rest of us.

I’m not sure exactly what my future with Tuck looks like. It’s still too early to tell. But I’m hoping forever is in the cards for us.

I choose to believe it is.