“I’m not doing another day without Davis, and I need you both to be okay with that.” She squeezed his hand, not taking her eyes off him.
“Of course, you have our blessing.” Katie’s voice shook with tears.
Davis’s own face stung with emotion. How could this beautiful woman so full of life love him? It hardly seemed possible. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips, then sat back up.
“Daddy?” Sunny tore her gaze from Davis to look at her dad.
Davis held his breath.
Arne groaned. “You’re pulling the ‘daddy’ bit?”
Katie scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“You know that’s not fair.” Arne leaned over and kissed Sunny on the forehead. “I have faith that you and Davis together will make each other stronger versions of yourselves.” He sat up and held Davis’s stare. “I’ll be honored to call him son.”
That did it. Davis couldn’t hold the tear in that rushed down his cheek. Couldn’t form words past the lump in his throat. Arne sniffed, his own eyes glassy, and stretched his hand across the hospital bed. Davis clasped the lifeline offered to him.
“Please tell me that’s Big Daddy’s barbecue.” Sunny’s voice broke into the moment, which Davis appreciated since he teetered on bawling like a baby again.
“You know it is.” Katie stood and whacked Arne’s shoulder. “Help me dish it up.”
When they were busy, Davis leaned his elbows on the bed, holding Sunny’s hand between his. “So, Sunny Rebel, my Firefly, you want to search out life’s adventures together?”
“Yes.” She sighed her answer with a smile.
He kissed her knuckles. “When you’re out of here, we can start planning.”
She shook her head.
“No?”
She eased her hand from his and slid it along his neck. He leaned closer so she didn’t have to reach and pull her injuries. He knew how the wrong move could spike pain through a healing gunshot wound.
“No. We start planning today, right after you feed me that smoked brisket Mom is serving up, because the day I get out of this place, I’m marrying you.”
Davis closed the distance between them and, with her face cupped in his hands, kissed her. Not as long or as thoroughly as he’d like to. He didn’t want to risk the trust her parents had in him.