Page 49 of Moving Forward

“That’s fair,” I agree, feeling guilty for bringing it up.

“Hey,” he rumbles. “Don’t regret asking. Those are questions that need answering, and we will.”

“Thank you.”

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“It’s been an hour, Danny, let’s go!” Ellie begs, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. We’ve been sitting around talking, eating our picnic lunches, and basking in the sun. “Kissing rock, kissing rock!”

“Seriously? Did my fiancée just turn into a five-year-old? Great, I’m robbing the cradle.”

“Shut up, Danny,” she scolds. “You shouldn’t joke about that. You wouldn’t even last two minutes in jail.”

“Yes, I would,” he answers stubbornly.

Cain tilts his head, pointing his beer at Danny. “You couldn’t handle Hell Week.” He’s loosened up since we first boarded. I think his second beer has something to do with it, along with the fact that he’s constantly touching me somewhere. Plus, Ellie’s been on her best behavior.

“What?” Ellie asks as I say, “Hell Week?”

“The baseball team always put the new varsity players through a series of challenges. Not to be confused with hazing. Danny Boy here couldn’t handle getting woken up at two in the morning and swimming in the lake naked.”

“That lake was fucking cold, and you know it. No way was I swimming in that. And how in the hell was I supposed to catch a fish with my bare hands? I am not a bear.”

“Is my baby secretly a wimp?” Ellie interjects.

“Hell no! I did it.” He puffs out his chest.

Cain snorts. “Yeah. Not really. You got in and you ran out, claiming you got bit by a snake.”

“I thought I did,” he mumbles.

“But did you really?” I ask.

Cain leans forward and places his elbows on his knees. “No. Just got his foot tangled in some weeds.”

“Oh, babe,” Ellie pouts, sympathetically patting Danny’s head. “I think I need some to reevaluate whether or not I’m ready to marry such a . . . manly man. Or we could go to Kissing Rock. . .” she adds pointedly. “Reminisce a little bit.”

I lay my head on Cain’s shoulder. “They had their first kiss there,” I explain. “They were young and curious, so they snuck out and kissed at kissing rock.”

“Carved our names there and everything,” she adds. “Like you do when your life has changed.”

“Yeah,” I say sadly, suddenly reminded of Ethan. Only you. Only you have mattered enough to me. Only you. Those were his words after our first kiss. He spoke reverently, as if his feelings had suddenly snuck up on him and taken control. He’d lowered his chin, looking at me sheepishly as he told me that he’d never had an actual long-term girlfriend, and he knew that’s what I was going to be. That was our life-changing moment . . . the moment Ethan and I started down the path of falling in love. How could I forget that, even for a second?

“You gonna come with us?” Danny asks, standing up.

I shake my head. “Four’s a crowd there.”

Ellie bounces up. “Does that mean we’re going?”

Danny answers by walking to the edge of the boat and jumping off. Ellie squeals and follows him.

Cain leans back and rests his arm on the ledge behind my back. “This day has been bizarre. But surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed myself. Not ready to be . . . hey, you okay?” He removes his arm from the ledge and cups my cheeks. “Don’t look like that, Peaches.”

His happiness starts to fade, and I immediately feel like a complete witch. It’s the first time he’s actually been able to relax, and here I am about to burst into tears. All because of a stupid memory. “Just give me a second.”

“I’d give the world to take away that frown. Tell me what’s wrong?”

I bite at my lip, looking everywhere but his face. “I forgot about him.”

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