Page 159 of Never Let You Go

She sits on the stool next to me. “So, tell me,” she says, “Why are you two pretending there’s nothing between you?”

So much for avoiding another conversation. “It is nothing.”

“Not to me, you don’t. It is not nothing. And I’m not asking what it is—yet—I’m asking why you’re trying to hide it?” Before I can answer, she adds, “Unsuccessfully.”

“We—I don’t want Skye to get hurt. When Alexandra leaves.”

“We’re past that point, now, aren’t we? Clearly, she knows—”

“She didn’t mean it that way.”

“Of course not! She’s a child. She doesn’t need to know what adult love life looks like. But she knows you love each other. Where were you when she all but said it to everyone?”

I rub the sore spot between my eyebrows. “Skye got attached to Alexandra. She’s just confused.”

“Well, I’d tell you to set things straight for Skye before she gets more confused. But there’s more, right? This is not just a fling.”

I clench my jaw. “Not for me, it’s not,” I admit.

“So? You’re a fighter. I always saw you fight for what you wanted. What’s happening this time?”

“She won’t stay. She just. Won’t. Stay.” I clench my jaw and look at Lynn, then avert my gaze. The tension is too high, and my eyes are uncomfortably wet.

“And why is that?” she whispers, stroking my arm.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I’ve asked her, again and again, but it’s always the same nonsense answer about her job.”

“Where is her family?” she asks.

“She doesn’t have a family. They all passed away.”

“Mmm.” She looks away for a beat then narrows her eyes on me. “Did you talk specifically to her? About what it would look like for her if she stayed here?”

“She never gives me a chance to get that far. She just shuts down the conversation, saying it’s just not possible. Not in the cards for her.” I huff. “I should go ask Sophie if that’s true.”

We stay silent for a beat.

“It seems to me that she needs stability. Whatever is in New York represents stability to her. Here, it’s a big unknown. I bet it was hard for her to come, but she did it, knowing she was going back to her environment, no matter what it is. It’s something certain. Stable. Where she feels she belongs. What will she do here if she stays after her exam? Is it true what they say?”

“What do they say?”

“That’s she’s not a good baker. But she’s great with her phone and… whatever sort of marketing she does in real life.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, it’s true.” I don’t even want to know who says that. Probably the whole town.

“She’s going to need more than a few I love yous to stay here.”

I raise my eyebrow, and she frowns at me.

Her mouth makes a big O. “Wait. You never told her I love you?”

I groan and dig back into the cream pie.

“Stop hiding, Christopher. You have to say clearly what you want. How is she supposed to know? Talk to her.”

forty-six

Christopher

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