Page 77 of Forget Me Not

“Reid’s a lobster fisherman,” Will tells his wife excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to try that. I grew up in Oklahoma. Not much ocean-front property there.”

“Oh, Will,” Sarra chuckles. “Everyone’s a fisherman out here. Fishing here is nothing like back home on the lakes.”

“Anyone can learn,” I say, hoping they can’t tell how uncomfortable I am.

Fortunately, Nova’s parents just laugh it off. “I like this guy,” Will says, slapping me on the shoulder with the power of an ox. “Say, where’s that accent from?”

“Dad,” Nova warns, face so bright I’m sure it could be used to guide ships into the harbor at night. “I’m sure Reid has things to do.”

So, my being around her parent’s makes my little bird nervous, huh?

Looks like I’ll be hanging around for a bit.

“No, nothing at all.”

Nova’s face loses all color and the look she shoots my direction when her parents aren’t looking makes it worth it. Serves her right. She’s gotten under my skin, burrowing herself there to where I can’t think, can’t fucking focus on anything else for more than a couple hours.

It’s only right I return the sentiment.

“I’m from North Carolina, actually.”

Will looks pleased. “You know, we took a family vacation there when Nova was just a kid. Probably six, or so. Of course, she only wanted to go because she saw an Animal Planet documentary and thought she could rescue a flying squirrel.”

“Dad,” Nova groans, rubbing her temples and I can’t help but chuckle. “Mom, he’s doing it again.”

“But sweetie,” Sarra says, rubbing her shoulder. “It’s such a cute story.”

“So, we go on one of the tours where they take you out, show you the wildlife—at least what they like to pretend it is—and we saw some bears and such. Nova wanted to take a cub home. Of course, we wouldn’t let her have one and she cried the entire way back to the hotel.”

“Sounds just like her,” I murmur, earning me another glare.

“Tell him the rest, though,” Sarra interjects, fixing her husband with a look.

“Well . . . I almost caved,” Will admits with a laugh. “She was just so sweet.”

“You did cave,” Sarra corrects.

“Okay, I stopped and got her a stuffed animal.”

“Can we go now?” Nova snaps, but Will ignores her.

“You’ll have to tell me more of these stories, Will.”

“Well, we were just on our way to the inn to get some dinner,” Sarra says excitedly, taking my hand. “You should come with us.”

“Oh, no.” Again, I’m not parent material. “I just stopped by to see Nova real quick.”

“Oh, please, you must. We insist,” Will says. “You can tell me all about life on the ocean.”

I look at Nova, who nervously bites her lip. I should say no. God knows we’re only digging this hole deeper, day by day. I told her I’m not the guy she needs to bring home to her parents. But . . .

If it makes her happy, I’ll do it because breaking my rules seems to be the only thing I’m fucking capable of when it comes to her.

“Alright, if you insist.”

The soft smile that forms on her lips is enough to know that I’m fucking done for. Her parents cheer, high-fiving like they won a game of football.

“Are you sure about this?” Nova asks when her parents descend the stairs, talking about how beautiful Port Nova is and not paying a single ounce of attention to us.

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