Page 79 of Forget Me Not

“It’s ten, Mom.”

“I know, but I want to get up early enough to have breakfast with Gran and Pap before we go.”

“You’d better get up at four in the morning, then.”

“Will you join us tomorrow?” Sarra asks, ignoring her daughter completely. “One last hurrah?”

One last hurrah . . . something about makes it feel like I’ve got concrete in my chest.

“I think I can manage.”

“Good,” she smiles. “We’ll eat at eight. Nova, dear, will you help me find the good linens inside? The stuff at the inn makes my skin itch.”

“Oh my God, Mom,” Nova grumbles. “They do not, but yes, I’ll come with you.” She lets Creamsicle jump off her lap and stands. “Are you leaving yet?”

Her eyes meet mine and something passes between us I’m not sure I’m ready to unpack. “No. I’ll wait for you.”

“We’ll be fine,” Will interjects, waving a hand.

With a last, apprehensive look, Nova follows her mom toward the house. Will tips his beer back and swallows the rest, watching the girls talk about the inn as they step inside. He’s quiet for a moment, neither of us sure what to say. Meeting the parents is something I’ve never done. One on one time with the father of the girl I want to drag to bed?

That shit’s for someone else.

“That girl’s something,” Will chuckles, shaking his head.

“Yeah, she is,” I murmur, eyeing the fire that’s slowly starting to die down.

“You know . . .” Will clears his throat, sitting forward in his chair and resting his elbows on his knees. Everything in me tells me to get the fuck out before we have the dad talk. Unfortunately, I can’t get away fast enough. “Nova’s a good girl. Got a good head on her shoulders. Best thing I ever did was raise her and her sister to be kind, giving people.”

“Is this the part where you tell me you’ll kill me if I break her heart?”

Will doesn’t say anything, but he also doesn’t laugh either. It’s the most serious I’ve seen him all night and I would bet money that this side of Will Fischer doesn’t come out often. At least not in front of his daughters.

“This is the part where I tell you if you care even an ounce about her, you’ll leave her alone.”

Fuck.

“You’re leaving in September . . . I hate to say it, but I don’t think this will end well. You’re a good guy, Reid. I can see that. So can Nova and I can bet that’s why she likes you.”

“But . . .”

“But she’s been through enough heartache. Most people wouldn’t come back from it.”

“Jack.” Something in my gut churns. I fucking hate him, even if I know nothing about him. Moreso, I hate the idea of him, as if his existence could have been stopped. Like it would change anything for this very moment had he not been born at all.

She’d probably be married. Have kids.

Maybe then, this wouldn’t be happening.

“So, she’s told you, then?”

“No,” I murmur, squeezing the bottle in my hand until I fear it may break. “She hasn’t.”

“Well, that’s her business, so I won’t tell you, but . . . if you aren’t planning on sticking around for the long haul . . .”

“Leave.”

Will doesn’t have to agree with me for me to understand what he’s saying.

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