Page 23 of Dear Rosie

Her eyes widen, and she glances away before answering. “Moved here when I was nineteen.”

I lift my brows. “And that was… how long ago?”

She bites her lip. It’s a wildly rude question, but she still answers. “Fourteen years ago.”

I do the math. Thirty-three. Perfect for my thirty-seven.

“Where did you live before here?”

Maddox pushes a hand against my shoulder. “That’s enough interrogation. Don’t throw off their schedule.”

I let him push me back away from the kitchen. “My apologies, Rosalyn. Please forgive me.”

FIVE

ROSALYN

Where did you live before… Please forgive me… My apologies…

This day is turning into the biggest mind fuck.

As soon as Nathan steps out of view, I turn and rush into the pantry.

Presley is going to think I’m losing it, but I need a moment.

The lights above come to life as I close the door behind me. I have to assume they’re based on movement, but I appreciate not having to find a light switch through my mounting panic.

Standing still, I shut my eyes and focus on breathing.

Inhale. Exhale.

I do it again.

This doesn’t have to be a huge deal.

So what if Nathan doesn’t recognize me?

So what if maybe he doesn’t remember me at all?

Even as I try to tell myself it’s okay, the thought makes me press my hands to my stomach.

Another breath.

Calming my racing heart, I remind myself that I didn’t recognize him the first time I saw him on TV either, so it shouldn’t be this muchof a shock.

Yes, my hair and eye color are the same. But the last time he saw me, I was eight. And I was always abig-bonedkid—as one of my teachers had said—but I’m more than that now. I’m a grown-ass woman with a grown-ass ass. And a soft center. And tits that have needed underwire support since I was sixteen—basically when I learned how much I enjoyed cooking.

But… it’s okay.

Because if he doesn’t realize that I’m me, then he won’t ask me what life was like after he moved.

If Nathan Waller has forgotten me… I can be Rosalyn instead of Rosie.

I take another slow breath.

I haven’t talked to Nathan for two and a half decades, but in the few minutes we’ve interacted since he arrived, I can tell he’s just as fun and easygoing as he was when we were kids.

Relaxed. Confident.

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