Page 80 of Since the Day We Wished

“Well, you’ll probably breeze through that section,” Luke said, unwrapping his sub. “I saw the videos your mom took at your history tournaments. You’re a natural when it comes to that stuff, Jer. Much better than me. I think you get that from your mom. She was always a whiz at trivia nights.”

“Trivia nights?” Jeremiah asked, stuffing his mouth.

Luke’s face broke into a wide smile. “When we were first married, we used to go to trivia night at this bar down the street from our first apartment. We won a couple of times, all thanks to your mom.”

“She never told me that.”

“That’s surprising. She was so proud every time we won, and she wouldn’t let me forget it was because of her.”

“I didn’t know you used to do stuff like that together.”

“That was back when I wasn’t working so much and actually had time to have a life. We used to have a blast, me and her,” Luke said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “But then you came along and ruined all the fun, of course.”

Luke leaned over and ruffled Jeremiah’s hair.

Jeremiah laughed and batted his hand away. “Cut it out! Now you’ve got grease in my hair.”

“I hear it’s good for that.”

Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “Right.”

After dinner, Jeremiah continued working on the study guide in the living room while Luke went to his office to check his email. He was surprised to find one from Mark Whitaker, his boss at the firm. In the email, Mark stated he had recommended Luke for an opportunity in New York City partnering with the biggest client their firm had ever landed. Since Luke had finished the contracts with his previous clients, this would be his only one.

As he read through the details, Luke felt a twinge of hope. Mark had promised him a reasonable schedule, a chance to be home with his son, and the opportunity to start fresh in a new place. The relocation package was generous, including a top-notch school for Jeremiah that would fast-track him to ensure he graduates on time.

Luke was torn as he read through the email. He had moved down to this small coastal town to escape the pressures of his old life, to leave behind the long hours and endless travel that had left him feeling empty and disconnected from his family. But now, with this offer on the table, he couldn’t ignore the pull of his former career.

He leaned back in his chair and reread Mark’s email for the third time. The prospect of having everything taken care of for him and Jeremiah was tempting, to say the least. And Luke couldn’t deny the fact that he and Emma were over, and there was nothing left for him in Hadley Cove.

Although the offer checked all the boxes, he wanted to get Jeremiah’s take on it. Ultimately, he would do whatever it would take to keep their relationship on the right path, be it here in Hadley Cove or New York. After turning off his computer, he stood up and stretched, then walked into the living room.

“Hey, can you take a break from studying for a minute?”

Jeremiah put his pen down. “Sure, what’s up?”

Luke took a seat on the sofa and told Jeremiah about the email he’d received with all the details of the job offer. Once he finished, he looked over at Jeremiah, waiting for him to speak.

“So, what do you think, Jer? How does it sound?”

Jeremiah waited a few moments before replying. “It sounds like it could be good, and I do kinda miss the big city. But Hadley Cove is growing on me. It would be nice to have a fresh start again, though.”

“So, is that a yes from you?” Luke asked. “I promise I won’t let the job drive us apart.”

Jeremiah sighed and stood up, grabbing his study guide. “I don’t know. You’ve made promises like that before.”

“Well, you got me there. I want to show you things have changed. We still have some time to think about it. Didn’t mean to interrupt your studying. Goodnight, son.”

Luke headed upstairs to the bedroom, deciding he’d hold off on replying to Mark. Jeremiah had every right to have reservations. Luke hadn’t exactly kept his promises before to his son. More than anything, Luke wanted what was best for their future. Lying in bed as his eyes fell heavier, he made mental notes of the pros and cons of taking the offer, weighing each of them carefully. While his focus mostly surrounded his mending relationship with Jeremiah, he couldn’t help but think about the eight hundred miles that would separate him from Emma.

Was hereallyready to move on and let go of the woman he loved?

Chapter 41

Emma

It had been a week since she’d seen her estranged father at the supermarket. She wrestled with the idea of listening to what her dad had to say, even if it was for her own healing. Emma kept putting off the phone call by making up excuses of why she couldn’t...she had to bake treats, she had to take Riley out, she had to catch up on her book club reading.

But enough was enough. Today was the day she would reach out and make plans to meet up. As Emma thought more about what she would say to him, she realized that he was just a man. A flawed, broken man who had made a mistake and had to live with the consequences. And even though she couldn’t forgive him for what he had done, holding onto the pain would only hurt her in the end.

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