Page 25 of Agony of Our Regret

He smiled, and a blush crept up his neck. After all these years and with all we’d been through, he was still bashful around me. He was adorable.

“We don’t even know if they’re coming back, but if they are, I’d rather not have them show up unannounced at our front door.”

He nodded. “That won’t happen since they don’t know where we live.”

“And your parents won’t tell them?” It wasn’t like I wanted to keep it a secret forever, but the thought of them appearing without warning was stressful.

“I’ll make sure they don’t,” he assured me.

“Okay, I’d like to meet them somewhere neutral, but familiar.” I took another sip of water.

“One of our houses?”

That seemed like the best option. We used to meet at a park near our homes, but meeting inside would be more comfortable inside.

“Either yours or Luca’s would probably be best.”

He lifted a brow. “You’d be okay going to mine?”

I’d avoided that since moving back here and had only been once since we left for Drexel. As much as I loved his parents and home, looking across the street to the new house built after mine burned down was too harsh a reminder of my dark past. Even though nothing about the design was anything like when I lived there, just looking at the lot was hard.

“Whatever’s easier.” I tried to brush it off, but he didn’t let me.

“Let’s do Luca’s. Seeing everyone will be enough for one day, we don’t need to add on.”

I nodded. A reunion should be happy, but this one felt more like an oncoming disaster.

SIX

Luca got the call.Noah and Skyler were at the airport, heading back home.

“Why didn’t they tell me?” I nibbled on the edge of a nearly black piece of toast. An accidental craving discovery. I burnt a slice three days ago, cried about it, and was so mad that I took a bite to prove a point. To the bread. As if it would feel my wrath and suffer.

But it was delicious.

And I kept it down.

So now that was my go-to meal.

“I’ve been talking to them, coordinating and stuff.” He took a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim of the mug. “It was hard for them to get stable Wi-Fi. So, they asked me to book their flights.”

I nodded and took another small bite.

“Have you heard from Vince?” Gavin asked, echoing what I’d also wondered.

“Yeah, he’s in the middle of a big project and needed to wrap up a portion of it while they train a new employee to take over for him.”

I straightened. “He’s coming back for good?”

Luca stared into his cup. “I’m not sure. He just didn’t want to leave them in a bind if he ends up being out here for a while.”

That sounded more like he planned to leave again if he could.

He made his choice, and I made mine.

“When will they get here?” Gavin asked, as he made himself another coffee in a to-go mug.

“Tomorrow morning.”

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