Page 104 of The Last Time

Over the last couple of weeks, it’s become easier for her to talk about my dad. She was grieving his death in her own way. She even visited a month ago and stayed in my guest bedroom.

It was so nice to have her here. I’m so glad she was able to stay with me, knowing this place is filled with her own memories, whether good or bad.

After I chat with her for a couple of minutes, I grab my coffee and start walking down to the dock. It’s October now, so the mornings aren’t as warm as they used to be.

I have on my jeans and a baggy sweatshirt.

When I take a seat on the chair, I close my eyes for a moment to enjoy the sounds around me.

As I sip my coffee, my brain floats away to thoughts of Asher as they usually do. I thought if I gave it time, it would get easier.

In some respects, I suppose it has. I’m no longer holding my breath, wondering when or if he’ll show up at my door.

But I still think of him every day, and it still hurts when I do.

The heat of the coffee is much-needed to counter the chilliness in the air. I hum my appreciation of the taste as I look out at the boat in the distance.

It’s too small to make out what kind of boat it is, but I find myself watching it in fascination as it gets closer.

I’m honestly not much of a boat expert. Most of them look the same to me as they go by. Some of my neighbors have yachts that they park outside their docks, which have always mesmerized me. I used to ask my dad if we could get one, and he would just laugh.

I never understood what was so funny. Now I know they cost millions and that this house was already nearly out of our price range. That’s why it always shocked me that he never sold it.

I don’t know how he could afford to let it sit here and be such a big asset that was never utilized.

Now, I know it was something that meant a lot to him and that he couldn’t part with. Probably for the same reasons I couldn’t part with it.

That’s weird, the boat seems to be heading right in my direction. I wonder if they are just playing around on the water. Some people like to cut the wheel quickly, going back and forth on the river.

But as the seconds pass, I realize that’s not the case.

As soon as the boat is closing in, I spot the driver. My heart drops.

Asher.

What’s he doing here?

Oh my god. I can’t breathe. I stand up and walk to the side of the dock as his boat slowly pulls into the spot. He wraps the boat rope on the dock after he cuts the engine.

His smirk goes right to my stomach, causing butterflies to take flight.

Then I see Brie sitting on the seat with her life vest on with a lollypop in her mouth. She seems happy as a clam as she watches her dad get the boat tied to the dock.

My eyes sting with tears as I watch her smile up at me through her lollypop.

I didn’t realize how much I missed her.

“Morning, beautiful day out, isn’t it?” he says nonchalantly.

I think I try to laugh and talk at the same time and end up choking on air. How the hell is he acting so calm? I’m a freakin’ mess right now.

“Yeah, beautiful,” I finally say on an exhale, knowing it came out all shaky.

He steps back down into the boat and grabs Brie with a bag in his hand. He pulls out what looks like a little bouquet of flowers and hands them to Brie.

As soon as he places her on the dock, he holds her hand as he gets on himself.

I kneel down on the dock to be eye level with Brie. Her sweet blonde hair is up in pigtails on the top of her head and she’s wearing strawberry pants and long-sleeve shirt outfit.

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