Page 46 of Come Break My Heart Again

Part of me is tempted to take it. He owes my mom about fifteen years of child support. But it’ll alleviate his guilt—make him feel better about himself—and that’s the last thing I want.

“No. I got a job.”

“That’s great.” His tone is too chipper, awkwardness bleeding beneath. “Doing what?”

“Construction.”

“Hard work,” he comments.

I kick a piece of firewood that got overlooked yesterday. “Yep.”

“I’m happy you’re out, Ryder. And so sorry to hear about your mom.”

“That makes two of us.”

“I’ll give Nina a call soon; check in with her.”

“She’ll love that.” This time, there’s no sarcasm.

She will. If Dax cared about her half as much as my mom loved him, they’d still be together.

Something my dad knows, based on the uncomfortable pause that follows.

“I gotta get to work,” I say, letting him off the hook.

I’ve got plenty of my own regrets. I don’t need to carry his too.

“Okay. Talk soon, son.”

“Bye.” I hang up, reach down, and fling the piece of firewood as far as I can. It hits the wooden fence that marks the edge of the property line with a dullthunk.

“Stick had it coming, I’m assuming?”

I turn to watch Keira Parker pick her way across the overgrown yard toward me. “Hi, Keira.”

“Hey, Ryder.” She pauses about a foot away, holding the coffee cup she’s clutching out. “Brought Tuck some coffee and thought you could use one too.”

“Thank you,” I say, totally taken aback. “I appreciate it.”

“I just …” She shrugs. “Littlewelcome backgift.”

“Thank you,” I repeat, not sure what else to say. This is probably the longest conversation we’ve ever had.

Keira’s not looking at me with any anger or resentment, which makes me think Elle kept the details about our breakup from more than just my mom.

“Well, I should get going,” Keira says. “I’ve got a shipment coming into the restaurant.”

I nod. “Thanks again.”

She smiles. “It’s just a coffee, Ryder.”

I watch her turn and sidestep a clump of weeds. “Keira?”

She glances back. “Yeah?”

“How are … people?”

There’s a brief pause, during which I have no clue what Keira is thinking. Her poker face is impressive.

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