Page 66 of All Your Firsts Without Me

“Me too. I’ve missed you, April.”

“I… I have something to tell you,” I say quietly, willing my beating heart to calm.

“I’m going to let you off the hook here. Is it about Westin?”

“You knew?”

He laughs on the other end. “Yeah, I thought dad was losing his fricking mind. But then he explained, and I still wasn’t sure about the whole thing, but I was hopeful.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?”

“April, you and I both know how short life is. Dad was pretty certain this Westin guy was made for you, and we both know he was always right.” He laughs harder. “I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when you found out Dad had set you up with another man.”

“I was pissed.”

“I bet.” His voice turns serious, “April, I know how much you loved dad. I can only hope my own marriage is just like yours. But you deserve to have someone in your life. You’ve spent too much time alone, so no I don’t think it’s too soon. What is an appropriate amount of time anyway?”

“You and your dad were the best things to ever happen to me. You know that, right?”

“And you were the best thing to happen to us. Now, when do I get to meet him?”

“If it’s okay, can I bring him to your graduation?”

“That would be great. Then you can meet Carly. She’s excited to meet you.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you next week, Kaden.”

“Can’t wait. Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye.”

The call ends. I kiss my fingertips then press them over the sharp edging of his name. “Thank you for listening.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

April

“You want to try one of our songs out on the residents?” Westin asks as we walk up the sidewalk to the nursing home hand in hand.

“Oh my god. I can’t sing in front of people.”

“You have and it was beautiful. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire auditorium that day.”

“That’s because it was a sad day, not because my voice pricked everyone’s tear ducts.” I say, stopping to unravel Lucky’s leash; she keeps wrapping our legs up.

“Come on. Pleeeease,” he begs with those cute puppy dog eyes I’m learning to love.

“Fine,” I grumble.

He fist pumps the air. Once inside, the residents gather round us. The knowing smiles they pass between themselves gives me a little thrill. They are happy Westin and I are together. Especially Fred. He gives me a little nod as I sit down.

“Okay, guys. I talked this beautiful woman into singing with me today. She’s going to rock your socks off.”

They all clap, on the edge of their chairs as we begin.

I let my eyes fall closed as he strums the first chords on his guitar. A smile lights my face, happy with the song he picked. We’ve written so many now. The words have been flowing out of us. The name of this song is Inevitable. When I begin, I stare into his beautiful sea glass eyes. He winks, throwing me for a loop and causing my belly to tighten.

When it’s his turn, the world melts away and it’s just the two of us, wandering in each other’s gazes. His voice caresses me, his words wrap around my heart, his guitar wakes my soul. I can’t explain what his music does to me. It’s always had an effect on me.

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