Page 31 of Unforgettable

I’m comfortable in my skin for the first time in a long time, and I’m doing my best not to dissect whether it’s because of Oz or whether it’s the move itself. There’s no denying that him being in my life has made me happier, but either way, I just want to feel like this—guilt free—for as long as possible.

Checking the time, I notice I still have fifteen minutes or so before my shift starts. It gives me the perfect opportunity to call my sister, so I dawdle in the back parking lot and pull my cell out of my pocket, tapping at her name on the screen.

“Heyyy,” she drawls.

“Hey, you, how’re things?”

“The usual.” She sighs happily. “We’re by the pool and Poppy is talking my ear off and I’m trying to keep up with the conversation.”

“Is she with you? FaceTime me,” I say. “I have just over ten minutes before I need to head into work, and I miss her.”

“Just her?” I can hear the mock frown in her voice. “After everything I did for you growing up?”

“Shut up,” I tease. “Put her on.”

We switch the phone call to FaceTime and my gorgeous niece’s face fills the screen. She’s smiling, her two top teeth missing. “Hey there, Poopy,” I greet. “How’re things?”

Her face scrunches up in disgust. “My name’s Poppy, Uncle Reeve. It’s not Poopy.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Sorry, kid. It’s always going to be Poopy to me.”

She turns her gaze to her mother, off-screen. “Mom, can you tell Uncle Reeve my name is Poppy? I’m starting kindergarten after the summer, it’s not Poopy.”

Callie squeezes her face into view on the screen. “Reeve,” she chides with a smile. “Poppy would really appreciate it if you started addressing her like a grown up.”

“Fine,” I pout. “I guess I’ll have to call you Poppy, then.”

“You can give me another nickname,” she says excitedly. “We can think of one together.”

“How about you write a list of ideas down and I’ll write a list of ideas, and when I call back in a few days we can go through them?”

“Can I use my new school stuff to make the list?”

“You’ll have to ask your mom, okay? Can you put her back on? I want to speak to her really quick before I have to go into work.”

The screen shows nothing but blue skies until Poppy hands the cell over and Callie comes into view. “How’s it going over there?” she prods. “You haven’t told me much since you started your new job.”

“I’ve been busy, but it’s all been positive.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “That’s all you’re going to give me? That it’s positive?”

“What?” I laugh. “I love it. I love everything about being here. I never want to come home. Is that what you want to hear?”

Her face softens in sympathy. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

I don’t say a word, but whatever she reads on my face must answer the question. “I wish you could stay,” she tells me. “Not to rub salt in the wound, but you look happy. Happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”

“I am,” I breathe out. “I feel happy. I feel light and different, and I don’t want to come home and lose that.”

We stare at each other in sadness, and I wish, not for the first time, that life was different for both of us.

“How about Poppy and I come up and stay for a few nights sometime soon?”

I smile. “Really?

“Sure. It’s not too long of a drive and we’d love to see you and hang out. Especially when you’re feeling your best,” she adds, winking at me.

“I would absolutely love that.”

---