Page 138 of Forever To Me

But of course, the universe has other plans.

Because just as Walker shifts, his eyes still dark, still unreadable, his phone buzzes loudly between us.

We both startle. Then we stare at it like it personally dragged us back to Earth from whatever dangerous, gravity-defying moment we were having.

Walker sighs, rubbing a hand down his face before grabbing the phone. “Yeah?”

A pause. Then—he groans. “What the heck, Mack.”

He puts her on speaker, and I bite back a smile at the sound of his daughter’s voice, dead serious, no-nonsense. “We have a crisis.”

Walker pinches the bridge of his nose. “That so?”

“Yeah,” Mack huffs. “We’re out of syrup.”

I snort.

Walker glares at me before turning his attention back to the phone. “That’s your crisis? Syrup?”

Mack sighs, dramatic as hell. “Dad. It’s waffle night.”

Walker mutters something under his breath before responding, “There’s some in the pantry.”

“Nope. Maggie used the last of it for somethingprobably delicious,and now we’re all gonna starve.”

I laugh, still feeling drunk on whatever just happened between Walker and me.

Walker shoots me a look. “You think this is funny?”

“Yes,” I say immediately.

Mack perks up. “Is Violet there?”

Walker sighs. “Yeah.”

“Put me on video!”

Walker grumbles something unintelligible, then reluctantly switches the call to FaceTime. Mack’s face pops up, eyes narrowed. “You’re laughing,Red.”

“I mean,” I tease, flashing her a grin, “syrup is a serious matter.”

Mack nods gravely. “Thank you.”

Walker just shakes his head, muttering.

“So, Dad?” Mack presses. “Are you going to the store, or am I making a public plea for assistance on Facebook? Hey, maybe I could trade some syrup for a goat or two.”

Walker stares at her. “Are you bartering our goats now?”

Mack shrugs. “I mean, I could do a swapsie.”

I lose it and snort laugh.

Walker sighs, defeated. “Fine. We’ll go grab syrup. Ask Maggie what else she needs.”

Mack grins, triumphant. “Cool. See you soon. Love you, Dad. Love you, Violet.”

I freeze. Walker does too.

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