Page 74 of The Best of Us

Playing dirty, kid.“Only if that’s okay with your mother, since you did sneak out while grounded.”

“Oh, um.” She met my eyes, a curious expression there. “If you’re sure, then it’s okay with me.”

I wasn’t sure about a damn thing.I don’t want to lose you both, that’s all I’m sure about.“It’s fine with me.” I looked over at our son. “Consider it a downpayment on one of the birthdays I owe you.”

“You did miss a lot of them, including the big sixteen this past February.”Colin reached out to slap my shoulder this time, patting twice.

Oh, this kid.

“I’ll go order one with your credit card. You haven’t canceled it yet, right?”

Well played.“I forgot, so yeah, go ahead.”

He was already on the move before I had a chance to process what in the hell just happened.

Once I was alone with Juliette, she gave me an awkward smile, which was so much more than I deserved.

“Maybe I should go talk to him? I haven’t, um, had a minute alone with him since we got here.”

“Sure.” I had to text Izzy anyway to fill her in on the rest of Colin’s story. But for whatever reason, I found myself calling out, “Wait.” Yeah, I had nothing after that.

I approached her and placed my hand on the wall by her shoulder. I didn’t mean to continuously trap her with my body. It somehow kept happening.

“I owe you an apology.”

She rolled her lips inward, looking so damn innocent and sweet. “No, you don’t.”

“I do.” For so many things, but I’d start with the only one I could explain. “I’m not great at saying I’m sorry, so you’ll have to give me a second to figure out how to do this,” I admitted. “I can understand your reservations about me and this situation, and I was wrong not to acknowledge them earlier.”

“No.” She set her hand on my chest, and I dropped my gaze to her touch. She had no clue what she was doing to me whenever she put so much as a finger on me. “I shouldn’t have jumped the gun and accused you of wanting to be with me because ofthat.”

“It’s a genuine concern. I get it,” I lied, knowing damn well that what I was feeling wasn’t obligation. Not even close.

“Well then.” Why was her lip trembling? “I think it’s safe to say our apologies cancel each other’s out, right?”

“If you say so, sure.” I forced a smile.

“You said something about wanting to see photos, didn’t you? How about after I check in on Colin, we have a look together?”

I pushed away from the wall to give her space, so I could find the breath in my lungs the woman stole by simply being around me. “I’d like that.” I nodded, emotion catching in my voice. “I’d like that a lot.”

Chapter21

Constantine

“Please say that’s for me.”Juliette rounded the breakfast bar, her eyes fixed on the latte I was making her. “Since it appears you’re steaming milk, and you don’t drink it, I’m going with a yes.”

“You guessed correctly.” I finished making her drink and handed her the mug—one I’d had since I’d been in the Navy. Bianca sent it to me while I was overseas. She’d bought it because of the chip in the handle, and she was worried it’d never find a home because it was imperfect.

I never drank from it after she died, nor had I let anyone else touch it. I’d guarded it like a national treasure, the same way I did with her note in my wallet.

Butthe moment I opened the cabinet and saw it sitting there, all I found myself wanting to do was see it in Juliette’s hands.

“‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do.’” Juliette read the words wrapped around the dark green cup and smiled. “That’s how I feel about being a nurse.” She took a sip, and I watched and waited for what I hoped would happen.

She closed her eyes and moaned.

And there it is.

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