Page 8 of Second Chance with the Half-Elf
“And you love me.”
I sink onto a stool, gratefully wrapping both hands around the mug. “Your kid is a trip.”
“He’s an old soul,” she says softly. “Too much like his father sometimes.”
I glance sideways. “You okay?”
Rowan shrugs one shoulder. “Good days, bad days. You know how it is.”
I nod. More than she knows.
She studies me over the rim of her mug. “You look like you saw a ghost up there.”
“Maybe I did.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“No.”
A beat of silence. Rowan sets her mug down with a sigh.
“Evie... look, I get it. You didn’t come back to settle in. You came to settle up.”
“Exactly.”
“But maybe you owe yourself more than an exit.”
I arch a brow. “That sounds like something Cass would say.”
“Damn right it is. And he’s not wrong.”
I blow out a breath, dragging my fingers through my hair.
“Rowan—”
“Listen.” Her voice softens, but there’s steel under it. “This town isn’t the same one you left. You’re not the same girl wholeft it. And whether you admit it or not, there’s something here you’re still running from.”
I swallow hard.
“You think I don’t see it?” she presses. “You keep circling that boardwalk with your camera like it’s a shield. You look at Aeron like the past is gonna bite you in the ass any second.”
I scowl. “He doesn’t exactly look thrilled to see me, either.”
“Yeah, well, you both have your damage. But I’ll tell you this—he never stopped keeping one foot on that dock like he was waiting.”
The words hit too close. I shove to my feet, grabbing my camera bag.
“I’m just here for the festival, Ro.”
She stands too, folding her arms. “Thenbehere. Stay through it. You owe yourself that much.”
I hesitate.
Jamie’s words echo back:You should come to the festival more. There’s nice monsters there.
I sling the bag over my shoulder. “Fine. No promises.”
Rowan smirks. “Wouldn’t expect any.”
