This time, our kiss is long and slow. I linger on her lips, my chest pounding at the thought of making sure tomorrow’s perfect.

That was it. I walked her back to the hostel she was staying in, and the next day we had our date.

I thought that would be that. She’d fall in love with me and we’d live happily ever after.

But that’s not what happened.

All this time, and my memories of our time together are triggered by the little things.

What we had was short, intense, and it ended abruptly.

I’ve never met anyone like Dee again.

I’m not sure I ever will.

Eight

Delaney

When we reach the diner, I lead Melly through the kitchen and to her favourite seat at the counter.

“I’ll just get you a burger, honey.”

Melly nods. “A special one.”

Special to her means a burger patty and sauce. Nothing else. And it has to be barbecue sauce because she’s going through a phase of only liking that.

“Be back in a minute. Trina, can you please make Melly a thickshake, please?”

She nods. “Sure thing, Delaney.”

I turn and walk back into the kitchen. If I know Pania, she’s already got Melly’s burger underway.

She smiles as I approach. Sure enough, the patty’s on the grill and Melly’s favourite sauce is on the bench.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I think I just did.” I sit at the table, staring at the wall.

“Are you okay?”

I nod slowly. “That house? It’s been rented out.”

Pania shrugs. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Richard Baker’s spent, what, maybe a couple of months there since he bought the place?”

“He rented it to Josh.”

“Josh …?”

“That Josh.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh my God, Delaney. Did he recognise you?”

I blow out a breath. “If he did, he didn’t give any indication of it. Mind you, I was wrapped up like Ernest Shackleton about to explore the Antarctic.”

“What about Melly?”

I lean back in the chair. “She was in the car. They didn’t see each other.”

“Are you okay?”

I knit my fingers together, placing my hands on the table. “Yes. No. Maybe?”

“What was it like? You know, seeing him again?”

“My stomach hurt. Does that sound right?”

She rounds the table and places a hand on my back. “I’m not sure there’s a right or a wrong way to feel.”

“I guess he looks a lot more … grown up.”

Pania laughs. “Six years is long enough to make a difference. And if you ask me, he has got hotter with every movie.”

I pull my hands apart and bury my face in them. “I don’t want to hear that.” Reaching behind me, I slap her thigh. “What am I going to do?”