Anger ripples through me. “Stop it. I fell for your lines last time, and I’m not falling for them again.”

“What are you talking about?” The gold flecks seem to disappear. It’s stupid but I miss them the instant they’re gone.

“Just forget it, Josh.” I turn and walk away. Melly sees me and runs, her face lit up with so much joy it makes me want to cry. God, how I love this kid. Nothing and no one is going to take her from me. I’ll fight until my last breath if I have to.

I’m not telling Josh the truth. Not when he can’t give me the same courtesy.

She leaps into my arms, and I laugh with her.

“We’re going home now, baby.”

“Do we have to?” She leans her head on my shoulder, and her body flops—ready for sleep.

“It’s time.”

“Here comes Josh,” she whispers.

I turn. Josh is approaching, his gaze fixed on Melly. His brows are knitted, like he’s focusing on something.

“Come on. Time to go.”

Setting off at a brisk pace, I manoeuvre around the bonfire and head toward the car park. I’m grateful that for once I’m not cleaning up because I can just get out of here.

When we reach the car, I buckle Melly into her seat.

Josh isn’t far behind me, and I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

“Delaney, we need to talk,” he calls.

“I’ve got to get home. Talk to you later.” I drive off, leaving him behind. It’s not until I’m at the end of the road that I realise just how much I’m shaking.

He can’t have worked it out. Can he?

Fifteen

Josh

What the hell was that?

It was a moment, a fleeting moment when I looked into that little girl’s eyes and saw myself. Would Delaney keep something like that from me?

Maybe I saw things in the firelight that weren’t there.

“Josh.”

I sigh at the sound of Jessie’s voice. “What?”

“Is everything okay?”

There’s an emotion in her eyes that I can’t quite place. I’m used to her looking at me like a piece of meat, but there’s some actual feeling behind that look.

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“She’s not interested.”

I narrow my eyes. “What would you know?”

“If she was, you wouldn’t be chasing after her. She’s not worth it. She’ll only hurt you again.”

“You don’t know anything about us.” Turning, I walk back toward the lake.

She runs after me, grabbing my arm. “I know enough to know she broke you when she ran out on you the first time. I’m not sure what hold she has over you, but—”

I shake her off. “There is no hold. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”