“Yeah, I do. You cut all of us off except for Reece. We were friends, Josh, and you just threw it away because that bitch decided she didn’t want you anymore.”

Coming to a complete stop, I turn to look at her. “Don’t you ever call her that again.”

She flaps her arms. “And now you’re defending her. Do you know who’s always been there for you? Me. I thought maybe you’d get over her last time and see what we could have, but instead you mooned around and then ignored me.” Tears well in her eyes. “I thought this was my chance for us.”

“I’m sorry if you had that impression, Jessie. I only ever wanted your friendship. Nothing else.”

She won’t look at me now, and I do feel sorry for her. But not enough to give her what she wants.

“I thought …” She sniffs.

“If anything was going to happen between us, it would have happened a long time ago,” I say as gently as I can. “Delaney and I have a connection that I can’t explain. We did back then, and …” I sigh. “It’s still there. For me, anyway. And I’m almost certain it’s there for her too.”

Jessie sucks on her bottom lip, still not meeting my eyes and looking like she wants to cry. “So, there’s no chance?”

“No. I’m sorry, but no.”

The bright production lights shine behind us, and all I can see now are the tears falling on Jessie’s face.

“Jessie, I …” I stop myself before I inadvertently give her hope.

She wipes her cheeks with the palms of her hands, smearing her makeup. And then she runs back toward where we’ve been filming, and all I can do is watch her leave.

I feel like shit, but at the same time I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to do.

I looked forward to coming to New Zealand. But I never expected to find Delaney and still feel that pull toward her.

And Amelia. How did I never see that before? I’ve sat in that diner right beside her, and all I saw was her mother.

Could she really be mine?

Sixteen

Josh

There’s no filming for me the following day, and I’m glad of it as I nurse my hangover from the night before.

I spent all night working out the math of Amelia being mine, which is ridiculous because I have no idea exactly how old she is. Delaney needs to tell me the truth.

Pania’s standing at the counter when I walk into the diner. And that little cockroach, Damon, sits on a stool in front of her. Seriously, the guy must spend all his time here.

“Hey, Pania. I was looking for Delaney.”

She straightens up. “She’s not here. It’s my Saturday.”

I nod. “Can I get her address?”

“No.”