Maybe it’s just because she reminds me of Lilly, but I love her already.

“Shay hasn’t seen the house,” Easton says. “I thought maybe you’d like to give the tour.”

Her eyes go wide. “I would love to!”

After the best tour I can imagine—complete with “this is where I can do my tumbling” and “this is the dining room, but all we ever used our old dining room table for was puzzles, so I don’t think this will be any different”—Abi retreated to her room to finish organizing, and Easton led me back to the kitchen and poured me a cup of the coffee he promised.

“Thank you,” I say as he pulls a carton of half and half from the fridge. I doctor my coffee and watch him take a big sip of his. “Abi is really sweet.”

His expression softens. “She’s pretty great, and all things considered, I think she’s taking the move well. We were both ready for a change.”

I glance toward the stairs. “I know you’re still settling in, but why isn’t she in school?”

“When the news broke about her . . . biological father . . .” He takes a breath, as if the words hurt, but then he shakes it away. “The kids at school were brutal, and we ended up pulling her and homeschooling. She’ll continue homeschooling through the end of this academic year, but in the meantime, I’m visiting Jackson Harbor schools to figure out my options. I’m happy homeschooling is an option, but I don’t think it’s the best long-term choice for Abi.”

“You’ll find something.” I give him what I hope is an encouraging smile. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll send her to the same public schools we went to.”

He smiles at this and stares into his coffee. I wonder if he’s remembering those days. Before college. Before the NFL. When everything was simpler in his life and mine. “I owe you a huge apology, Shay,” he says, lifting his eyes to meet mine.

I put my coffee down. Right, the whole reason I came over. “I’m pretty sure you have that backward.”

“I had no right to interfere in your relationship with George. I know it doesn’t excuse anything, but I couldn’t stand the idea of you being with someone who doesn’t treat you right. For what it’s worth, I believed I was doing the right thing.”

“I shouldn’t have lost my temper that day outside the library. You had every right to be concerned.”