I wanted Lily back. Seeing her again only cemented that thought further into my mind. And then it struck me. That baby would be mine, just like our Dylan. It didn’t matter to me that she had a different father. I decided right then to let her in my heart.

I’d liked Will—he’d been a good man—but he was gone. Now it was my chance to take care of them. I looked up, to thank him or somehow acknowledge what he had done. It was impossible. The only way to show my appreciation was to take the action I had already planned on. He had taken care of Lily and Dylan when I was gone, and now I would do the same. But it wasn’t for him. Just like I knew he hadn’t done it for me. No, it was all her.

For Lily. She was the magic; she was the love; she was my heart, and I had been living without all of it for too long.

Back then, I knew Will wanted her. I’d respected him though, because he never, not once, crossed the line. He was her best friend’s brother, and he’d acted in that fashion toward her. She hadn’t seen what I had—the desire in his eyes, the longing—I saw it because I felt what he had felt. Only I had her, not him. Until I’d been so damaged that I lost sight of her. My vision had cleared though, just as his life had ended. Tragedy or fate. Who knew? I wasn’t going to bother to figure it out. I had only one objective: my family. Lily. Dylan. And Calla.

Lily and I were born knowing each other. Our mothers said we met in the womb. They’d been best friends, pregnant at the same time, so maybe we did. She had always been special to me.

Never once did I imagine that she wouldn’t be my friend. Until the day I realized what love really was and started imaging Lily being so much more than my friend. When I knew what a kiss was, I wanted to do it with her. When I was curious about sex, I imagined it with her. When I thought of the family I would have someday, she would be my wife. I wanted to be with her always. I wanted to live with her, die with her. Just be with her. There had never been anyone else.

I continued watching, though I did sit down and absentmindedly pet Rocky, so I wouldn’t seem like a creeper just standing and staring. When she finally drove off, I sighed. I had a lot to make up for.