Dr. Warvel leans forward. “What if you never lost him, Jessica? What if he’s been here waiting, and your heart knew it?”

Chapter 9

Grayson

I am a fool for coming here. Jack knew exactly what it would be like to be at this beach house with Jessica, and the asshole backed me into it.

“Daddy, can we go to the ocean?” Amelia asks as I unbuckle her from her booster seat.

“We can go tomorrow, but today, we have to open up the place.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we have to get the house cleaned up and ready for all our friends who are coming.”

Melia’s smile is wide. “Is Uncle Jack coming?”

“He is.” I crouch so we’re eye level. “Also, two friends named Delia and Jessica are coming. Do you remember at the store when I helped my friend who was sick?”

She nods enthusiastically.

“Her name is Jessica.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“No, but she was a very, very long time ago, though.”

I’m not sure how the hell to navigate this conversation, but I figure honesty is a good thing. We’re never going to be more than friends, and Amelia is sometimes too smart for her own good.

“And Delia?”

Now that is funny. “No, Delia is in love with someone else. We’re all just friends.” That someone else being my older brother.

My phone rings, and I have to laugh when Josh’s name flashes on the screen.

“What’s up, big brother?”

“Not much. Just checking in to see how things are going.”

“Who is it?” Amelia asks.

“Uncle Josh.”

“Is that my little princess?” Josh’s voice is loud enough that she can hear it.

“It is! It is!”

I laugh as the tone sounds to switch to a video call. Once I accept, my brother’s ugly mug fills the screen.

“Uncle Josh! I have missed you so much.” Amelia grabs the phone and gives her best pouty lip.

“I miss you too, Princess. I was thinking about coming to visit you in a few weeks. Do you have plans?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. We are at the beach.”

“Oh?”

I pull Amelia up into my arms so I can see as well. “We came down to the Cape house.”

Josh grins. “Fun. I bet you two will have a great weekend.”

“Daddy has his friends coming.”

“Oh? Who?”

Amelia answers before I can. “Uncle Jack is coming and so is daddy’s girlfriend.”

“I told you she’s not my girlfriend, Melia.”

My brother’s jaw drops before his lips stretch into a shit-eating grin. “Oh? Girlfriend. What’s her name, Melia?”

“Jessica.”

Josh’s eyes go wide, and there’s nothing I can say now. “Jessica as in Jessica Walker?”

“The same one. But as I said, she’s a friend and was hurt, so she’s in Willow Creek until she gets on her feet.”