Voices carried to her on a warm breeze, and she looked up to search for her father. That was when she saw him.

Daniel.

Walking out of the community center in a fitted black T-shirt and jeans. She told herself she didn’t care, but her heart thumped in her chest, ready to betray her in a second. He continued talking to the man beside him. Her father. Her heart raced faster. What was happening here?

She froze, her gaze fixed on him. They were deep in conversation. Clearly Daniel had attended the meeting. Was this his first? How long had he been attending? So many questions she wanted answered. She was out of the car before she knew it.

Daniel turned his attention toward the parking lot and stopped walking. She knew he’d seen her. He was as frozen as she was. She couldn’t move. She wanted to talk to him. No. She wanted to throw her arms around him and feel his arms around her, and hear him say—what? That he loved her? She already knew that. Or did she? He was clearly getting help to deal with his loss, but he hadn’t contacted her. Maybe she was too much of a reminder. Or maybe she was wrong and he didn’t love her the way she thought he did.

Her father seemed to have noticed that Daniel was no longer beside him, so he turned. Daniel nodded to him, then the two men shook hands, and her father walked toward her.

Her heart dropped into her stomach as she watched Daniel standing there, not approaching. He hadn’t moved from his spot, his gaze still as intent on her as ever. As soon as her father was in the car and had shut the door, she got in as well, her eyes never leaving Daniel’s. Once in, she quickly started the engine and pulled out of the spot. She couldn’t just watch him not come to her. And she couldn’t bring herself to go to him. Not if he didn’t want her.

Her father chattered on about this thing and that, his voice becoming background noise. She pulled into their driveway with no idea how she had gotten there.

“He’s in your group?” It was almost an accusation.

“You know I can’t answer that, Annika.”

“Yeah, okay. Fine.” She needed answers. Damn her father’s integrity. She glanced at her father. “How is he? I saw you talking to him, so you can at least tell me how he is.”

“He’s fine.” He turned to face her, making eye contact. “Better.”