I groaned. “It’s complicated. You know I'm going home in a few months. Tori … she’s fighting so hard against letting me close, and I can’t even fucking blame her. But whatever we have is … I don’t know how to describe it. I’ve … I’ve never felt like this before.”
Tane braced his hands on the countertop. “And you? You want to let her in?”
I avoided his gaze, considering his words.
“I don’t know what happens next, but I know I don’t want to stop. I feel close to her in a way I—I can't quite explain.” It felt good getting this off my chest.
My uncle swayed his head from side to side like he was carefully choosing his response. “As much as I would love to have you here with me, I know you want to go back home. There’s a lot waiting for you there, and it’s what you’ve always wanted but…”
“… buuut?” I stared at him, my eyebrows furrowed.
He huffed out a breath, a hint of a smile curling the corners of his mouth. “But, there are otheroptions.”
Bloody fucking hell, could he be any more vague?!
I widened my eyes, giving him a pointed glare. “Like what?”
“She could come with you. There are lots of different types of visas and ways to make this work.”
I froze, my mind racing and my heart thundering against my ribs. This wasn't the first time I'd had this thought, but I'd always dismissed it as far-fetched.
And yet … hearing it voiced by another person suddenly made it seem less unattainable. Less crazy.
I deflated slightly. “Tori would never leave her gran.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Tane shrugged. “All I’m saying is,youneed to tell her you’re all in. She probably won’t be the one to take the plunge. If you really want this, want her, then you’re going to have to man up. Be vulnerable and lay all your cards on the table.”
There was a moment of silence — not heavy, but loaded with meaning — as I let his words sink in.
I blew out a breath and stared up at the ceiling, refusing to meet his gaze. “Fuck, I hate it when you’re right.”
Tane chuckled and slapped my back with enough force to have even someone my size stumble a step.
Damn, for a man his age he sure was strong.
“That’s my boy. Stupid with love. Just like the great men who came before you.”
“No one in our family has ever had a functional relationship.”
“Exactly! Tradition! Your dad went mad over your mum. I mean, he left our bloody home country for her. Whitakers go all in once we findthe one.”
My dad had famously fallen so hard for my mum when she’d worked in New Zealand for a couple of months, he followed her to Australia because he was going crazy being apart from her.
I buried my face in my hands. “You’re not helping.”
He plucked an apple off the counter, tossed it to me.
“Don’t overthink it, mate. If it’s serious? Lean in. If she’s scared? Hold steady. And if you want to keep her around?” He winked at me. “Find a way she can’t resist.”
I groaned again. “You’re fucking crazy.”
“Runs in the family.”
“Sure, mate. Whatever you say. Got to run now.” I stood up, slapped the counter and strode toward the front door. “See ya!”
“Heading next door?” Tane called after me, sounding smug.
“Where else?”
