I shook my head.“She doesn’t have to do that.Now that I know who she is, I won’t run her off.”
“That’s what I told her, but she’s kind of stubborn.”
I winced.“I was kind of mean, too.”
Ashlyn shrugged.“I explained to her that you have a daughter.It’s fine, I just wanted you to know she’s here.”
“Thanks, Ashlyn.Sorry I upset her.”
“It’s all good.See you around, Josh.”
“You, too.Hey, for what it’s worth, you deserve better than Rob.”
A ghost of a smile lifted her lips.“Reegan said the same thing.”
I watched as Ashlyn headed back into her house, not looking like she was happy to hear the asshole she dated for almost a year was not worth her time.She really did deserve better.I never saw him with anyone else, but there were rumors.And he was a jerk.Christy dated him years ago, and so did a bunch of other women in town.He was a serial dater who hung around until he could get more from someone else.
Why women fell for his bullshit, I’d never know.
I turned and headed into my own house, calling out for Evie as I walked in.
“I’m right here!”she said from the couch.
“Hey, how was your last exam?”
She shrugged.“Easy.I think I aced it.”
“Awesome.I need to shower, then we can go to dinner whenever you want.”
She stared at her phone for a second, then nodded and looked up at me.“Maddie is going to pick me up from Lakeside, if that’s okay.”
“Yeah?”Maddie was Oscar’s niece and had spent so much time at my house over the years she was practically family.But I was looking forward to time with Evie.
“We’re all going out tonight to celebrate the last exam.If that’s okay.”Evie eyed me with an expression that was part-hopeful and part-anxious.
“Of course,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I nodded and went to the bathroom for a shower.I hurried through the motions, wanting to have as much time with Evie as I could get.It was going to be hard to say goodbye.
My daughter woresomething she called a romper.I called it borderline indecent.The only saving grace was it was shorts.Very short shorts, but shorts.And a sleeveless top.
She looked more and more like her mother as she grew up.Hannah was always stunning.Endless blonde hair, brilliant green eyes, and a figure that stopped me dead in my tracks the first time I saw her.
Hannah was riding the ferry with friends, spending the week at a friend’s camp one summer in college.She laughed, and my whole world stopped.She looked over and caught my gaze, and I couldn’t help but smile back at her.
She smirked, as if she knew I was already halfway in love with her.Then she walked over and flirted with me.
By the end of the week, she’d changed her plans and decided to stay the rest of the summer with me.At the end of summer, she promised to come back every chance she had, and she did.
The following summer, she moved to Amethyst Bay, and we got married.Then everything changed.
“What are you going to do when I’m at college?”Evie asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I sipped my water and leaned back.“The same thing I do now.My life’s not the one changing.”
She grinned.“Yes, it is.You’re going to have more free time.You can take up a hobby.”
