"I don't regret it," I blurt out. "Just so you know. I don't regret any of it."
"Good," Casey says, and he sounds relieved. "Because I don't either. But..."
"But what happens now," I supply.
"Yeah."
I look down at my hands, trying to organize my thoughts into something coherent.
"I like you," I say quietly. "More than I probably should, given that we just met. You're kind and funny and so good with Riley, and the way you look at me makes me feel... seen. Like I matter."
"You do matter," Casey says immediately.
"And I'm terrified," I continue, "because I don't know what to do with that. I'm traveling. I'm supposed to be seeing the country, honoring Annie's memory. But you're here. Riley's here. And I don't know how to make that work."
Casey is quiet for a moment, and when he speaks, his voice is calm.
"I like you too, Morgan. A lot. More than I've liked anyone in... a long time. Maybe ever. But I'm thirty-eight," he continues. "I have a four-year-old daughter who's my entire world. I can't just pick up and leave, can't go traveling with you even if I wanted to. Riley has school and friends and stability. And after what happened with her mother, I can't… I won't introduce someone into her life unless I'm sure they're going to stay."
The words hurt, even though I know they're fair.
"I understand," I say.
"Do you?" He looks at me, and there's pain in his eyes. "Because I'm not trying to pressure you or make you choose. I'm just trying to be honest about what I can and can't do."
"I know." I take a deep breath. "And I need to be honest too. I've wanted to be a mom someday. Have a family, the whole thing. But I never thought it would happen now, like this. I'm twenty-six. I'm grieving. I'm supposed to be figuring myself out, not... not falling for a guy with a kid."
"Is that what's happening?" Casey asks quietly. "You're falling for me?"
I look at him. At the grease still under his fingernails, the worry lines around his eyes, the way he's sitting like he's bracing for me to break his heart.
"Yeah," I admit. "I think I am."
"Fuck," he breathes.
"Yeah."
We sit with that for a moment.
"I don't know how to make this work," I finally say. "My car's going to take a week or two to fix, right? So, I'm here at least that long. But after that..."
"After that, you'll leave," Casey finishes. "You'll get back on the road, keep traveling, and I'll stay here with Riley."
"Unless..." I trail off, an idea forming.
"Unless what?"
"Unless I don't leave right away," I say slowly. "Unless I stay for a while longer. Work at the diner, save up some money, get to know you better. Get to know Riley better."
Casey's eyes widen. "You'd do that?"
"I don't know," I admit. "Maybe? I mean, Annie and I didn't have a timeline for this trip. We just said we'd travel for as long as it felt right. And maybe... maybe stopping here for a bit is part of that. Maybe it's what I need."
"But you'd still leave eventually," Casey points out. "You'd still want to see the rest of the country, finish what you and Annie started."
"Probably," I say. "Unless..."
"Unless?"
