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More than that, I wanted her to want me. To know there hadn’t been a day I hadn’t missed her—not one day she hadn’t been woven into every version of the future I’d imagined.

How was I supposed to make her believe that? That what I felt for her could last forever if she’d just give it a chance?

A plate appeared on the counter in front of me. The sound pulled me back. Ronnie caught my eye. For a second, I wondered if he’d seen more than I wanted anyone to see. Ronnie jerked his chin toward the booth. “Quit starin’ at her and go sit down.”

I looked over again before I stood. The worst she could do was tell me no. Part of me knew she still cared. The other part was still that lonely kid who wanted someone to choose him first. To stay. I grabbed my plate and milkshake, slid off the stool, and headed for the booth.

“Hey, Coach!” Jace called.

I dipped my chin. “Hey, bud. Can I sit here?”

Cali held my gaze for a beat before nodding, and I slid in beside her. Cali’s breath caught, barely noticeable, but I heard it. The tiny reaction shouldn’t have mattered after everything that happened, but it did. I was careful not to crowd her, but our thighs brushed anyway. Neither of us moved. I didn’t let myself read more into it.

“Jace, you're doing a great job out there.”

“Thanks, Coach.” He took another sip of his milkshake. “I didn’t think I’d like football this much, but I think I might like it more than soccer.”

I tossed a fry into my mouth. “That’s kind of how football and baseball were for me. I loved both, but baseball got me first.”

“You could’ve gone pro in football too?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Had a few scouts come watch, but baseball won.”

I took a sip of my milkshake. I could feel Cali’s eyes on me. I wanted to tell her about every year she’d missed, every piece of me she’d never gotten to know—but only if she wanted to hear it.

“Are you gonna use the small tractor on the grass again?” Jimmy asked as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

My eyes shot to him, but there was no way he was going to stop. I’d been around him enough when Cali was gone that I understood some of the patterns of his behavior.

I groaned. Before Greene took over the mowing, I’d been doing it myself. Since they’d moved in, I’d stayed away. One more secret she didn’t know. Because of course Jimmy would remember that now.

“Mow the grass?” I asked carefully, hoping he’d forget.

“Yeah. With that big green mower. Are you gonna buy me lunch too?” I wanted to kick him under the table but figured giving a senior citizen the old shin treatment was probably frowned upon.

“No, Jimmy. No lunch today.”

“Maybe another day?”

His eyes were so hopeful I couldn’t deny him.

“Maybe.”

I came over here to sit next to Cali. Instead, I was dodging land mines. Jimmy had two settings: forgetting everything or remembering exactly the thing I hoped he wouldn’t.

“I really loved that barbecue chicken you brought me last time,” Jimmy said.

I closed my eyes. Shut up, Jimmy.

“It was better than that casserole you made.”

My pulse kicked up all over again. Cali was putting the pieces together. I could feel it in the weight of her stare. Jimmy was about to spill every secret I’d managed to keep. That was exactly why I’d stayed away from the house as much as I could, but Cali's safety had been on the line. The fewer opportunities Jimmy had to talk, the safer I was.

“So you need help making casseroles?” Cali asked, smirking. She tossed a fry into her mouth.

“Sure, California. You offering private lessons?”

A blush climbed her neck, and despite everything, something inside me loosened because there she was. Jimmy spoke again. “Do you need me to sign any more papers?” Jimmy asked absentmindedly.