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That’ll never happen. I think if I were to forget everything else, I’d still remember her.

The closest to forever. My forever.

“Good luck tomorrow,” a voice murmurs behind me.

I turn around, finding Casey standing a foot away, his hand resting on top of his suitcase.

“You’re leaving.” My chest tightens, and for a moment, I can’t breathe.

“Yes.”

“Why? You never leave early.”Don’t leave me. I can’t be with Olivia. I can’t lose you too.

His lips hitch up on one side and he shrugs. The wind ruffles his dark hair. “I don’t know if I can stay any longer. I don’t want to be here for the next part.”

“So, you’re just going to chicken out when things get dangerous? Aren’t you the one who called me a coward?”

He shakes his head, clearly not falling for my bait to rile him up. “I trust you’ll make the right decisions this time. You don’t need me here anymore. It’s not like I made a difference in your choices before.”

I think back to the times he’s saved me—the nagging, the laughs, the arguments—hehasmade a difference.

“And,” he slides on his aviators, “you have someone better now. Someone who really understands you, someone who can anchor you.You’ve changed on this trip—in ways I never thought possible. I know I had nothing to do with it.”

“I can never be with her. You know my issues.”

“I know what youthinkare your issues. If there’s anything I say that I want you to carry with you always…things aren’t as bad as they seem. Or as hopeless.” Casey turns away and takes a few steps toward the street.

He looks back and says, “You don’t need me anymore, Rex. You can make the right choices. Starting with that bottle in your hand.” He motions to my Velowake. “Let her in. Let her give you peace.”

Lifting his hand in a wave, he strolls away, leaving me behind, conflicting thoughts rioting inside me.

My chest is heavy. I can’t breathe.

But then, I feel everything.

A phantom ache like I’d lost a limb. A heaviness in my chest at his parting words—the faith laced in them even after all the years I’ve disappointed him. My old friend—fear—trying to say hello, whispering in my ear that I’ll always be a disappointment. That Casey and Olivia’s faith in me isn’t misplaced.

And maybe, just maybe, a twinge of pride. He thinks I’m ready. He thinks I don’t need him to babysit me anymore.

“Why do you look so sad?”

The sweet scent of cotton and honey wafts to my nose.

I smile. My sweet, darling Olivia. The woman I’ve spent most of my waking hours with since we decided to pursue our temporary forever.

She taps my shoulder, her eyes brimming with concern.

I look at where Casey was, finding him long gone, then turn toward my bewitching vixen.

“Nothing. You ready for a day you’ll never forget?”

Chapter Forty-Two

The smile on hisface doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but the warmth is there.

That’s the thing with Rex Anderson. He’s like one of those classic movies—Forrest GumporThe Shining—entertaining to watch for the story and the acting. But when you rewatch it each time, you’ll pick up on something different—a hidden meaning about the human condition, symbolism, or other messages with deeper themes.

And this smile tells me he’s battling both joy and sadness at the same time.