Page 98 of A Simple Regret

I get instantly what he’s saying.

I could go with her.

Cooper Town has always been my home, and it would be damn hard to leave my family behind. We’re an incredibly close family, and while my brothers both went off to the military, other than that, we’ve all remained rooted. But would I do it? To follow the woman I love? Yeah, I think I probably would.

“I hear ya,” I tell him.

“You don’t have to decide today but think about it. If she were to come to you tomorrow and tell you she’s moving back to wherever she was at, you have a choice. Let her go, or…follow.”

“What would you do?” I ask quietly, already knowing in my heart the answer.

“If that were Charli? I’d follow her to the ends of the earth, my friend.”

I nod, understanding exactly what he means and knowing I’d do the same.

Will do the same.

If it comes to that, I will pack up my life and go.

For her.

“Well, my work here is done,” he says, offering a cocky grin.

“You didn’t do anything,” I counter, knowing it’s a lie.

He barks out a laugh and pushes off my workbench. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Promise me you’ll name your first kid after me.”

I shake my head but can’t stop my smile. “Not happening.”

He approaches and levels me with a firm look. “Just promise me you’ll talk to her.”

“I promise.”

“Then my work here really is done.” When his phone chimes with a notification, he laughs. “That’s your sister, looking for her ice cream,” he adds without even looking at the screen yet. When he finally glances down, he laughs. “Your sister says to quit yapping with the idiot and retrieve her treat.”

“You tell her you were my friend first,” I counter.

He types, a goofy grin on his face the entire time.

“She says she doesn’t give a shit and then says something about getting naked that you definitely don’t want me to read to you.”

I make a face and shake my head. “She just ruined the fun.”

He slips his phone into his pocket and whispers, “I promise, what she said is a lot more fun than standing here with you.” He barks out a laugh and turns to leave.

“I’m happy for you, Q.”

He pauses and glances over his shoulder. “Thanks. Relationships are a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Charli and Junie make the hard days better just by being there. Coming home to them is literally the best part of my day.”

“That’s how I knew it was always you, man,” I tell him. He was the only man for my sister, even if she wasn’t ready to see it at the time. Now, however, they’re all in, living together and raising their daughter. We’re still waiting on him to pop the question we all know is coming.

“You gonna invite her to Cade and Oaklee’s wedding?”

That makes me pause. It’s just over two months away from the big wedding, and while I haven’t thought about inviting Maren as of yet, I definitely want her there. Her and Theo both, since it’s a family affair.