My lips slant in what could have passed for a half-assed smile. “You and Talia, huh? Good for you.”
“There’s a lot going on there, and it would have been a whole lot easier if Devyn would’ve nailed Stevie’s coffin shut, but yeah, we’re gonna try, see if it works. You telling me not to be her dad, it hit home and I have to remind myself of that every time I want to pick her up like a little girl. It’s good advice, but Christ, do I have to check myself whenever she looks at me.”
“You want to protect her. No harm in it.”
“You want to protect Devyn, too,” he says, pushing away from the wall.
“And I failed.”
He shrugs. “When are you going back to Old Harbor?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll get going on the new office. It wasn’t lip service. You were right about some things. I wasn’t pulling my weight, and I’ll start.” I hold out my hand and Beau pauses before he shakes it and turns it into a half-hug, slapping me on the back.
“I’m going to miss you.”
I pull back, chagrined. I forgot that’s what Beau had really been bitching about. He missed our friendship. I do too, but I have to look out for my peace of mind and moving back to Cedar Hill would destroy what little I’ve managed to hang on to.
I can’t be here. Especially not with the threat of bumping into Devyn around every corner.
“You should talk to her, Rick. You shouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. It’s not right. Don’t be a prick.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I have no intention of saying anything to Devyn. She’s smart, and she knew what I was saying when I left her hospital room. Maybe I am being a prick, but I have been since the accident and why should falling in love change that?