Page 142 of Spring Break Fling

He stared at me like I’d just spoken in tongues. “You what?”

“I forgive you. For everything.”

His face crumpled, his hands trembling as he gripped the railing. “I don’t deserve that, Nikko. I don’t.”

“Maybe not. But I do.”

We stood there in silence, the weight of years of anger and disappointment finally lifting. It wasn’t a clean slate, but it was enough.

“I’ll see you around, Dad,” I said, turning to leave. “Or not.”

“Where are you going?”

“Home. To my life. You need to get your shit together. Take a shower. Take the trash out. Do the fucking dishes. Or don’t. It’s really not my concern. You’re going to do whatever you want. That’s your choice. But I won’t be here to see it.”

“Nikko,” he called after me, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Thank you.”

I nodded, got on my bike, and didn’t look back.

When I got home, Hannah was sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her and a mug of tea in her hands. She looked up when I walked in, her face lighting up.

“You’re back!” she said. “You were gone longer than an hour.”

“Did you time me?”

“Maybe.”

I chuckled, tossing my keys on the counter. “Miss me already?”

She grinned. “Always.”

I sat beside her, pulling her close. For the first time in a long time, I felt free. And damn, it felt good.

“Are you going to tell me what this mystery errand was all about?”

I took a deep breath, figuring out how to start. “I went to settle some old debts,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

“Debts?” Her eyebrows furrowed lightly, the concern evident in her gaze.

“Not mine,” I quickly added. “My dad’s. I’ve paid off everything he owed the guy that sent his goons after me. It’s done. He won’t be a problem anymore.”

“You paid your dad’s debt?”

“I had to. I can’t risk you getting caught up in this bullshit.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I don’t know. Because you had to pay.”

“I was going to do it. I knew it was my only option.”

“That’s not a small chunk of change.”

I sighed. “No. Most of my savings. I guess it’s a good thing Marcus put up the cash to open the shop.”

“You’re a good man,” she said.