Page 53

Joe grinned and rolled his eyes. “That one’s on you. You’ve known him longer.”

“Fair enough.” Cass let his smile match Joe’s for a second but then closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, Joe’s grin had faded to some softer, knowing expression, and the man nodded.

“I’ll see you around, Cass,” he said. “Don’t be a stranger.”

Cass shook his head. “I won’t.”

“And, uh . . .” Joe’s soft smile faltered for a second but then returned. “Don’t settle, either,” he said. “You’re a wonderful man, and you deserve someone who sees that.”

His chest felt tight, but Cass nodded. “Thank you, Joe. You, too.”

With a final wave that was still awkward but also exactly as it probably should be, Cass turned and started toward where he’d parked his car, while Joe turned and walked the other direction. By the time he reached his car, Cass wasn’t sure how he felt. Relief, yes, but also a little lost. Maybe.

Joe really was such a great guy; their relationship had been the best one Cass had been in. And he was right, too—neither of them should settle for anything less than what they really wanted.

But there was one problem with that: What Cass really wanted—or rather, who Cass really wanted—happened to live about six hundred miles away.

Cass (Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – 9:46 p.m.): Laundry time?

Ash (9:52 p.m.): lol totally. I’ve got a load to start and a load to fold. Call me in about five min? I’m just finishing writing an email to my prof

Cass (9:52 p.m.): Got it!

Ash (Saturday, March 26, 2022 – 10:33 a.m.): I’m in trouble. It’s officially started

Cass (10:34 a.m.): Uh oh, what?

Ash (10:37 a.m.): Hang on, I’ll send a video

Ash (10:40 a.m.): She progressed from bouncing and face-planting to run-crawling all the way from the living room to the bedroom in 3.2 seconds

Cass (10:41 a.m.): Ohhhh yeah, you’re cooked

Cass (10:42 a.m.): Seriously adorable though

Cass (Tuesday, May 10, 2022 – 12:02 a.m.): Happy birthday! Also sending you hugs since I know today might be a difficult day

Ash (12:18 a.m.): Thanks

Cass (12:19 a.m.): Still think Bri’s going to gift you with her first steps today?

Ash (12:19 a.m.): lol I hope not

Ash (12:21 a.m.): Unfortunately, she’s decided to gift me with something much less fun. Ever heard of night terrors? Don’t look it up, it’s awful. She’s been screaming and crying for almost 30 min now, nothing I can do about it except hold her and wait her out

Cass (12:22 a.m.): Oh yikes. Nothing you can do? That’s awful

Ash (12:29 a.m.): She finally stopped, but if it’s anything like last time, she’ll be exhausted and super grumpy in the morning. I might need to stay home with her

Cass (12:30 a.m.): Can you miss class?

Ash (12:31 a.m.): Should be okay. Gonna try to sleep, and we’ll see what happens

Ash (Friday, July 1, 2022 – 4:01 p.m.): Baby’s first camping trip! I’m definitely going to regret this, aren’t I?

Cass (4:03 p.m.): You’re braver than I’d be =P

Cass (4:03 p.m.): But also, like you said last week, it’s such a great way to remember your sister