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“Yeah,” I nod, tears betraying me. “I’d love that.”
“I’ve learned lots of new songs.”
If he’s not careful, I’m going to burst into sobs. “I can’t wait to hear them. Keep practicing.”
And I mean it.
I want to hear them all a thousand times.
I love when his face breaks into the widest grin. Another part of my heart fills and repairs.
“Can we still do sock races when you get back?”
“It’s a date,” I tell him, laughing.
“Jay-Jay, can you go wait in the car, honey? I want to speak to Claire for a minute.”
I swear, I think all the blood drains from my body and pools at my feet.
“Sure.” He shrugs, walking away, but not before I grab him and squeeze him one last time. “I can’t breathe, Claire.” But he hugs me back, giving me what I’ve craved for the longest time.
His hugs are better than I remember.
I kiss the top of his head. “I know.”
Pulling away long enough for him to escape, I blow him a kiss as he walks again.
He cringes, and scowls when I giggle.
Ah, there’s his father.
He’s still adorable.
We watch him walk all the way to the car.
Feeling the heat of a stare, I turn around, shifting nervously on my feet.
“He loves you, you know?”
“I do too.”
“I can tell.” She looks back at Jess’s picture, deliberating. “I get what you need to do, Claire. But when you get back, if you choose them, make it work because if you hurt them, I’ll have no other choice but to hurt you.”
My surprise is short-lived. The familiar nerves bubble until I break into laughter. This time, I’m not alone when Sharon joins me.
She nudges me with her elbow. “Jess is awful quiet these days.”
“So is Nick.”
Our laughter trails off as she rubs a hand up and down my arm supportively. “I better get going. But Claire, he loves you.”
I look back at the car.
“Not just him.” She wraps her arms around herself. “She’d want to see him happy. Both of them.”
Don’t cry.
Do. Not. Cry.
