Nicole took Lauren’s hands in hers. “I hate that I can’t drive you to the airport.”

“Don’t do that. You have to go to work. They need you there. Both the people and the rabbits.” Lauren giggled.

“Especially the rabbits.”

Lauren squeezed Nicole’s hands. “I had a great time.”

“You didn’t feel like—”

“You didn’t ignore me,” Lauren cut in. “I had an awesome time chilling at the beach while you were off smooching with your tennis hunk.”

“Aidan’s a really interesting guy. We weren’t only kissing.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Lauren pulled Nicole into a hug. “I’ll see you soon? You’ll come visit me at home?”

“Of course I will. September. Maybe sooner. Who knows?”

Nicole squeezed her friend tight, forced herself to let go, and then watched as Lauren climbed into the car waiting to take her to the airport. Lauren waved through the window and the driver pulled out of the duplex’s driveway.

Shouldering her backpack, Nicole set off on her morning walk to the office. It wasn’t eight yet, but the heat already pressed in around her. It sank into her skin and warmed her to her core.

From the moment she opened her eyes that morning, a tornado had been on a rampage in her head. She kept thinking about what Aidan said about forgiving her dad for herself first and then taking the next step from there.

Stopping under the shade of some trees, she pulled her phone out of her backpack. The conversation with Aidan had shaken her awake. She didn’t want to be angry. She didn’t want to be in pain. She’d prayed so passionately that morning that she thought her heart might explode. And she was finally ready to make the move. If she wanted to be happy, she had to forgive her dad. There was no way around it.

Her fingers shaking, she pressed the call button. It rang once. Twice. Nicole thought about hanging up, but she didn’t let herself. She had made a decision and she would see it through.

“Nicole?” her father answered, sounding confused.

“Hey, Dad. Yeah, it’s me.”

“Did you—did you see my text?”

He still sounded uncertain, like he thought the whole phone call might be some kind of prank.

“I did. Sorry I didn’t answer sooner. I…I would love to come see you in Miami.”

He remained silent for a moment. “Great.” She could hear the emotion in his voice. “We’d love to have you. What does your schedule look like?”

Tears filled Nicole’s eyes. She was crying and she didn’t know why. Sniffing slightly, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I’ll check with the office and see when I can get off.”

“That sounds great, pumpkin. Let me know. Lizzie and I will be here for two months.”

Pumpkin. He hadn’t called Nicole that in years. She’d forgotten how much she loved it.

“I’ll text you,” she said.

“Great. I look forward to it.”

“Bye, Dad.” The words nearly caught in her throat, they were so thick with emotion.

“Bye, Nic.”

They hung up and Nicole opened her text thread with Aidan.

I did it, she wrote. I’m going to see my dad in Miami.

Holding the phone to her chest, Nicole looked around herself. Across the street, a woman pushed a double stroller with two babies in it. A calico cat sniffed at a bush. Sunlight glinted off the cars parked on the curb.

It was all the usual stuff, but each part of the world shone with a newness.

Nicole’s phone rang, making her jump. Seeing Aidan’s name, she eagerly swiped the screen.

“Hey.” She put her backpack on and started walking once more. She’d left for work a little early, but if she didn’t hurry, she would end up being late.

“I got your text. That’s great, Nicole.” His voice was smooth and warm.

“Thanks. It’s all because of you. You know, I’ve tried to forgive him for years, but I feel that this time it may be different.”

“I should probably practice more of that myself.”

“You still haven’t heard from your dad?” She checked for traffic before crossing the street.

“No. I need to call him.”

“What are you going to say?”

“Hm. That’s a good question. Any advice?”

“Do you think he’s still mad?”

“Probably,” Aidan answered, “but that’s not as far as it goes with Rick. He’s likely hatching up some kind of plan right now.”

“What do you mean?”

Nicole slowed down her walk. The office was half a block away and she didn’t want to have a private conversation where one of her coworkers could overhear.

“He’s a doer. My fall from grace is killing him. I have no doubt he’s coming up with my next move right this second. Or he’s had a secret one in his pocket for weeks. Other than the reality show one.”

Nicole smiled sympathetically, then remembered Aidan couldn’t see her. “If I can talk to my dad, then so can you.”

“You, guys, cleared the air?”

“Um, no. But I’m going to.” Nicole nodded to herself, feeling braver than she ever had before. “You’re right. It’s important. For both of us.”

“I’m really proud of you.”

She couldn’t have been ready for the satisfaction those words brought her. In a short time, she’d gone from wrestling with her feelings for Aidan to jumping deep into the middle of them. She cared about what he thought. She wanted to know everything on his mind, wanted to hear his voice every minute, feel his touch every second…

“Thanks for your encouragement,” she said.

“Can I see you today?” he asked, his voice going low and giving her those shivers she’d already come to expect.

“I’m off at five.”

“How about a movie and dinner?”

“Sounds perfect.”

Down the street, Amelia waved at Nicole before going into the office.

“I have to go now,” Nicole said.

On Aidan’s end of the line, waves crashed. “Okay. I just wanted to tell you that…sitting at the beach without you is not the same. The colors, the smells, everything’s so lifeless.”

Nicole went silent. “Everything’s lifeless without me?” she finally repeated. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever told me.”

“I’ll pick you up at six. It’s going to be a long wait.”

“Same here. I’ll have to get busy checking on the rabbits to distract myself.”

“Lucky rabbits! They’ll get to see you before me.”

“Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be so thrilled when they see me.” She chuckled before she said goodbye and hung up, her heart warmer than the Florida summer sun.