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I’m silent for a second as I chew on his words. “I’m confused why you think you can’t give her what she deserves...”

He lets out a harsh breath. “My schedule is far too demanding and we’re gone so often. I don’t want her to be with me and feel like I just want her around to take care of Lucy.”

Man, he really is dumber than I thought.

“Rowan, she already knows and understands your schedule.” I pause, trying to figure out how to go over this without telling him he’s stupid. “If you don’t want her to feel that way, then don’t make her feel that way. Tell her how you feel, tell her you want her here because you wanther.”

“It’s too late,” he mumbles after a beat or two of silence. “She’s already in the airport and probably heading to her gate.”

“Where are you?” I ask him, shifting my weight on my feet as I absentmindedly survey the boxes of mac and cheese again.

“Sitting in a drop-off area outside of the airport.”

I thought he had more than two brain cells, but now I feel like I’m talking to a replica of my own brain.

“Rowan . . . bro. Seriously, what the fuck are you doing?”

“I was getting ready to come home but Lucy started crying, so I pulled over and then you called—” He rambles, his explanation a continuous string of words, but I abruptly cut him off.

“Turn the hell around and go get her. You cannot let her get on that plane,” I whisper shout at him. “You need to find her and tell her how you feel, and then it’s up to her whether she decides to go or not.”

“I don’t want to sway her decision.”

Good Lord. How the hell can he not see what’s right in front of his face? It’s clear as day that Hadley is in love with him. I sigh again. “Do you love her?”

“Yes.”

“Have you told her that?” I question him again.

“No.”

“Well, then, she’s not making a well-informed decision, is she?” I say, shaking my head at how ridiculous this is. If he would have just communicated with her, this all could have potentially been avoided.

I also know how important Hadley has become to my best friend, and the last thing I’m going to do is let him fuck this up.

“Here is what you’re going to do—you’re going to go into the airport, buy a fucking bullshit ticket to wherever the hell the next plane is going, get through security, and find her. You’re going to find her and you’re not going to let her be the one who got away, do you understand me?”

Something pulls on my pocket. No, someone. I glance down at the small child tugging on my shorts, tilting my head to the side. His gray eyes meet mine as he gives me a sheepish grin. “Excuse me, mister.”

“Oh, shit, hold on, Ro,” I say into the speaker, smiling down at the little boy who doesn’t look to be older than five. “What’s up, little man?”

“Does this have milk in it?” He holds up a box of instant mac and cheese, trying to show it to me. “Milk makes my belly hurt but I wanted to show Mommy I can pick out my own all by myself.”

“Well, let’s see.” I take the box from his small hand, and scan the list of ingredients. When I realize it’s a gluten-free type, but not a vegan one, I frown. “Yeah, bud, this one has milk. Let’s see if we can find one without it.”

“You’re right, Ford,” Rowan’s voice comes through the speaker. “I’m being a fucking idiot and I’m turning around right now. I’m going back to the airport and I’m not letting her go without telling her the truth.”

“Wait, say that again.” I drop one of the boxes I find on the shelf that says it’s vegan. “Shit,” I mumble, crouching down to pick it up. “Here, buddy. This one says it’s vegan, so that means it doesn’t have any milk in it.” He reaches out with his left hand to take it from mine.

“That I’m going back to the airport?” Rowan asks, the confusion evident in his voice.

“No, the part where you said I was right,” I chuckle, watching the kid as he tries to read the back of the box.

“Oh my god, there you are,bambino.”

My entire body falls rigid, my heart stalling in my chest. That voice—my god, I know that voice...

Lifting my gaze from the little boy, I’m momentarily transported back in time when my eyes collide with hers. Those gold and green eyes that have been swirling around in my mind since that one night almost six years ago. “Andi?”