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I crossed my arms over my chest and looked out the large glass windows. The sun glittered on the still surface of the water, and the mountains rose tall in the distance. I’d gotten used to this view. It wouldn’t be easy to go back to the endless asphalt of Atlanta. “Let’s start packing up, Dylan. We’ve got to get to Syracuse tonight.”

Dylan trudged up the stairs. I followed behind him, one hand on his upper back. I didn’t want to look down at Stephan behind me. I was already hurting enough.

We spent the day packing. I booked a hotel in Syracuse for the night. Throughout the day, I half-expected the clan to show up at the house to try to convince us to stay, but it was quiet. Stephan hadn’t told anyone we were leaving. For that, I was oddly grateful. It’d be easier to put this whole place behind me if I didn’t have to struggle with goodbyes.

I wanted to pretend this summer never happened. I didn’t want to think about Mia, Hawk, or Striker. I didn’t want to think about Bella and Zoey and Dylan all playing in the backyard together. I didn’t want to think about riding astride Stephan’s dragon’s back with Dylan asleep against me, completely atpeace. I didn’t want to think about falling asleep in Stephan’s strong arms.

I wanted to forget it all. I had to go back to the woman I was before this. A successful career woman, a good friend, a strong single mother. Dylan had gotten through his first shift. That was all that mattered.

Everything else had been a fantasy.

The sun was low in the sky once we were packed up. I slid the last bag into the trunk of the black sedan. The white rental SUV had already been returned, so I’d leave the sedan at airport parking for some other clan member to pick up.

It’d be like we were never here.

I closed the trunk, then turned and leaned against the back of the car. Stephan stood within arm’s reach, his eyes flecked with gold and the corners of his lips turned down. Part of me wanted to reach out and smooth the furrow from his brow.

“That’s everything,” I said.

Stephan nodded. “That’s everything.”

This would be the last time I laid eyes on him for… I didn’t know how long. I didn’t want to look. I didn’t want tostoplooking. I drank in the curve of his shoulders, the tattoos on his forearms, the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes. I didn’t want to remember, but at the same time, I didn’t want to forget, either.

“Harley…” he said softly.

“Dad!” Dylan rushed out to the car with his VR headset dangling around his neck. He collided with Stephan and hugged him around the middle as hard as he could.

Stephan made aoofsound and caught Dylan. He tugged at the headset so it wasn’t pushing into his middle. “Don’t wear this in the car, it’ll make you nauseous.”

“I won’t,” Dylan mumbled.

“Take care of your mom, okay? Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Good. I’ll call you tomorrow after you land.”

Dylan nodded, then reluctantly allowed Stephan to corral him into the passenger’s seat.

Stephan closed the door.

My heart climbed into my throat.

I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want whatever had been blossoming between us to die like this. I wanted everything to be different. I wanted this summer to have never happened at all.

Stephan stepped close to me and brushed an errant lock of hair behind my ear like he usually did. The way he touched me when he wanted an excuse to look at me. To be close.

“You can change your mind,” he said. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I’ll let you know when Dylan has a break from school again,” I said. “We’ll figure out custody.”

Stephan flinched at that word, but didn’t push back. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeated.

There was nothing left to say. There was nothing left for me in Lakeview. Being here only ever ended in pain and heartbreak—first with my mother, and now with Stephan.

There was no reason for me to ever come here again. It was time for me to leave Lakeview behind for good.