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Anger flares inside my gut. Doing my best to keep it in check, I sip my coffee. “I hope you know I would never limit Sally or try to tie her down. I respect the hell out of her talent. I also respect her opinion. She knows what she wants, John. We have to trust her to make the right choices for herself. You and I, we don’t have any business meddling.”

He stares me down. “Sally is going to New York, and she’s going to take the job there. That’s where her focus needs to be. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you? Of course you do. You just said we can’t meddle.” He tilts his head. “Y’all are adults. I can’t stop you from doing what y’all want to while Sally is here. But you have to promise me, Wyatt, that come the end of December, she’s not going to be second-guessing our plan. She’s moving to Ithaca.”

And you’re not going with her.

He doesn’t say that last part, but he doesn’t need to. I’m picking up what he’s laying down. He’s fine with Sally having her fun with me. But we can’t get serious because apparently, he thinks Sally falling in love with me would mess with her head.

He thinks I’d hold her back.

“I’m not gonna lie to you, John.” Looking down at the dregs of my coffee, I rotate my mug in my hands. “I’m offended by your insinuation that I’m somehow bad for Sally. No one wants to see that woman soar more than I do.” I look him in the eye. “You have my word on that.”

He looks at me for a long beat before he swipes his palm over the countertop. “I’m sorry. Wasn’t my intention to offend you. But we all know you can be…a bit of a wild card.”

I inwardly wince. He’s not wrong.

Neither am I when I reply, “Not when it comes to Sally.”

“I just need you to understand what a big deal this job is, Wyatt. I know Sally has her doubts about it. I’m not blind. Isbeing a surgeon at one of the world’s top hospitals going to be easy? Hell no. But the sacrifices will be worth it. Getting the job, succeeding at it—that’s the ultimate goal. Do. Not. Stand in her way.” His face is red.

Wow, he’spissed.

“Have I ever stood in her way before?” I stare at him, pulse thumping in my temples. “Not once. Not a single time over the past twenty years have Ieverprevented her from reaching her potential. I’ve never messed with her head before, and I’m not gonna do it now. Even if I tried, Sally wouldn’t have patience for it. You and I both know she’d tell me to go to hell.”

“Maybe.” John B’s jaw twitches. “Maybe not. But I have your word that you’ll let her go when the time comes?”

Emotion clogs my windpipe, making it difficult to breathe. To think. I can’t tell if I’m mostly angry or sad or what. I just know this conversation has left me ripped up and hollow inside, like a hurricane just tore through me.

I’m damn proud of myself for being honest—mostlyhonest anyway—with Sally after more than a decade of bottling up my feelings.

I’m stupid happy I get to date her and touch her and teach her. I’m beyond excited about the time we’re going to spend together.

But John B’s disapproval dims all that.

I didn’t expect him to be thrilled about me dating Sally.

I also didn’t expect him to basically tell me to lay off because,clearly,I’m not good enough for his daughter.

Clearly, I’m going to lead her down a path that will break her heart and wreck her spirit and spell out death for her very bright future.

Prove him wrong.

That voice inside me is a familiar one. It’s the voice that’s been pushing me to try new things lately. Tobelievenew things about myself, the past, the world.

I could let John B’s words crush me. Or I could let them motivate me to show him I’m not the wild card who will keep Sally from achieving her potential.

I’m the man who’s gonna help her make her dreams come true. Every last one of them.

Setting my mug on the counter, I wipe my hands. “If that’s what’s right, then yes. Yes, I’ll absolutely let Sally go.”

John B opens his mouth, but thankfully, Patsy and Sally arrive, their cheeks flushed from the cold as they step into the warmth of the kitchen. Patsy sets down a bag of groceries at her feet.

Sally’s eyes immediately find mine. There’s a sharp, sudden drop in my chest when she smiles, her expression bright. “Morning, y’all.”

Yep, fuck John B and his bullshit insinuations. I can be good to this girl.

I am good for this girl.

Crossing the kitchen, I nod at Sally’s jacket. “Lemme get that?”