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“You and your boyfriend have a falling-out?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Your visits suggest otherwise,” he argues.

Does fucking someone once a year make him my boyfriend?Can I even call it fucking when I don’t remember what we do?

“It’s . . .”

“Complicated?” he finishes for me.

“Yeah,” I breathe.

“Anything worth having usually is.”

I swallow at his deep tone.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” I mumble.

I don’t get to mull over Doc’s words for long.

“Daddy!” Riley yells from farther along the sidewalk, pointing at a house with their porch light on.

“I’m coming. Go knock on it.”

The little girl drops her arm. “You’re my Pokeball. I can’t keep going without you,” she tells him, taking his hand as soon as he’s close enough. They walk up the path together. “That would be silly.”

“Yeah, Daddy. Don’t be silly,” I taunt.

His only response is a small glare over the top of Riley’s head.

CHAPTER THREE

Leonard

My fingers twitch with the need to hold Shelby’s hand. My skin tingles with the knowledge of her being within touching distance.

Over a year. That’s how long it’s been since I had my hands on her. Checking on her at the Cromwell cabin a few days ago doesn’t count. I didn’t get to caress her, fuck her, fill her. Instead, I’d been on the verge of a heart attack.

It had taken everything in me not to yell at her. Why did she stay with Kaleb? Why didn’t she come to me to keep her safe? Why didn’t she make herself available to me?

I’d gone to her on Halloween as I have for years, but the house had been empty. The glass of apple juice was still on her bedside table where I’d left it.

Shelby is right about two things. Our relationship is complicated, and tonight is a new Halloween. A redo of the night we missed earlier this week.

My heart stutters when we stop in front of my driveway. Tonight was a success in every way. Riley got a huge haul ofcandy, and Shelby was more open than ever before. I just need her to see me as more than a doctor and her older neighbor.

Riley opens her candy bag, offering the contents to Shelby. “I picked a Mounds bar out for you.” My sweet girl smiles.

“You did?” Shelby asks in surprise, her right hand moving to rest over her heart. “Muffin, you didn’t have to do that.”

Riley shrugs. “You said they were your favorite.”

Shelby stares at my daughter for a second before stepping forward and encasing her sweet face between her hands.

“They are. My dad used to buy me one every Halloween because no one really gives out coconut candy.” Shelby blinks quickly. “Thank you, muffin.”

My heart lurches at the sadness in her voice.