Page 74 of Too Far

I press the shutter button with my thumb.

It’s done.

“You’re so fucking pretty,” I muse, pulling up the image and handing it to her for approval.

She sits up and surveys the screen. Her cheeks flush, but the small smile remains.

“Still okay?” I hedge. “I can delete it. Or you can delete it, if—”

“More than okay,” she insists as she stands. “And now we’ve both taken a step to rewrite our pasts and make our sixteen-year-old selves proud.”

She kisses me, hands me my phone, and collects her clothing.

Not a minute too soon, either.

“Kylian! Jo! Dinner is ready!”

I help her into her shirt and untangle her leggings. All the while, she giggles and peppers me with kisses.

“You’re perfect,” I tell her again as she brushes her hands over her pants. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 30

Josephine

“Whyarewesoold?” I bemoan, latching my laptop closed and resting my head in my hands.

“Who are you calling old, sister?”

I peek up at Hunter. She’s sucking down what has to be her third or fourth matcha tea latte of the afternoon, pencil stuck in her hair to keep the messy bun in place, surrounded by open books and a wheezing laptop.

She works harder than anyone I know.

“I hate feeling behind. The guys all registered two weeks ago. I don’t think Kylian or Decker even have in-person classes in the spring.”

Hunter snorts. “Of course they don’t.”

I blow out a breath. “I feel sort of lost looking at all these options. I like college, but I still have no freaking idea what I want to be when I grow up.”

Hunter gnaws on the end of a pen and scrutinizes me over her glasses. They’re only blue-light blockers, but she swears the secret to combatting fine lines and wrinkles is prevention.

Another tick in thewhy are we so old?department.

“If money wasn’t an object, what would your dream job entail?”

With a sigh, I drop my elbows onto the table and take a moment to truly think about the question.

I liked working in hospice. Loved it, actually. It was heavy work, and losing clients I’d developed relationships with was difficult, but the work itself—taking care of people, making them feel seen and respected when the world offers so little care to the elderly—was fulfilling.

Then there are the little girls from the hospital. Thoughts of them have been dancing around my mind for days. I’m not sure I’m cut out for the medical side of patient care, but I could see myself working in a hospital setting, developing programs and activities that allow kids to be kids.

And then there’s my quietest fantasy. One I didn’t even know existed until Nicky breathed life into it.

I want to be a mom. I want to raise a family.

Years from now, when Kendrick and Decker are playing professional football—when Kylian, Locke and I feel content with our education and careers—I could see myself taking care of my people. My boys. Our kids.

Hunter’s cackle pulls me out of my daydream.