Page 125 of From Nowhere

“Of course.”

“It’s like sloppy seconds,” she says. “Can we get back to the VR therapy?”

“I’ll ask Lola’s therapist about it,” I say, grabbing my phone and heading back upstairs.

“Okay. But if she’s not receptive, you could do your own research or get a second opinion. And please don’t think I’m telling you how to parent your daughter; I’m just—”

“You love her too,” I say, shoving my feet into my sneakers. “So your opinion matters. Don’t feel shy about making suggestions. Okay?”

Silence settles between us.

“Maren?”

“I’m here. It’s just . . .”

“What?”

“Every day.”

I open the garage door to get my bike. “Every day what?”

“Every day, you say or do something to make me fall a little deeper in love with you. How do you do that?”

I chuckle. “I guess I have great women in my life who make it easy to be a lovable guy. Or you feel sorry for me, and you’ve taken pity on me like you did with Bandit. That’s the only explanation for why you would swallow.”

She coughs a laugh. “Oh my god, you have sex on the brain all the time.”

I latch my phone into the holder on my bike and fasten my helmet. “I take it that’s not the lovable part of me?”

She laughs. I love her laughter and how it makes me feel alive and hopeful again. I wish it could erase my conversation with Tia, but that woman’s words stain like a permanent marker.

“Your new kitchen sink comes in tomorrow. I’ll have it set before you get home,” I say, slipping in a Bluetooth earbud and heading down the street.

“My fridge is being delivered on Thursday. Jamie said she’d be there for the delivery if I’m not home. I feel like so much has happened in the week I’ve been gone.”

“It’s looking great. And Lola has a surprise for you.”

“God, I miss her,” she says with a sigh.

If I don’t control my grin, I’ll show up at Diego’s with a dozen bugs between my teeth. Maren thinks she falls in love with me every day, but I fall deeper in love with her every second of every day.

“Be safe, baby. Okay?”

“I’ll do my best. Hug Lola and Bandit for me.”

“Bandit doesn’t like hugs.”

“He doesn’t like hugs from you because you abandoned him. But if you tell him the hug is from me, he’ll keep his claws in check.”

I chuckle. “You’re such a liar, but I love you anyway.”

Maren hums. “Say it again.”

“You’re a liar.”

“Ozzy.”

I glance behind me before turning the corner. “I love you.”

---