Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(74)

“Hello?” Dex’s voice floated through the screen door.

“Come on in!” I called.

I heard the door open and close, and he appeared in the kitchen a moment later. He was also dressed for church, in charcoal gray pants and a light blue button-down. I’d never seen him in that color blue before, and I liked the way it looked against his skin. My pulse quickened when he smiled at me.

“Hey,” I said. “I’m just hearing all about your new cat.”

“We’ll name him Freddie Purrcury,” Luna said. “Is that okay with you?”

Dex groaned. “I guess.”

“I think it’s a good compromise,” I said, patting his shoulder.

“Can Winnie come to the pet store with us, Daddy?” Hallie asked.

“Please,” added Luna, clasping her hands in prayer beneath her chin.

“That’s up to her,” Dex said.

I hated to disappoint them, but I couldn’t. “I’m sorry, girls. But my real estate agent is coming over, so I have to stay here.”

“What’s a real estate agent?” Luna asked.

“It’s the person who’s going to help me sell my condo.”

“You’re moving?” Hallie’s eyes were wide.

I felt sad, breaking the news. “Yes. I have to, because I have a new job in Rhode Island.”

“Where’s Rhode Island?” Luna looked from me to her dad. “Is it close?”

Dex shook his head.

“So we won’t see you anymore?” Hallie asked, looking like she might cry. “Ever again?”

“Sure, you will. I’ll come back for visits.” I tried to sound reassuring. “I just won’t live next door anymore.”

“But who will live here?” asked Luna, her expression worried. “And will they adopt Piglet?”

“Piglet will come with me,” I told her with a smile. “And you’ll have a new neighbor living here—maybe even some kids. That would be fun.”

They didn’t look convinced.

“I’m sad,” Luna said.

“Me too,” added Hallie. “I don’t want you to go.”

“Hey, listen.” Dex spoke up, reaching over to tweak Luna’s ear. “How about, ‘Congratulations on your new job, Winnie?’ Or ‘We’re happy for you, Winnie?’ Or even ‘We’ll miss you, Winnie, but we’ll keep in touch?’ Stop making her feel bad. She has to move for work.”

“Sorry,” Hallie said. “Congratulations on your new job, Winnie.”

“We’re happy for you.” Luna sounded anything but happy.

“Thank you.” I smiled, although I didn’t feel happy either at the moment. “I’ll really miss having you right next door, but your dad is right. We can keep in touch.”

“We can email from my iPad, Luna,” Hallie said.

“That’s perfect.” I reached for the pad of paper where I scribbled my grocery list and wrote down my personal email address. “Here. Email me any time.”

“Are you leaving before tomorrow?” Luna looked scared. “You won’t be able to meet Freddie Purrcury.”

“No,” I said, laughing. “I’m not leaving until October. I’ve got a whole month here. And I cannot wait to meet Freddie Purrcury.”

“Come on, girls.” Dex gestured for the kids to get down from their stools. “We have to go change and get to the pet store before it closes. And Winnie doesn’t want us in here messing up her place before the agent gets here.”

“It’s no big deal,” I said. “She’s just going to give me some advice for showing it and help me come up with a listing price.”

“Hopefully, it sells quickly.” He shooed the girls toward the front door.

“Yes, hopefully so.” I crossed my fingers and held them up, although I felt like hiding them behind my back. “Have fun at the pet store.”

It felt strange watching him leave without a hug or our usual jokes, and the place seemed extra empty once they were gone.

Piglet came wandering out, now that the coast was clear, twining around my ankles. When she meowed, I knelt down to pet her.

“Don’t scold me, okay? I’m only sad because I like our usual goodbyes. I like his hugs. I like his kisses. That’s not the same as being in love with someone.”

But it was a slippery slope, and even Piglet knew it.





Twenty-One





Dex





“Where you been, man?” Justin asked, pedaling hard on the stationary bike.

“What are you talking about?” I slowed to a jog on the treadmill. “I see you at work every few days.”

“You haven’t come to the house since Labor Day. That was nearly a month ago.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Busy with your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.” I kept my eyes straight ahead but knew exactly what look he was giving me.

“I thought things were going better since you took my advice and apologized.”

“Things are fine. She’s just not my girlfriend.”