I don’t want to hide the reality from him anymore. “Zach and I have adult problems. And whether we work out or not, I know him. He really loves you and Cayden. I don’t think you’ll be able to get rid of him. No matter what though.” I squat down so I can look in his eyes. “Uncle Cooper, Aunt Angie, Wyatt, Trent, and everyone else in this town will be around you. Okay?”

“Do you think he’s mad at me?”

His little green eyes fill with moisture. “No, baby. I don’t think he’s mad at you. Not even one single bit.”

He nods. “I hit him hard.”

Angie giggles. “I think you and I need to work on your boxing. You gotta hit him in the ’nads next time.”

“Angie!” I scold her.

“Teach the kid the basics, babe. ’Nads and nose.” She winks.

Logan laughs, “I missed you, Auntie.”

“Oh, Bubs,” she comes over and messes his hair. “I missed you more.”

“Please listen to nothing she says. You don’t want to hit anyone in the ‘nads.”

“They’re balls, Mom,” he corrects me.

“I’m not even going there,” I say with a laugh. Boys.

His gaze returns back to the corral. “I hope he comes by tomorrow.”

I want to say I do too, but he’s got a lot on his mind. Zach filled a role for Logan without anyone asking him to. He became his friend and someone he relied on. Wyatt and Cooper are as well, but Zach was something special. I think Cayden thinks of him as a hero. He remembers what it felt like when Zach found him, but the bond between him and Logan was slowly forged.

Angie takes Logan’s hand. “How about we all go watch a movie? I’m here for another week because someone.” She looks around tapping her chin. “Is turning eleven soon. I wonder who that could be?”

Logan rolls his eyes. “You need to work on your acting skills, Auntie.”

“I’ll give you acting skills.”

“Don’t give them to me!” he gasps. “You need them.”

We all burst out laughing as Angie starts to chase him. “Come here, you little monster!”

They both head inside, and I sit here wondering what to do. I feel so lost right now. The dust has settled for the most part with the boys, but Zach and I are clearly not even close. No matter what, we need to talk again.

I take out my phone and text him.

Me: We should talk.

I stare at the phone, willing it to respond. I haven’t heard from him since he left with Wyatt.

Zach: I know.

That’s it? I try to keep myself calm. I don’t have the energy to exert on this.

Me: Tomorrow?

Zach: Yeah, tomorrow. How are the boys?

I look toward the sky and pray. “Please don’t let me lose this man again. Please let us find a way to work it out.”

Me: They’re both okay. Logan is worried you’re angry with him.

His response is instant.

Zach: Never. I’m angry with me. I’m angry with us. Tomorrow we’ll talk.

I type out my response. It sits on my screen as I debate whether to send it. This isn’t something we should talk about via text, but I have to tell him I love him. I need him to know that even though we’re both feeling a lot, that hasn’t changed.

Me: I’ll miss you tonight. Please know that no matter what, I love you.

I press send and close my eyes.

I sit, holding on to my phone and waiting for it to buzz.

But it never comes.

I think I’ve lost the love of my life—again.

“J UST WHEN WE THOUGHT ALL was working out for them. We didn’t even have time to make them a back-together cake,” Mrs. Rooney’s voice filters through the hallway. “Bless her heart. She must be a wreck.”

“She hasn’t even been out of bed yet,” Mama says.

Oh dear Lord. I better stop this train before it goes off the rails. I enter the kitchen, and it’s filled with food. I’m talking a bakery’s worth of cakes and pastries. Angie sits at the table, digging in and writing things down. “What is all this?” I croak.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Angie tries for chipper, but it’s fake. She knows I’m far from feeling like sunshine.

I look over at the four other women in my kitchen. Mrs. Rooney, Mama, Mrs. Hennington, and my third grade teacher, Mrs. Kannan. This cannot be good.

“Oh, sugar,” Mrs. Rooney says with her lips pouty. “I’m so sorry about you and Zach.”

I look at her with wide eyes. “What?” How in the hell?

“We heard all about what your fight was about.” Her hand rests on my arm. “You must be devastated.”

“Completely wrecked. I mean, she looks like it,” Mrs. Kannan comments.

I woke up ten minutes ago. What the hell are they expecting? I also didn’t expect a confectionary parade in my house. I rub my eyes, hoping it’ll cover the eye roll as well. I need coffee to deal with this.

Mrs. Hennington steps forward. “You’ll always be like a daughter to me.”

“Thanks. I think.” I shake my head. “We’re fine, though. I mean we’ll be fine, we just need to talk.”

They talk as if I’m not there. “Do you think she’ll find another man at her age?” Mrs. Kannan questions. “She’s still pretty and hasn’t gotten too many extra pounds, but she’s not a spring chicken either.”

“I’m right here,” I remind them.

“Zach looked terrible last night.” Mrs. Hennington sighs while turning back to her friends. “I was so happy they’d finally found their way.”

I stand here like a voyeur of my own life.

“We didn’t even get to enjoy their reunion before they screwed it up,” Mama says. “I swear that girl has always been too smart for her own good.”

“I heard she kept some big secret from him.”

“Hello!” I yell. “Can hear you!”

Mrs. Rooney looks over at me then back to their little hen meeting. “He wasn’t Mr. Perfect either though, Macie. I mean that boy of yours needed a good whipping a few times.”

I can’t listen to this but trying to get them to stop is useless. He’ll call today and then this can all stop. I look over at Angie who is stuffing her face. She shrugs unapologetically. “I want to hire all of these baking goddesses.” Gobs of cake fall from her mouth.