Chapter 4

After several dozen minutes, the first batch of food on the grill was finally done.

When the wave of emotion passed, I felt drained, yet at the same time, a strange, unspoken courage crept in. I lifted my head and openly looked across. I wondered what Ryan was doing.

April had been choked by the smoke. He thoughtfully handed her a tissue—just like that time long ago when I begged him to have dinner with me. He had said he was too busy, but in the end, he still showed up.

Grease from the skillet had splattered into my eyes.…