He looked at me with his droopy eyes. Even though he was supposedly blind, sometimes I swore he could see me.

“I promise if that happens, I’ll never forget you, Bugger, okay?”

Pixy rested his chin in my hand, and I did something I never had before. Reaching down, I kissed his forehead. It wasn’t the type of kiss I was hoping for in Temecula, but it was the next best thing. He was the official mascot of my time with Aubrey, always at the center of the good memories that we shared. I’d never forget him. I took a selfie of us. Now I could cross “kiss a goat” off my bucket list.

The rest of the afternoon, I went in search of princess flowers. I didn’t want to steal them off the bush I’d planted, so I needed to find a florist who carried them. I was finally able to snag a bouquet and took it back to my motel.

I showered, put on dark jeans and a fitted black shirt and splashed on some cologne. Needing to look and smell my best tonight was going to be important. I decided against calling Aubrey first. I didn’t want her to try to talk me out of coming over. So, showing up at her door tonight would be a gamble.

It was a clear evening. The lights from inside her bungalow lit up the otherwise dark street.

She was home.

I was home.

With my heart racing, I parked my truck around the corner and sat there for at least twenty minutes rehearsing what I was going to say. Someone came out of the house I was parked in front of.

The woman was wiggling her ass with her tits hanging out as she approached my truck in a flimsy nightgown and slippers. When I saw the cast on her hand, I remembered it was Aubrey’s slutty neighbor, Philomena. Now, it seemed she had a cast on her leg as well. What the fuck? This chick was a hot mess.

“Hey, handsome. I saw your truck out here.”

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you lived here. I shouldn’t have parked right in front of your house.”

“Are you kidding? I got all excited, thought maybe you had decided you wanted to mow me after all.”

“No, I’m not in the neighborhood on business.”

“Maybe you’d like to just come in and fuck me then?”

“Wow, well…um…while that’s a tempting offer given your lovely…casts…and all, I’m not really available for that. But thanks.”

“Why don’t you come in for a drink then? I promise I won’t bite.”

“No. Actually, I’m heading over to Aubrey’s.”

She placed her cast on her hip. “You are aware Aubrey has a boyfriend, right?”

“I’m quite aware of that, yes.”

“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She arched her head to see an oncoming car. “Actually, looks like he just turned the corner. This should be interesting.”

“Who?”

“That was Aubrey’s boyfriend’s BMW that just passed by.”

My stomach sank. Fuck.

After Philomena finally left me alone and went back inside, I just sat for the longest time not knowing what to do. Grabbing the flowers, I eventually got out of the truck, planning to just leave them at her doorstep.

As I approached, what I saw in clear view through the window nearly stopped my heart. Aubrey was sitting on the couch with Richard as she leaned her head on his shoulder. She looked content. At peace. It looked like they were watching a movie.

As much as it hurt to see it, I couldn’t look away. That vision was the essence of my dream. There was nothing more in the world that I wanted than to come home every night to her and do exactly that—just be with her. With each second that passed as I stood there, the seeds of doubt were growing. Suddenly, for the first time since arriving in Temecula—even with all the stalking—I truly felt like an outsider looking in. It really hit me. While jail had thrown me into a time warp, time had indeed passed. Aubrey had moved on.

She’d moved on.

You fucking fool, Chance.

This was why you did what you did, remember? It was what you supposedly wanted for her.

At least twenty minutes must have gone by after that realization, and I was still standing in the same spot on the very lawn I’d manicured to perfection. I knew why I was feeling sick.

I was mourning her.

Walking away from her the first time left her devastated. My walking away the second time now would devastate me. This time, I didn’t seem to know how to leave. I couldn’t not say goodbye. For now, I’d leave the flowers at the door, maybe send her a message or call her tomorrow to let her know about my plans to return home to Hermosa Beach.