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“I know that too.”

His shoulders loosen a little, like he needed to hear me say it.

I reach for his hand. “So, what’s wrong?”

He looks down at our fingers for a second before answering. “Four months is a long time.”

I almost laugh because we just established that, but something in his expression stops me.

“Yeah,” I say instead. “It is.”

“Jack’s going to change completely while I’m gone. He changes every time I see him now, and that’s when I’m five minutes away.” His thumb moves absently over the side of my hand. “My family will keep doing all the same stuff they always do. Dad will probably start some new project. Mom will make everybody come over every other weekend for a family dinner. Conlin will do something stupid and somehow survive it.”

“That last one seems pretty dependable.”

I expect a smile. I get a small one, but it disappears almost immediately.

“And you’ll be here,” he says.

That makes me pause. “Yes.”

“Working. Doing your thing. Building a life here.”

The room goes quiet for a few seconds, and I finally understand that this isn’t about missing cookouts or Jack learning something new while he’s gone.

Those things matter to him, but they aren’t what’s sitting underneath all of this.

I squeeze his hand. “Zander.”

He looks at me.

“Europe was six months.”

“That was different.”

“Because?”

“Because Jack wasn’t here yet.” He hesitates. “And neither were you.”

He pushes away from the counter and walks a few steps into the living room before turning back toward me. “When I left before, I knew exactly what I was coming home to. My parents would still be here. My brothers would still be here. Redwood Point would still be Redwood Point.”

“And you think it won’t be this time?”

“No.” He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I think it will. That’s almost the problem.”

I follow him into the living room. “You’re going to have to help me with that one.”

“You came here because you wanted this life.” His gaze moves around my house, then back to me. “The shop. The town. Quiet. All of it.”

“Yes.”

“And I’m about to disappear for four months.”

I finally see where his brain has taken him, and despite myself, a smile pulls at my mouth. “You think I’m going to realize how peaceful my life is without you banging on the wall?” The silence will probably be incredible.”

He doesn’t laugh, and my smile fades. “You’re really worried about this.”

“I know how stupid it sounds.”