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Hell, when I learned about her divorce, it took everything I had not to call her.

But I wasn’t going to chase her anymore. I needed to move on.

Needed to let her go.

The last thing I expected was to see her at Holley Ridge with her baby.

“She’s beautiful.” I take a step toward her, drawn to her like I’ve always been. As if some invisible string is still tied between us, even a year later. “Like her mother.”

Wynter looks down at the sleeping bundle, her eyes shining with so much love it nearly knocks the wind from me.

“What’s her name?”

Bennett never told me. I never asked.

She returns her gaze to mine. “Hannah.”

A breath escapes me as I look from Wynter to the baby girl.

“You named her⁠—”

“After your mom. I wanted her to be strong. To persevere through anything, regardless of her circumstances. Just like your mom.”

“And her mom, too.”

Her lips curve into the smallest of smiles as a heavy silence settles between us. A year’s worth of questions sit on the tip of my tongue. A year’s worth of things I want to tell her.

But I don’t.

“I’ll let you enjoy your evening.” My voice sounds steadier than I feel. “It was good to see you. You look…happy.”

Wynter brings Hannah closer to her chest and presses a kiss to her forehead. “I am happy. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it.”

“Good.” I hesitate for a beat, then turn before I do or say something I’ll regret.

I had no idea she was even in town. Bennett didn’t say anything. And since I sold Mom’s house and moved into a place of my own, I wouldn’t have seen her coming and going from her parents’ house.

Still, I wasn’t expecting this.

I try to find solace in the fact that she’s no longer with Wyatt, but it still hurts. Because as much as I’ve tried to forget Wynter Hayes, I haven’t. I doubt I ever will.

“You were right.”

Her voice stops me in my tracks. I close my eyes for half a second before turning around to face her once more.

“About what?”

“Being scared.”

I frown. “I don’t⁠—”

“You said I was scared of my feelings for you, and that’s why I pushed you away. Because it was easier to do what was expected of me than take a risk. In my mind, you were too big of a risk. Or maybe my feelings for you were too big of a risk. I don’t know.” Her eyes drop to Hannah. “But then my dad asked me something.”

“What’s that?”

“He asked me to picture all the things I wanted for my baby. Then he asked me to picture who was at my side.”

My pulse stumbles. A part of me doesn’t want to ask. Doesn’t want it to matter. But I need to know.