The question cuts too close to the truth, and I force a half-smile. “It’s about practicality. Jared needs somewhere safe to stay, and he’s Kyle’s cousin.”
Her lips purse. “Have you brought this up with Kyle? Or with Jared? You tend to overthink things all on your own.”
“Kyle’s too polite to make me feel unwelcome.”
Chloe doesn’t even pretend to believe my excuses. We’ve been friends too long to pull one over on each other. “And what doyouneed, Grady?”
“I need…” The words stick in my throat.
What do I need? Purpose? Connection? To stop existing on the outskirts of Chloe’s world and finally step into the center of mine?
I release a long breath. “I need to decide where my life is headed.”
I unfold the floor plan of the condo. The layout features a small office nook by the window, perfect for a writing desk. My fingers trace the tiny rectangle, imagining a space filled with books instead of Aurora Storm’s promotional materials.
A place where my creativity might come back to life.
“So these are serious.” Chloe fishes out another brochure, examining the listed amenities. “You’re really thinking of leaving the island.”
“Not leaving. Just… relocating,” I correct, though the distinction is flimsy. “Pinecrest is twenty minutes away by water taxi.”
“It’s not the same as being within walking distance.” Her bottom lip trembles. “We’ve lived next door to each other for so long. I don’t want you to go.”
“You already let your old apartment go.” I clasp my hands in my lap to stop from fidgeting. “We haven’t been next door to each other for months.”
She puffs up her cheeks. “You know what I mean.”
“I’d still be nearby this way. We could have coffee every day if we want. You can catch the morning water taxi to Pinecrest, or I can catch a ride with the construction crew.” I rake a hand through my hair. “This is the logical choice, Chloe. Kyle gets his space back. Jared gets somewhere safe to stay. I get…”
“What?” Chloe leans closer. “What do you get, Grady?”
“A fresh start,” I say. “Somewhere that’s mine.”
Motions reluctant, she sets the brochure down. “Pinecrest is nice. But it’s not Misty Pines.”
“No,” I agree, my attention caught by the forest outside the window. “It’s not.”
She moves to sit on the couch beside me and takes my hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you were thinking about this?”
I squeeze her fingers. “I wanted to decide for myself first.”
She takes a shaky breath. “If moving is what you need for yourself, then you have my support. But if you’re doing this out of some misguidedsense of obligation,pleasepromise you’ll speak to Kyle and Jared first. I’m not so sure, even if the space is available, that Jared willwantto move out of Emily’s house unless she forces him to leave.”
I arch a brow. “Oh?”
“I heard Nathaniel and Blake talking about how there may be love in the air. They’re such gossips.” She snuggles closer. “Are you sure you won’t be afraid to live alone?”
I huff out a breath. “I’ve been living alone for years.”
“No,” she corrects. “You’ve been living next door to me. I, for one, felt a lot more comfortable knowing you were within shouting distance.”
She’s not wrong. The silence never felt permanent with her next door.
“There was a certain comfort in having you so close.” My lips quirk. “Not that you’d come running to my rescue, you big scaredy-cat.”
“Hey!” She slaps my arm. “I would have called the police!”
“Well, I’m not afraid.” The denial sounds weak even to my ears. “And this is practical.”