I glance at Zach, taking in his destroyed hair, the hickey developing on his neck, and his head slumping forward. I rest my hand on his shoulder.
“Can I make you something other than chicken and sweet potatoes to eat? Ella’s out with Jamie, so we can talk. About everything.
He manages a weak smile. “Nah. I’m good. Go be with your family.”
“You’re my family too,” I remind him. “Brother.”
“I know.” He reaches up, covering my hand with his. “I’m proud of you. For today. Standing up to your dad took guts.”
“I’m proud of you, too. Talking it out with Honey is a good start.”
“Yeah, and look where it got me,” he says. There’s no real bitterness in it, just exhaustion. I hate leaving him like this, butI know when he needs space, and I’m the current reason he and Honey aren’t making up. As much as he loves me, I wouldn’t blame him for hating me right now, too.
Standing, I head to the hallway, then pause and look back at him. “For what it’s worth? I know she loves you just as much. A lot of stuff is happening with her, and I think she needs to figure herself out before she can figure out what being with you looks like right now.”
“Yeah,” he says quietly, closing his eyes. I’m not saying anything new or groundbreaking. We both know this, it just doesn’t make the separation any easier. “Maybe.”
“I’ll text you later,” I say softly.
He nods without looking up, his elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
I linger in the doorway for a second. It hurts to walk away from him when he’s like this, but maybe loving someone doesn’t always mean staying in the room while they break. Sometimes it means giving them the time and space to survive it.
“,” I say one more time.
That makes him look up at me with a smile. “I love you too, sis.”
Outside, the cold air bites at my cheeks. For the first time, it doesn’t sting. It feels like a reset. Finally, I’m ready to start over.
Weare ready to start over.
I pull out my phone.
Tiff:On my way. Save me a hug.
Jamie:Always.
I slip the phone back into my pocket and smile to myself.
For so long, I thought peace would come from fixing what broke me. Turns out, it comes from walking away from it—and toward the people who never let go.
Then I start the car and drive to Jamie’s new apartment.
Chapter 32
My hands fumble with the key as Tiff and Ella wait anxiously behind me. “Ugh,” I say, wiping my sweaty hands on my jeans. Pathetic. It’s just an apartment. It’s not life or death, but somehow it feels like it.
What if she thinks it's too small? What if the room isn't what Ella wants? What if this whole thing is too much, too fast, and I've completely fucked up the best thing that's ever happened to me?
They won’t. They’ll love it. I checked the place a hundred times in the past twenty-four hours—made sure every light worked, every surface was clean, every detail was perfect—but now that Tiff and Ella are actually here, I'm second-guessing everything.
“Jamie,” Tiff says softly, touching my arm. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I clear my throat, turning the key. “Yeah, I just…I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure we’ll love it.”
I finally get the door open and step aside, letting them see it first.