“She’s been…helpful. She helps keep my mind busy, for the most part. And she’s Wyatt’s sister”
“Oh? I didn’t know he had one. Given, I haven’t really asked. Collin probably knew, though.”
“He knows my therapist. I haven’t really dug in to how; I’d rather not know. I have enough things to figure out around here.”
“True,” he mused. “Then you don’t know what your brother and Dominic have been up to lately?”
“Nope.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
Darn him. Now that he brought it up, it was going to nag at me.
“Fine. What are they doing?” I huffed.
“Tracking down Alan. They may have a lead, which is why I offered to come see you for a week instead of Collin. Well, that and needing a break from…yeah. But I missed you, pretty girl.”
“I missed you too, Zevon,” I sighed, giving him a true, sad smile. “I thought I could do all of this on my own, but with you here…”
“You’re doubting yourself. You shouldn’t be,” he said, pushing a stray hair off my face. “You’ve grown a lot. And you needed it. You still need that time to grow more. Find your footing. It will take time, but you have plenty of it. No one is pushing you to figure it out right this minute.”
“When did you get so wise?”
“I’ve had to do some quick growing up myself, you know. And, Collin may have told me something similar.”
I gave out a half laugh.
“But really, Scarlett, you’re doing well. Don’t give up on yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much life to your eyes, even if you are bone tired. A few months ago, you wouldn’t have dared to tell anyone to do anything.”
The next morning, I woke to the smell of coffee, feeling more refreshed than I had for a few weeks. Zevon had fallen asleep in bed with me, and his side was cold. I briefly wondered how long he’d been up. I was just thankful that he kept my nightmares away for a night. Hopefully they wouldn’t return when he left to go back to Sage.
“Morning!” Sawyer sang, way too happily for so early.
“Why are you so awake?” I grumbled, taking a seat at the table. “Thanks,” I said to Zevon as he set a mug of hot golden liquid in front of me.
“Because I don’t need as much sleep as you do, sleepyhead.”
“She’s never a morning person,” Zevon huffed. “Her brother isn’t either.” He waited until I took a sip to say, “They could have pulled off being twins.”
“He’s taller than me, and older.”
“You two are still close,” Zevon said. “Even with the distance. He’s always thinking about you.”
“And I’m sure he’s planning to take a trip up here sooner or later.”
“Not until you give him the okay to do so. Everyone is waiting for that. We’re trying the best we can to give you the space you demanded.”
“All but you, apparently,” Sawyer said. “No offense, of course. But you pop in here, demanding to see her and pushing your way into this apartment. You don’t even give her a chance to kick you to the curb.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” I said, interrupting her. “He’s fine. At least someone knows I won’t kick them out.”
“Nah. You wouldn’t kick any of us out if we showed up.”
I sipped my coffee, holding my comeback in. I wouldn’t do that, even if it was tempting.
“So, are you going to go to her therapy session with her this morning?” Sawyer asked.
“What? Hell no.”
