Lose her.
I hadn’t really worried about it until now. Chloe’s like a boat that’s been doing okay with a small leak. But today, she added cargo she hasn’t been carrying.
Evie added her own baggage, too.
I won’t lose Chloe because she doesn’t love me. But Icouldlose her if I don’t help her cope with all this.
She needed more time to practice sharing the load. I blow out a breath.
Owen mutters something about calling it a night. Evie wipes her face and stands.
“Evelyn,” I say softly. “I need your help.”
She lowers herself back to the couch. “I hate when you say my full name like that. I know I messed up?—”
“I don’t want to rehash it.” I twist and glance up toward the landing, where Chloe and Phoebe are curled into bed together.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“We were working on Chloe accepting that I don’t love her because she’s useful.” I rub my temples. “I called her out on it her first night here, but I didn’t realize how deep it went. And I know this news must have her questioning her entire world.”
Evie gapes at me. “Might I remind you that I probably made thatworse?”
“That makes you the perfect person to help, then. You could use a few brownie points.”
She sighs and scoots closer. “Fine. I assume you’ve got the basics of a plan?”
“Maybe,” I tell her.
It’s probably more like a skeleton, but it’s a starting point. And Evie can help me flesh it out.
Upstairs, a floorboard creaks. No one is leaving tonight, just living. Surviving another aftermath.
For the first time, I understand something I should’ve learned years ago: love isn’t conditional. It doesn’t show up because a contract or a chore chart demands it, and it’s not something you earn.
Love is something that happens in spite of everything.
It just waits to be chosen.
And sometimes, it needs to be shown—quietly and without conditions.
forty-seven
CHLOE
I’ve only been backunder my parents' roof for a couple of hours, and it’s easy to remember why I left.
It’s my home, but it’s also the place where I learned to earn my spot: a clean room, Honor Roll, and never needing anything. No onemeantto teach me that. Our house was full of love and laughter. But I picked up that rule anyway.
And my body still remembers.
Carter is spread all over the house, his chaos infecting even the tidiest of spaces. Mom is flustered, trying to make sure Dad is okay, while Dad just wants to be left alone.
And I keep catching Reid staring at me, like I’m withholding another big secret.
At this point, I’m not sure I couldbemore uncomfortable in this space.
Aiden walked in on me earlier, scrubbing dishes and loading the rest into the dishwasher, and gave me a quiet look that made me immediately abandon the whole sink.
