Can’t.
Silence stretches — sharp, fragile, dangerous.
“I’ll give you space,” he murmurs. “But don’t punish the people who love you because you’re scared Jett took your voice. He didn’t. You’re still right here.”
I close my eyes. Hard.
“Call me when you’re ready to admit you’re scared because this time… It’s all you. And that’s not a bad thing.”
He turns and walks away, jaw clenched tight, leaving the air trembling with everything neither of us wants to face.
“I’ll always love you,” he murmurs. “As your friend first. Even when you’re angry. Even when you’re hurting. Even when you think it’s a weakness.”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes. I look away.
He hesitates, like he wants to say more.
I don’t turn around. If I do, I’ll fall apart. So I stand there gripping the railing until the world steadies, until my breathing stops shaking, until my eyes stop burning.
And when I finally look up?
The lake is blindingly bright.
Too bright for how dark I feel.
And that’s when I hear footsteps on the deck stairs.
Ethan.
He freezes mid-step, one hand holding a bundle of flashlights, like he’s not sure if he walked into a fight or a funeral.
Banks recovers first. “Well,” he says lightly, “this is awkward. You must be the lumberjack.”
Ethan blinks. “Uh… what?”
Banks waves a hand. “Never mind. Bad timing. I was just leaving.”
He offers Ethan a tight smile. “Wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”
And then he’s gone — down the steps, across the yard, disappearing into the bright afternoon like he didn’t just crack me open.
Ethan hesitates, jaw working, obviously trying to decide whether to ask anything. He chooses not to.
“I… uh… brought these.” He holds out the flashlights. “In case another storm rolls in.”
My throat tightens. “Thank you.”
He nods once — respectful, careful — and backs away like he’s giving me space to breathe.
“See you later, Lucky.”
When he’s far enough down the path, I finally exhale.
The silence settles heavily. My eyes sting. My chest aches. I have no idea how long I’ve been standing here in the same place. I suddenly, desperately want anything that feels soft.
“Lucky?” a small voice calls.
I turn around.
