I raised an eyebrow at her. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yeah, no thanks. I don’t want that visual after all.”
The three of us stared up at the ceiling, the only sound the party music on the TV.
“It’s because they’re leaving, right?” Kitty said.
So they knew. I wondered what Greyson had told them. “Yeah,” I said. Kitty scooted closer to me, and I tucked her head beneath my chin.
“So what?” Mia said. “You could do long-distance or something.”
It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. “I don’t know. That sort of thing only works if there’s an end date in mind.” And if the man in question wasn’t moving to be closer to his ex.
“Bad excuse,” she said. “If you love someone, you don’t give up on them. You try.”
I let out a slow breath, thinking of Beth and Mark. As far as I could tell, the girls knew nothing about their dad moving out. What would they think when Beth and Mark told them? “Sometimes love isn’t enough,” I said.
“Then what is?” Mia asked.
“If you figure it out, let me know.”
“If fighting is reasonably sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting promises not to result in victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler’s bidding,” Kitty said.
Mia’s eyes darkened. She lunged over me to grab at her sister. “Where’s the book? That quote doesn’t even apply to the situation!”
Kitty squealed and leapt from the bed, racing to hideThe Art of Warsomewhere in the condo. Mia chased after her, and I paused the TV, trying not to laugh as the girls shouted at each other. When they finally returned, Kitty having stowedThe Art of Warsafely somewhere in my room, I hit play, and we continued watching our episode.
“How is Greyson taking it, by the way?” I asked.
“You saw her. What do you think?” Mia said.
“It’s sad to think we might never see her again,” Kitty said.
“Yeah.” I didn’t want to think about that. Poor Greyson. I could sympathize with her. Even though I’d been angry with my mother for how she’d pulled away from me, I’d wanted nothing more than to have herback. “It’s... complicated. I think she’ll feel differently about it when she’s actually there.”
Mia and Kitty looked at each other but said nothing. We returned our attention to the TV, and I watched until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. Not that I could pay much attention to the show. I kept running over that kiss with Alex in the parking lot, the wordsYes, Jo. I love youfollowed byWe’re leaving at the end of Septemberon repeat. My emotions cycled from exhilaration to despair at impressive speed. Part of me wondered if I should take back what I’d said about keeping our distance. But getting closer to Alex would only make it worse when he left.
When I said I was off to bed, Mia leaned her head on my shoulder. “Sorry I pushed you at him. I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I said, running a hand over her hair. “I think it would’ve happened anyway. There are worse problems to have.”
On my way to my room I paused at the entrance to the living room, watching Mia and Kitty burrow beneath the blankets and trying not to think about how, in a few short weeks, they’d be leaving me too.
—
That night, I jerked awake to the sound of my phone ringing. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, my heart in my throat when I saw it was almost two in the morning. The memory of my mother calling to tell me about Samson sharpened in my mind, and my hands shook as I answered the unfamiliar number.
“Is this Jo Walker?” The voice was the deep baritone of an older man. I didn’t recognize it. Could this be about Beth? My mother? Had something happened to one of them?
“Yes, that’s me,” I said.
“This is Officer Thomas with security at the Palm Beach Yacht Club and Marina.” My anxieties left my mother and sister and landed on Nina and Captain Xav. I clutched the phone with both hands, pressingit harder against my ear. “I have two teenage girls that say they’re your nieces. Mia and Kitty Taylor. They’re staying with you for the summer?”
“What?” I flicked on the lamp, wincing as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room.
“Ma’am?”
I covered my eyes with a hand. “Yes, they’re my nieces.”
