“But,” Riley continues, carefully, “what you and Tank have? It’s rare. It’s powerful. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t just happen.”
Sunny steps closer. “We’re not saying you should run to him,” she adds quickly. “Or forgive him overnight. Or pretend the past didn’t hurt like hell.”
Lila’s voice shakes when she joins in. “We’re saying… don’t close the door forever just because you’re afraid to hope.”
Eli meets my eyes, steady and sure. “You don’t have to choose him right now. Or even soon. But don’t erase the possibility of him earning his way back to you.”
My chest tightens.
“He spent years keeping you at arm’s length,” Eli continues. “If he wants you? He needs to work for it. Consistently. Loudly. Without you having to ask.”
“And onyourterms,” Riley adds firmly. “Not his guilt. Not his fear. Not what happened.”
Sunny reaches for my hand. “You deserve to be loved without hesitation. Without conditions. Without silence.”
I breathe through the ache building in my throat.
“What if I can’t handle hoping again?” I ask quietly.
“Then don’t,” Riley says simply. “Not yet.”
“Let him hope,” Lila says. “Let him prove.”
Eli gives a small smile. “And if he’s really the man we all think he is? He’ll wait. He’ll fight.”
Silence settles over us.
“I don’t want to be rejected again,” I admit. “I don’t want empty promises.”
“Good,” Sunny says. “Because what you deserve is effort.”
I nod slowly.
“I’m not closing the door,” I finally say. “But I’m not holding it open either.”
Riley smiles through her tears. “That sounds exactly right.”
And for the first time in days, the knot in my chest loosens just a little.
Chapter Eight
Tank
Abigail’s home.
She moved back inside the compound. Back into her house.
But she still won’t see me. Won’t talk to me. She won’t even fucking look at me.
Still… she’s home.
Safe.
“I’m taking Abby to work before heading to the store,” Skip calls out. “Text me your lists.”
“Oh, I’m not going in today,” Abby says as she walks into the compound’s common area. “Lila’s going to manage the shop for me, and I hired two more people.”
“I still can’t believe you’re trusting me to run the place,” Lila laughs. “I told you I have no idea what I’m doing.”
