VALENTINA
December 2nd, 2025
“I still don’t knowwhat to say to him.” I pick at my cuticles, not reaching for the door handle. Faith stares at me, and the heat of it is enough to scorch my cheeks red.
Finally, she sighs. “Do you want him in your life?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t kn?—”
“This isn’t the time to be afraid, V. You need to decide what you want, right now. Yes, you’ve been dealt the shittiest hand, and yes, you deserve to be sad and angry and afraid. But you also deserve to be happy. You deserve to be happy with someone, if you so choose.”
“I’m not afraid,” I hiss, continuing to stare at my hands. Her delicate fingers wrap around mine, stopping my picking. She squeezes, and I hesitantly meet her gaze. I’m met with a kind but steely gaze, and for the first time, I notice the flecks of gold glittering her green eyes. There’s iron running through her—strong and steady—and I try to draw as much strength from her as I can stand.
“You are, and you’ve every right to be, but don’t let them win, V. Be happy anyway.Fuck. Them.Do you want Rafael in your life?”
I nod, the lump in my throat making it impossible to say the words out loud.
She squeezes again, smiling softly. “Then go in and tell him that. The rest will happen.”
“What if I mess it up?”
Faith releases my hand and shrugs. “You will. Alot. But if he feels about you the way I expect he does, he’s not going to go anywhere. Besides, even if he does, so what? Life’s about taking risks, about dreaming and exploring new opportunities. You’re going to march in there and tell him how you feel, and tomorrow, I’ll take you to a therapist so you can also start working on you. Not for his sake, or anyone else’s. For you—only you. Because you deserve to show up for yourself, V.”
My lip wobbles as I try to work out what to say, but only a hushed whimper escapes. How did I get so lucky?What knight in shining armor brought this woman into my life?
A thought crosses my mind, and I have to struggle to say the words. “What if I hurtsomeone—” I lick my lips.
Faith’s eyes go round as understanding dawns in them. “He’s strong. He loves you and cares about you in his own way, but he’s not the right man for you, not even a little bit. You need someone who stands by your side, not in front of you.”
I nod, finding comfort in her words. In another world, I might feel anger, or even fear—what if she’s saying that so she can simply have McCrae to herself? But in this world, I only feel peace. She’s right—and I love McCrae back. He’s been my closest friend through more than I can ever repay him for, but I’m notin lovewith him. Finding Rafael has taught me that much.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She makes a shooing motion toward the car door, and I open it. “You’ll repay the favor. That’s what friends do.”
I climb out.
She turns the engine and drives off before I can reconsider. It’s tough love, delivered without a chance to be afraid, and I’m grateful. Even on her worst day, Faith would be doing things for the people she cares about, regardless of if it hurts. She’s going to show up and care about you whether you want her to or not.
There’s so much comfort in that.
I stand in the driveway for a long moment, breathing deeply, allowing the smell of fresh rain and musky horse to fill my lungs. It instantly calms me, and I smile despite myself.
I turn around slowly at the sound of a door closing to my back.
I face them, both men watching me with a silent scrutiny that has my toes curling.What if I’m wrong?What if I hurt them, or they hurt me?
But even as I think it, I know where my choice lies. It’s not even really a choice. In this life, I’ve wanted nothing more than to have my own agent, to make my own decisions. But I see them, and the choice has been made for me—not by them or anyone else,but by fate.
They are like two halves of the same dark moon—one pushing me into the steady, unrelenting shoreline that’s both safe but never changing, and one pulling me into the frigid, dark depths of the unknown to not only find them, but to find what lies within myself.
“Rafael?” His name is my undoing, the carefully curated and protected parts of my soul unraveling at his feet. His face splits into a warm grin, and to my surprise, McCrae’s face softens too. It’s not a smile, per se, but it’s acceptance, relief, even.
“I can make him leave,” McCrae grumbles, leaning his hip against the porch railing.
I roll my eyes, crossing my own arms. “I can protect myself McCrae.”
His face splits into a small grin at that, and he straightens. “I know.”
