“Jace.”
“What? I’m reforming.”
“You are unbelievable.”
“And yet here I am, Bells, offering to give up my exciting academic career to walk with you into places you’d rather not go alone.”
Her expression relaxes slightly as she takes a deep breath.
“Bells, if you want me to come with you today, I will.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
She searches my face for a second before she nods, eyes shining.
“Thanks.”
We quietly eat our toast.
The coffee tastes like shit, but we still drink it. She watches me over the rim of her mug—studying me as if she’s trying to decide whether I am about to say something stupid.
“You know,” I say, setting my mug down, “I noticed something.”
“Oh no.”
I almost smile at that. “You haven’t told Sam or Aubrey about your dad.”
Her shoulders go tight.
“I would have seen them by now if you had,” I continue. “They would be here, hovering, bringing blankets and tea, asking seventeen questions, doing that intense girl comfort stuff where nobody actually breathes.”
She gazes into her coffee.
“That’s because I didn’t tell them,” she says softly. “Not because I don’t love them.”
I wait for her to continue.
“But they have been distant,” she admits. “I noticed it more after Sam got with Reece. They just… don’t have time for me anymore I guess.”
The words are cautious, but they still hurt.
“And I don’t blame them,” she adds quickly. “They have their person now. I get that. I really do. It just…” Her voice wavers. “Sucks.”
I nod slowly.
I understand it better than anyone. I’ve been alone most of my life. That shit is familiar.
“You feel alone,” I say.
She nods without looking at me.
“You’re not alone, Bells,” I tell her.
She finally raises her eyes.
“You’re not,” I repeat. “You still have them. Even if they are distracted. And you have me.”
