April’s grin turns sly immediately. “What is the fireman doing installing beds in your house?”
I laugh. “Actually… both Aiden and Finn helped move it in. And they even made the bed.”
They both stare at me.
“What?”
I huff out a laugh again, shaking my head, and start telling them everything that’s happened over the last three days.
A few hours later, we’re gathered around the table eating, talking over each other the way we always do. Even though we speak almost every day, there’s never a shortage of things to catch up on. Stories overlap, laughter comes easily, and for a while, it feels like no time has passed at all.
Still, now and then, I catch something in June’s expression that doesn’t quite match the moment, like she’s trying a little too hard to seem okay.
Eventually, I excuse myself, telling them I’m going upstairs to change into something warmer. The evenings cool off fast here, and the house always feels a little chillier once the sun starts slipping away.
When I step into my room, I stop.
There’s a neat stack of folded towels sitting in the middle of my bed.
I frown, moving closer, and then I notice the small piece of paper resting on top. My name is written across it in careful handwriting.
I pick it up.
I figured you might need clean towels, so I washed these for you. Please feel free to bring your laundry over to my house whenever you want to. I hope you have the best time with your sisters.
Aiden.
I read it twice.
The warmth that spreads through me catches me off guard, settling somewhere deep in my chest. It’s such a simple thing. Ordinary. Thoughtful in a way that feels almost intimate. I stand there staring at the towels, the note still in my hand, unsure what to do with the rush of feelings moving through me.
The door opens behind me.
“We are thinking about opening that tub of ice cream,” April says, then stops when she sees me. “What’s going on?”
I turn and hold out the note.
She takes it, reading it out loud, her eyebrows climbing higher with every line. “Holy shit,” she breathes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice June, tears sliding down her cheeks.
Not quiet tears. Full, shaking sobs that seem to surprise even her. April and I exchange a quick look before we both move toward her, wrapping our arms around her as she folds into us.
“Hey, hey,” I murmur. “What’s wrong?”
Neptune trots into the room, ears alert, circling us before pressing himself close as if he knows something isn’t right.
“I’m okay,” June says through tears, but she’s clearly not.
We ease her down to the floor, sitting with her while she cries. Neptune curls right in front of her, resting his head near her knee, watching her with concern.
She wipes at her face, but the tears keep coming.
“I’m sorry,” she says finally, voice cracking. “I don’t mean to make this about me, but this is so fucking sweet I can’t stand it.”
I rub slow circles across her back. “June… what happened with Luca? You know you can tell us.”
She takes a shaky breath.
