Lori's voice stayed level. "There are no sides. There's just Ethan."
"There's always sides. And you made sure he picked yours."
Lori stood perfectly still, giving him nothing.
"If that were true," Lori said, "why would he be standing here listening to you instead of walking away?"
Kevin had no answer for that.
"Just go." Ethan's voice had steadied. "We can talk when you actually want to hear what I have to say."
"I came here to listen."
"No. You came to get what you want. Like always."
Kevin glanced around the room, at the faces watching him. For a moment he seemed almost human—hurt, confused, realizing he couldn't charm or argue his way to the outcome he wanted.
Then it was gone.
"Fine." He straightened his collar, a gesture so practiced it was probably unconscious. "We'll figure this out later. But this isn't over."
He walked to the door, pausing long enough to look at Lori one more time.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it? Him choosing you over me. Congratulations."
The door slammed behind him—harder than necessary, whether by accident or on purpose.
Nobody moved.
Ethan dropped onto the couch, pulling out his phone without looking at anyone. Carrie gathered the groceries and retreated to the kitchen; Tom waited, then settled on the opposite end of the couch, saying nothing.
After a minute, Ethan stood. "I'm going to the pool," he said to no one in particular.
Tom nodded. "Max is out there."
Ethan left through the side door. Tom caught Carrie's eye and tilted his head toward the deck. "I'll give you some space," he said, and stepped outside.
A moment later, Lori followed Carrie into the kitchen, moving on autopilot, her body going through motions while her mind caught up.
Carrie started putting groceries away.
At the counter, Lori leaned back and covered her face.
"I wasn't here," she said, muffled through her fingers. "I should have been here, and I wasn't."
"You couldn't have known." Carrie didn't stop moving, hands finding the right cabinets.
"I should have known. Kevin always does this. Shows up when he's not expected, makes himself the victim, walks away acting like everyone wronged him." She dropped her hands. She wasn't crying, but she was close. "I knew he'd pull something like this."
"He handled it," Carrie said.
"He shouldn't have to handle it. He's seventeen. This isn't his job."
Carrie didn't have a response for that, because Lori was right.
Carrie finished with the groceries and turned to face her friend. "He said it. The thing you've been holding back—about Kevin moving on while Ethan's still trying to figure out how to live with what happened." She leaned against the opposite counter. "You couldn't say it. He could."
Lori inhaled sharply. "Part of me is glad," she admitted, her voice small.
