I thought about everything she had given me without ever being asked.
Her son.
Her time.
Herself in ways I never asked for, without promises or demands.
And I had repaid her by turning her pain into an interrogation.
The realization landed slowly—and when it did, it hit hard.
I hadn’t wanted the truth.
I’d wanted reassurance.
I wanted her past neatly packaged so I wouldn’t have to sit with my own vulnerability—the fact that I had fallen for someone I couldn’t fully control or protect.And when that scared me, I’d lashed out.
That night at the bar, the final piece fell into place.
Harper had known her past. And he had loved her anyway.
Which meant the problem had never been Nyah.
It had been me.
My impatience. My entitlement. My belief that closeness gave me the right to answers she wasn’t ready to give.
I stared into my glass, the reflection staring back unfamiliar and humbled.I don’t need to know who she was before, I realized.I need to be worthy of who she is now.
By the time I pulled my phone out, my chest ached with something close to resolution.
I wasn’t owed her story.But I could still earn her trust—if I was brave enough to admit I’d been wrong.
I scrolled to Elle’s name and hit call.
31
NYAH
Elle called me at work to go over birthday plans.
“Sorry, Elle, but there are a couple of events happening at the hotel, and I need to be here. Let’s celebrate on the weekend. Besides, that will be easier for all of us.”
“Okay… actually, that does make more sense.”
When I hung up, I slumped back in my chair. The day had been long and endless, and by 11:30 p.m., I finally admitted defeat. I was done. Lucas and Oreo were at Elle’s for a sleepover, which meant my apartment would be quiet.
By the time I stepped out of the elevator in my building, my legs felt heavy—like I’d been moving on borrowed energy all evening. I dragged my feet down the hallway, already rehearsing the relief of collapsing into bed.
My phone rang.
Caleb.
It was almost three in the morning in New York. He hadn’t called or messaged since he left. For a second, I just stared at the screen, my heart thudding.
“Hi,” I answered finally. “Is everything all right?”
“Hi. Yes, everything’s fine. Why does something have to be wrongfor me to call you?”
