“I’m here,” she says immediately, like she can see the exact second I go from ready-to-fight to completely thrown. One hand lands on her hip, the other still holding her keys. “I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.”
My brain takes a second to catch up. “You—” My voice comes out rough, unused. I clear my throat, try again. “What are you doing here?”
She lifts her chin slightly, eyes sweeping over me in onequick, assessing pass that misses absolutely nothing. Not the scruff. Not the clothes I’ve been wearing too long. Not the fact that I look like I’ve been merely existing the past couple of days.
Her mouth tightens, just a fraction. “Before you say anything—yes, I know you didn’t give me a key. Yes, I know you’re going to ask how I got one. We can circle back to that.”
“Emma, I don’t need this now.”
“Ty,” she cuts me off, stepping further into the condo, like she’s already decided she’s staying. “I’m here with love.” Then she adds, very deliberately, “But I’m also about to be tough.”
I huff out something that might’ve been a laugh in another lifetime, dragging a hand through my hair. “No one can be as hard on me as I’ve been with myself, trust me.”
She takes another step closer, her gaze softening just a little now, but not enough to let me off the hook. Not even close.
“When’s the last time you slept?” she asks.
I open my mouth to respond but end up slamming it shut.
“Ty.”
“I don’t know,” I mutter.
Her jaw flexes. “And showered?”
I glance away.
“Okay,” she says, like she’s checking things off a mental list she absolutely came in here with. “I had a feeling we were here.”
“Emma—”
“Nope.” She lifts a hand, stopping me before I can even try to deflect. “You don’t get to ‘Emma’ me right now. You’ve been off the grid for five whole days. Your phone goes straight to voicemail. Liam reached out to me.” She gives me a look.
Silence settles between us for a second as she studies me, something in her expression shifting. The edge is still there, but there’s concern layered underneath it now. Worry. The kind she’s trying very hard not to lead with.
“What happened?” she asks, quieter.
I look at her, then past her, then down at the floor again,because I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know how to put it into words without everything unraveling further.
“I…” I exhale, the sound rough. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
It’s not the full answer. It’s not even close, but it’s the truth.
Emma lets it sit, lets my words breathe, like she knows if she pushes too fast, I’ll shut down completely. Then she steps closer, right into my space, close enough that I can’t pretend she’s not here, can’t pretend I’m fine.
“Okay,” she says, steady and sure. “Then we’re going to figure it out.”
I let out a small, humorless laugh. “You got a plan for that?”
“Step one,” she says, nudging my shoulder as she moves past me toward the hallway, like this is already in motion whether I’m ready or not. “You’re getting in the shower.”
I stare after her. “Like it’ll help?”
“Step two,” she calls over her shoulder, already halfway to the bathroom, “you’re going to eat something that didn’t come from a vending machine, nor is it laced with sheer neglect.”
I drag a hand down my face again, but there’s something different in my chest now. I don’t feel so alone, thanks to my sis showing up like a superhero.
“And step three,” she adds, stopping in the doorway and glancing back at me, “you’re going to talk to me. Probably Dr. Hale, too, but we’ll dip our toes into the water with me first.”
