Page 197

Old school books are still lined up on one of the shelves. There are toys shoved into a basket in the corner and I recognize a stuffed animal I haven't thought about in probably fifteen years.

I pick it up.

“No.”

Chiara turns, and her mouth falls open.

“Is that—”

“Yep.”

She takes it out of my hands. “Oh my God. I thought Mama threw that thing away.”

“You cried for three days when you lost it!”

“I was seven!”

“You were nine.”

“Fuck off.”

She hugs it to her chest. “I missed him.”

“You didn't even like him. He was mine.”

“He's mine now.”

“Give him back.”

“No.”

I try to grab him and she holds him above her head.

“Chiara!”

“You're twenty-seven!”

“That's my fucking bear!”

Someone laughs behind us, and we both turn to find Jude standing in the doorway.

Shit.

I lower my hands. “She stole my bear.”

He looks at Chiara, then at me. “Clearly.”

“Tell her to give it back.”

“Not getting involved.”

“Coward.”

His mouth twitches.

Dex appears behind him with the bags. “Can we decide where we're sleeping before you two start murdering each other over stuffed animals?”

I take my bear back from Chiara and put him on my old bed where he belongs.