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“Yes.”

Brooklyn is silent for a moment. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, weighing up what to say next. Deciding whether he should lecture me or not. He decides against it. “Does she make you happy?”

“Very.”

“Can you make it work?”

“We’re trying. We told Pearson everything today.”

“Really?” he asks, surprised.

“Really.”

“What did he say?”

“He still has to decide what to do.”

“It’s good that you talked to him. Better than if he found out because you got caught.”

“Probably. We’ll see.” I look around for a parking space as I reach my street. “Listen, Brooks, I have to go, okay?”

“Sure. And, Phoenix, feel free to get in touch from time to time.”

“I will,” I say.

He snorts. “You won’t.”

“I’ll try, okay?”

“Hm. I’ll be waiting. See you soon, bro.”

I say goodbye to Brooklyn and hang up. A cold wind whips against me as I get out of the car and cross the street.

My apartment is quiet and dark, and for a moment, I think Lia has gone back to school, but then I walk into the bedroom and see her silhouette in my bed. She hasn’t closed the curtains, and pale moonlight is streaming into the room.

Lia has curled up into a little ball wearing one of my sweatshirts, her long blond hair fanning out around her head. She’s fast asleep, even though it’s not that late. But the last few days have been exhausting. Not physically but emotionally.

I sneak into the bathroom as quietly as possible, brush my teeth, and get undressed before closing the curtains and lying down next to her. When I put my arm around her waist and pull her close, she makes a sleepy sigh.

“You’re cold.” Her speech is muddled, she’s barely awake.

“Sorry. Go back to sleep. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I kiss her neck, and she sighs contentedly.

“Falling asleep and waking up together, Phoenix,” she murmurs.

“Yes. Falling asleep and waking up together, Ophelia,” I whisper back, but her breathing is already slowing down again and becoming heavier.

My heartbeat matches hers, as does my breathing. Holding her in my arms makes me feel warm. It’s actually too early for me to sleep. I’m not tired yet. Still, my eyes are closing.

Falling asleep together, I think. And waking up together.

Chapter 58

Ophelia

I’m staying with Phoenix for the weekend. He’s not there the whole time because he’s spending half of Sunday with Olivia, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s the first time in months that I’m not spending a weekend in a studio dancing, and something about that feels a little bit like healing.

Instead of dancing, I lie on the sofa all day watching nineties rom-coms while I wait for Phoenix to return.