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“You want my advice?”

I nodded.

Cole took a deep breath. “As worried as you are, tell him first. If he’s as wonderful as you make him sound, I bet he will be excited for you. And if you want me there⁠—”

I shook my head. “No. I appreciate that, but… it’s something I need to do on my own. He and Daphne get nervous about outsiders right now and I worry it will look like an erratic misstep.”

Cole raised his hands. “Fair.”

My phone rang.

“Shit,” I sighed. “That’s my agent.”

“Can you just ignore it? You just got out of the hospital, Chloe⁠—”

I shook my head. “I’ve been waiting—and dreading—this call.”

“I can go⁠—”

“No, stay. Please.”

Either out of need or desire for accountability, I wanted him there. I ran as far as I could. On the cliff’s edge, I had to take a leap. So, I answered. It was time to come clean.

* * *

COLE

I left while Chloe took her call. I sensed she was emotionally exhausted, but wanted it all out in the open. As I washed dishes, Meg reappeared. She'd been working in the office when we got home. I didn't want to ask too much about what was going on between Chloe and her. It wasn't my business, but their relationship confused me.

“I just finished up cancelling all her meetings for the next week.” Meg said.

I asked, “You can just… be her? You have access to everything?."

“Chloe never changes her damn passwords,” Meg sighed. “She's great with understanding social media and terrible with actually following the rules to protect her on the internet. That was my job.”

“I see.”

“Do you mind if I stay and just drink a glass of water and veg out? I could help you with the dishes.”

“Sure,” I said. “It’s not my house⁠—”

“You’re Chloe’s partner, so I am not here to step on toes.”

Chloe’s partner. It made my heart swell more than I anticipated. I was, but even hearing this stranger affirm it validated my feelings.

“I want to clear the air," Meg said, "and apologize for what you've heard. And... admit that I did everything I'm accused of. But that's not the whole story of who I am.”

I sat a clean plate on the drying rack. “I never accused you of it. I am friendly with the guy my ex-wife cheated with now. It was a long road, but our ending was... messy. There were lies told for my ex's benefit—lies that hurt me but... Piper, too. That's my kid.”

“Chloe mentioned her, yeah. She loves her, by the way.”

I smiled. “I know. It's written all over the way she talks about Piper—and talks to her. She's in Germany right now for school.”

“Chloe says she's really smart.”

“She is. She's got her mom's knack for language. Brynn is complicated and our situation was bad at the end, but... she's Piper's mom. I know a little bit about how your situation devolved and I think it's important to understand context. People make bad choices. It doesn't necessarily make them bad people.”

I thought about this and Chloe's white lie. What was the difference between Chloe and Brynn? Both made choices that ended in life-shattering changes. So, why did I give Chloe such a pass without a minute's notice? The ends had justified the means in a way. Chloe was misguided, but protecting Piper and I. Brynn had an affair that broke all our rules because it was easier for her. Chloe's choice wasn't convenient. It left her drowning and miserable while Brynn's choice allowed her to sidestep emotional vulnerability. I could give them both grace now, but for very different reasons.