LOGIN“It’s not,” I mutter quietly. “Damn right, it’s not,” Dad says. “That girl loves her family with everything she has.” Mom nods sadly. “Your dad is right, honey,” she says gently. “Jen would do anything for her family. She’s worked herself to exhaustion trying to graduate early so she can start bui
I barely sleep at night right now. Every time I close my eyes, I either see Jen crying in that hospital room or imagine her in San Francisco, finally deciding she was done with me for good. By seven in the morning, I have given up pretending sleep is going to happen. The house is quiet as I sit at t
Hours pass in a blur of punishment. By late afternoon, I finally collapse onto the bench near the weights rack, breathing heavily. Sweat is dripping from my jaw as I grab my water bottle and take a long drink. That is when my phone buzzes. I frown immediately when I see the name. Chase. I wince know
GregI wake up to pure silence. Not the comforting kind either. The kind that presses down on my chest and makes the entire house feel hollow. For a few seconds, I stare blankly at the ceiling above me, disoriented from the deep sleep I had crashed into sometime after dawn. My body aches from the fl
“There she is,” Sav says softly while glancing toward me. I smile faintly. “Yeah.” When we finally reach Sav and Chase’s place, I look around curiously while dragging my suitcase inside. The apartment feels warm. Lived in. Comfortable. Sav immediately launches into a dramatic house tour. “This is
I grip the armrest for the first few minutes of ascent until finally— Ding. The seatbelt sign is switched off. The plane has leveled out. And the medication has hit me fully. The tension slowly drains from my body like someone is releasing a valve. My eyelids have become heavier. The engine noise fa
“We will be fine, babe, I have confidence that your folks will love me and support our relationship.” I nod and revel in his confidence. He’s right, we will be fine, I just need to believe it myself. I have never been the one who lacks confidence. I have always executed it. Maybe I lost who I used t
I pick up the black dress and slid into the bathroom to put it on. It’s a short A-line black dress with sheer embellished sleeves and a lace-up back. It looks stunning on me. It hugs my curves and makes it look like I have legs for days. I fasten the top lace around the shoulders for the sleeves of
“Oh, come on now, dear, that is something at least. I trust Jennifer’s judgement, you should too.” I just hope Mom can calm Dad down to let me live my life and not be under their shadow for the rest of my life. I turn and look at my dad to see a contemplating look on his face. Is what Mom just said
“The guy is lying in a hospital bed with no memory of the last two years, for starters. You are dating a guy who has the same interests as Greg, and lastly, Greg is still in love with you even if he can’t remember what happened two years ago. This would probably kill him if he agrees and signs it.”







