Olivia appeared in her doorway, looking much more relaxed since Neve had left. Which had been only five days ago. Olivia’s sister was coming back to help them do a spa day with Rita and the girls the next night, much to Olivia’s irritation. The therapist had spent Neve’s last night at the cabin reading in her room while her sister and Chase reorganized the kitchen and hung the new curtains over the formerly busted window that had gotten a new pane of glass. Chase realized that Olivia practiced avoidance when it came to Neve. She understood. Neve wasn’t the easiest of people. But even Olivia’s sister seemed to mellow as the minutes ticked by. At the end of the evening, Chase and Neve had even shared some laughs.

“What’s Zeke doing here?” Olivia asked, her hands braced on either side of the door.

Chase stood and roped her hair into a ponytail. Her roots had grown out so much that her hair looked ombré. Neve had said that when she came back, she’d bring some supplies to make Chase blonde again, but Chase wasn’t sure she wanted to go back to platinum highlights. Maybe embracing her light brown and layering in some caramel would give her a beachy honey look that would be less party girl. “Zeke volunteered to help me with the leaves.”

Olivia arched an eyebrow. “We talked about Zeke.”

“We did, but I decided that as an adult who is learning to navigate her own world, I can determine who my friends are. Full stop, Olivia.”

“Friends? You sure about that?”

Chase grabbed a sweatshirt she’d found in a closet that must have been Olivia’s grandfather’s. She’d managed to wash it without the red bleeding onto her ugly underwear Lorna had purchased, which was a lesson she’d learned the last time she’d done laundry. Thus she had a few pink pairs of underwear. Pulling on the sweatshirt that said WORLD’S BEST DAD, she looked at Olivia and practiced being vulnerable.

“I don’t have a lot of friends, Olivia. Not ones who want nothing from me. I know Zeke’s a little into me. I’m not blind. And I’m kinda into him if you want to know the truth, but I like having him as a friend right now. He’s not doing things to get me into bed. He’s treating me with kindness and respect. I can’t remember too many people in my life doing that for me. So, yeah, I’m going to rake leaves with my friend.”

Olivia blinked a few times. “Well, that was honest.”

Chase picked up the workbook. “I’m actually thinking about some things this time. I’m trying, Olivia. Just give me a little space and a little trust.”