Fresh tears fall down her cheeks, and I tame my own, her words striking so many tender spots inside me while simultaneously warming them. The pain easy to absorb and breathe through.

“It’s okay⁠—”

“It’s not, Remi.” She grabs my hand on my leg, squeezing and reminding me she’s with me. “It was never acceptable. Miles was so angry with me. After I met up with Foster and still thought nothing was wrong, he broke up with me. He said I needed to grow the fuck up and realize how the world really works.”

That explains why when I searched social media for Sage Ricci last year, I didn’t find her. I post videos and documentary clips on my account RSFrames, and someone in a shot reminded me of her. She always said she would lock Miles down ASAP, so it felt like a safe bet. The thought was fleeting, though, and I never looked up Sage Teller.

“I’m sorry,” I say, but she shakes her head at me.

“He was right. My second year of nursing school, I took a class where we learned how to interact with patients who suffered domestic abuse. So much made me think of you. Things you’d say and do. The pillows—fuck, Remi, and the trellis.” She presses her lips together for a second and exhales. “Your mom never stopped using, did she?”

“No,” I whisper.

Sage nods. “In high school, I knew she took pills, but I thought it wasn’t a big deal, or else Chief Kane would do something about it.” Her gaze lowers. “And Roman taking you to your dad’s funeral because she was sick?”

“She was high.”

When she looks up, her face crumples. “Goddamn it. No wonder you skipped town.”

Anxiety lodges in my throat as I consider telling her the truth, but then there’s another knock.

“Hold on.” I leave her on the couch and check the peephole, then I whip around to her. “Did you skip over a rather important detail?”

She shrugs, lips curving up. “I was getting there.”

This time I’m at least prepared when I open the door—tears burn my eyes anyway.

“Hey, Rem,” Miles says. He charges in and flings his arms around me. “Your parking situation sucks.”

I laugh, but it’s half sob, and then I shove him away. “You fucking broke up with her? You unworthy asshole.”

He smiles and jerks me back into the hug. Tighter. Longer.

Once I pry him off of me, he takes off his coat and settles in next to Sage. Seeing them together in my tiny Tribeca apartment feels like a fever dream. In some ways it is, given the source of my everlasting fever sent them to me.