Saanvi bites her bottom lip. “I like to think so.” She waves a hand. “Enough about us. Tell me how you two got together.”

I swallow hard and let my gaze drift back to the woman in question. “She’s been part of my life for most of her time in Jackson Harbor. She knows my brother Ethan from the hospital and is friends with my sister and my sisters-in-law, so she’s always around, but she was reluctant to get involved with me.”

“Because of your job?”

I nod. “I didn’t know that was the reason at first.” Four years, and she never breathed a word about my profession being an issue for her. Has she told Shay or Nic about Heath, or is he a secret she’s kept from everyone?

“It was hard when she lost Heath. She was . . .” Saanvi shakes her head. “She wasn’t herself afterward. And Heath might not have been my favorite person, but I hate that she had to lose him like that. His death made her lose a piece of herself that she’s never managed to reclaim.”

I have so many questions I want to ask, but I don’t—not just because I should probably already know all of the answers, but because I owe it to Teagan to get information about Heath from her and no one else. “Do you think he knew how lucky he was?”

Saanvi seems to consider this for a beat. “I think most people don’t know the value of what they have, but Heath seemed to at first. Then things changed, and . . .” She shrugs. “Maybe that’s normal. But we were talking about you. About what you love about my sister.”

I drag a hand through my hair and grin. “Everything, Saanvi. There’s honestly nothing about her I don’t value.” My stomach knots, because I know it’s true. “She makes me laugh when I don’t think I can anymore. And she cares about everyone around her. That’s why she’s such a good nurse and friend, and why she fits so well with my family.”

“She loves your family. She talks about them all the time. Especially the little girl—what’s her name?”

“Lilly.”

“Yes, Lilly! Teagan loves her, and I think she’s ready to trade our mom in for yours.”

I smile, thinking of the way my mom feels about Teagan and her none-too-subtle request that I turn pretend into something real this weekend. “Mom loves Teagan, which is the true test of character. I mean, my mom likes everyone, but she’s selective about who she’d want for her boys, and she’s been wishing Teagan and I would end up together for a long time.”

“It looks like her wish came true.” Saanvi’s so damn sincere, and I understand why Teagan hates lying to her. I wish she’d let Saanvi in on the ruse. “I’m glad she has that here—even if it means she might never come back home.”

“She misses you,” I say, and Saanvi nods, the feeling clearly mutual. “Did you two always get along?”