This isn’t exactly something I can put in a text. I hang up and dial again, but an incoming call interrupts me. It’s a number I don’t know, but something makes me answer it.

“Hello?”

“Blake, it’s Zoey. I’m on Jacob’s phone.”

“Okay. What’s wrong with yours?”

That’s a relief because at least she’s not avoiding me. I’d started to get worried she was ghosting me, scared once again and retreating into her fears after I did so much to chase her out of them.

“Nothing, but uh . . .” There’s a pause, and I can feel her desire to say something.

“What, Zoey?”

“Did you get . . . have you seen . . . uhm, how. Was. Your. Day?”

The intentional directness of the question is obvious, and I realize she wants to talk about the same thing I need to talk to her about. But she wants to see if I know anything first.

“Are you talking about Yvette Horne’s lawsuit?” I ask.

A whoosh of air releases from her, and relief floods her voice. “Oh, thank God. Yes, and what the hell? And what are we going to do?”

I get the feeling her mind is spinning and she could ramble on and on with more and more questions.

“Nothing,” I reply simply.

“Nothing?”

“Well, not about the lawsuit. That’s between Yvette and Everlife, but—”

“I can’t see you anymore,” she blurts out.

“What?” Shock fires through me, hot and cold all at the same time.

“I mean, not until after the court hearing.”

Okay, that’s a little better, but . . . “Why? That has nothing to do with us.”

Us.

I like the sound of that. I’m finally one half of a couple, like Amy and Fernanda or my mom and dad. It feels good.

“It does, though. You’re named in the suit with Everlife, and I’m named as a witness. For the claimants.”

My heart stops, and I can’t help a little bit of anger filling my voice. “What? Why?”

It’s a stupid question, but I’m dumbstruck as I realize she’s right. In a criminal case, defense and prosecution witnesses being together would be a conflict of interest, but—

“Does that even matter in a civil case?” I’m reaching for straws, but she’s worth the risk.

“I don’t know! Maybe? Probably? I’ve never been called to court before, and I can’t fuck this up,” Zoey says with a sigh. At least this isn’t about her getting scared, but the retreat is the same, reaffirming that being with me holds some danger. Even if it’s legal risk, not life or death. “Especially if I want Jeff to look into Richard’s death more.”

I can’t help it, I growl at the idea of spending even a single day without her. “I see.”