Mom skimmed the whole profile and glanced up with genuine amazement rounding her eyes. “She’s gorgeous! And so impressive. I take back what I said before. I’m happy for you, and I hope it works out. Do your best!”

He’d forgotten how it felt to have her smile at him proudly; it probably hadn’t happened since he got admitted to college. “Thanks,” he said, hoping she wouldn’t notice the ironic edge to his tone.

She didn’t. “I’ll help you pack the car. Many hands make light work!”

That was one of her favorite truisms, trotted out when she wanted him to help with some shit he didn’t want to do. “Thanks.”

It was faster with her carting and loading alongside him, though. Soon he had everything, and the trunk and back seat were filled to the brim. “Anything I left behind, you can sell or donate. I’ve sorted through everything fully.”

“I love you,” she said, ignoring his comments on disposing of his remaining junk. “It might not seem that way, and I’m sure it appears that we favor your brother, but he’s…easier. He likes approval, and he works for it. You…you are not motivated in the same way. It’s tough to know what to say, and you’re—”

Don’t say “sensitive.”

“—sensitive.”

Of course. He couldn’t count how often he’d been called that, usually in a derogatory fashion. In this house, it was never a compliment.

“Moody,” Barb added, as if she hadn’t said enough already.

“Yeah, well, I’m someone else’s problem now. Take care.” He got in the car, grateful he still had some cash and gas in the tank.

This was a huge leap of faith, entrusting himself to someone he’d just met, but Leanne seemed to have a plan, and that was more than Trev had. He backed out of the driveway and drove across St. Claire to the gated community where Leanne lived. As promised, she had a card waiting for him with the guard; he just had to show ID to claim it. Then he scanned the pass card and found a place to park. She’d said she would register his car and get him an assigned spot, but visitor parking would do for now.

He grabbed the first box and took the elevator up. The pass code worked too. I can’t believe this is actually happening. When he went in, he found Junie still in the condo, and she beamed as he carted the first box into Leanne’s bedroom. Junie would think it was weird if he stashed his stuff elsewhere.