“Okay,” Faith said, sounding unruffled. “Meredith suggested that Michael could use a friend. Greg had already planned to come over, though. He brought a bag in case you wanted him to stay for a few days.”

Dani tensed. “So you and Meredith talked.” Of course they had.

“We did,” Faith said levelly.

Tears stung Dani’s eyes and she swallowed hard. “What else did she tell you?”

Like she couldn’t figure that out on her own. Don’t hurt him. Please.

“That Michael could use a friend, like I said,” Faith said. “And that maybe you could, too.”

“Great,” Dani muttered, the tears stinging harder. “Pity, too. Just fantastic.”

“Knock it off, Dani,” Faith said sharply, then softened her tone at Dani’s involuntary gasp. “You know I love you. And, for the record, neither of us pities you. We might want to smack you upside the head, but we don’t pity you.”

Dani choked on a surprised laugh. “Well, okay.” She blinked, sending the tears falling, but she didn’t look away from the pot that trembled in her blurred vision.

Faith’s hands came into view, tugging the pot away. “You’re going to scrub off the copper plating and expose the metal, which’ll probably poison and kill you.”

Dani looked at her then, shaking her head. “Not one part of that makes sense, Faith. That’s not . . .” Then she saw the gentle compassion in Faith’s eyes and sighed. “You were kidding. Right.”

“Well, not about smacking you upside the head,” Faith said wryly. She handed Dani another pot, knowing she needed to keep her hands busy. Faith knew her well.

And loves me, Dani reminded herself.

Faith slid her arm around Dani’s shoulders, giving her a hard hug. “Talk to me, Dani. We’re all worried about you.”

Dani’s throat grew tight. “He left.”

There was a momentary pause. “Diesel?” Faith asked carefully.

“Yeah.” It came out a whisper, harsh and broken.

“Why?”

“I’m . . . I’m not sure.” Liar. The word he’d used bounced around her brain. Temporary. He thinks he’s temporary.

Because that’s what you told him. In words and deeds.

“Really? You really don’t know?” Faith’s reply was gentle, but firmly knowing.

“No.” Dani drew a breath when Faith’s hug tightened. “I . . . fucked it up. And I didn’t even mean to.” Liar. “Well, yeah, I guess I did.”

“How did you . . . fuck it up?”

Hearing Faith’s delicate repetition of the curse word almost made Dani smile. Almost. Then she remembered the look on Diesel’s face when he’d said he was temporary. I hate that word. I hate that I made him feel that way.

Right now, she hated herself, too. But that was nothing new.

Dani drew a careful breath because her chest was too tight inside. “He’s so nice. Too nice.”