“I’ve been ringing and ringing the bell,” she said in confusion. “I couldn’t get anyone to answer. Where’s Tia? I noticed her car’s gone, so I felt it might be okay to let myself in. I brought you both some quiche and mimosas for New Year’s Day. If you were gone, I was just going to leave them on the counter.”

He finally looked at her. “I think Tia went back to LA.”

Concern immediately erased Aiyana’s smile. “What happened? Does she have another photo shoot?”

“No. She’s gone for good. She took her things with her.”

“But...why? I thought she was staying for another couple of weeks.”

With a sigh, he faced the sunrise again. “I screwed up and said something I shouldn’t have.”

Aiyana didn’t speak right away. She just pulled on his arm, urging him toward the house. “It’s freezing out here. Can we go inside?”

He didn’t care if it was cold. He didn’t even feel it. But he cared about Aiyana, so he let her lead him back to the living room.

“Maybe this is something we can fix,” she said.

He shook his head. “No. I deserve it.”

“We all make mistakes, Seth. That’s what forgiveness is for. A relationship is never only smooth sailing. You of all people should know that.”

He scratched his neck. “I’ve got too many issues. She’ll be happier with somebody else.”

“What if she isn’t? What if the two of you are meant to be together?”

Normally, he would’ve said that no one could replace Shiloh. He’d believed that ever since he’d lost her. But something had definitely changed. “There’s nothing I can do,” he told her. “She won’t even talk to me.”

“And you’re going to give up that easily?”

He didn’t answer.

“Do you love her?”

If he didn’t love her, would he feel this way?

“You need to decide,” his mother said. “Because if you love her, you owe it to yourself to make that clear. You owe it to her, too.”

Tia was awakened by a knock at the door. Afraid it was her neighbor, using the excuse of asking if she wanted her succulents back to have an opportunity to engage her, she almost didn’t answer. She couldn’t face returning to her old life quite yet. She needed some time to cope with this latest setback.

Intent on going back to sleep while she was still groggy enough to do so, she grabbed the throw blanket at her feet and drew it up over her. Shut out the noise. Fade back into oblivion, she told herself.

But then she heard Seth’s voice: “Tia, it’s me. Will you answer the door? Please?”

How had he found her?

She guessed it wasn’t too difficult. Maxi had her address. He’d probably provided it.