Sighing, Annika got up from her tufted office chair, sat on the settee, and motioned for June to join her, which she did, her eyes full of questions. Annika studied their thighs, pressed against each other. They’d sat on this settee together and had countless conversations over the past almost-year. She wondered if this would be one of the last times.

“Hudson and I broke up.” She heard the words fall into the room, harsh as broken glass, pricking all the soft parts of her.

An intake of breath from June. “Broke up? So … were y’all together?”

Annika bit her lip, blinking back tears that were threatening to fall. She played with her seaside charm bracelet as a way to distract herself. When she was able to speak again, she said, “I guess not. We weren’t dating or anything, not officially, but … I wanted to be with him, June. It was all a big misunderstanding, though. He’s not ready to give up Break Up at all. He’s willing to hurt himself by not being true to his heart or what he wants. And I just can’t reconcile myself to dating him when he hasn’t figured any of that out.” She brushed at the tears about to spill from her eyes. “And it fucking hurts and it sucks but that’s just the way it has to be.”

June’s arm snaked around her shoulder. “I’m sorry, sweetpea,” she said, her voice choking up, too. They’d both cried so much during the past two days. “I’m so sorry.”

“It feels like almost everything’s going to shit,” Annika said, shaking her head. “But at least I have my dad back now. I have to focus on that.”

“And you have me,” June said firmly, kissing the side of her head. “That’ll never change.”

Annika gave her a rueful look. “What about if you and Ziggy decide to get married?”

June scoffed. “Me, get married? Not until I’m at least thirty.”

Annika didn’t believe that for one second, but she didn’t say so. “Right.” She smiled. “I am happy for you, though. Please don’t feel like you have to hide your relationship stuff from me just because Hudson and I…” She swallowed, trailing off.

“I don’t,” June said quietly. After a while, she added, “You deserve to be happy, you know. You told me you said that to your dad, but you deserve it, too. And I know in my heart you’ll find it one day.”

Annika was able to muster up a wan smile, though she wasn’t nearly as optimistic as June. “Thanks, babe. That means a lot to me.”