“All right. Friendly advice. Shoot.” As he spoke, he uncurled himself and lay flat on his back, but he did it so suddenly and explosively, it was almost like he had meant it literally when he’d said, “Shoot,” and someone had complied.

He did not open his eyes, though, which allowed her the freedom to examine him as she spoke. She had grown accustomed to his face. She no longer had the sense that they were hovering between then and now, that he was half boy and half man. He was, now, more familiar than strange.

“Sometimes…” She started slowly, trying to think how to phrase this. “People can end up exerting more control over you than is merited. But the funny thing is, if you really look at the situation, you’ll see that it’s not them controlling you so much as it’s you letting them control you. Giving them more power than they deserve.”

His eyes popped open, and she jumped a little. He didn’t move, though. “Are we talking about me and my dad or you and me?”

“We’re talking about you and your dad,” she said firmly. She had been doing that—giving Sawyer more power over her than was merited—but she wasn’t anymore. “I’m not saying he’s not a problem, or that you don’t have a right to react to him. I’m just saying that objectively speaking, he doesn’t have power over you anymore. You grew up. You made something of yourself.”

“My sister did, anyway.”

“No.” He blinked a few times, probably startled because she had spoken so sharply, but that pissed her off. “You made something of yourself. Sure, Clara did, or is on her way to it, but so did you.” He was trying to object, but she wasn’t going to let him. “You grew into a big, accomplished dude. You’re the freaking chief of police. You literally have all the power. But that’s not even the point—that’s just a nice little symbolic twist.”

“So what’s the point, then?”

“The point is, you grew up real nicely, Sawyer.” Should she say the rest? Well, why not? “I’m proud of you.” He seemed like he was gearing up to deflect, so she kept talking to head him off. “You use your power well. You’re fair. Everyone likes you. You’re a responsible adult. You won. You’re a good man.”

The way he kept lying there flat on his back was a little disconcerting.

The way a slow, self-satisfied smile blossomed on his face was a lot disconcerting.

“You really think I’m a big, accomplished dude?”

She shook her head, tamped down a smile, and changed the subject. “You built me a wall of bookshelves once before, remember?”

“Yes.” He sat up suddenly, all signs of laughter gone from his now-serious face. “Upstairs.”