“Get some sleep. I’m leaving for New York tomorrow, but we should have breakfast before I go.”

With one arm in the air, he waves me off. I smile, flip the light off, and turn to leave.

“I love you too, brother,” he says into the darkness, his raspy voice shaken, yet half asleep.

My smile deepens as I head down the hall to my room. One relationship on the mend, one more to go.

When I come back from New York, I’m going to get my girl back.

She’s mine and I’m not letting her go.

THIRTY-FOUR

WINTER

ONE WEEK LATER…

“Winter, hey.” My neighbor passes me as I slip through the front door of my apartment building.

“Morning, Tess,” I say, extra-large, six-shot, extra-hot, no whip, no foam, caramel latte in hand. I’m usually not the type. It’s not fall and I’m not a Kimberly, but I woke up with the extra weight of exhaustion today.

Then I checked my welcome mat for my daily reminder that Aleck exists and he’s broken my heart.

“Those deliveries at your door are filling up the hallway with the sweetest smells. My mouth waters all the way to work in the morning.”

I force a lazy laugh, pulling my sunglasses off my face. “Sorry—”

“No need to be sorry. Just share, girl.” She giggles, smelling all fresh and looking vibrant. I remember when life felt that optimistic. I used to giggle too. “Anyway, there’s another treat waiting for you, and it looks like it might be the most delicious one yet.” She winks, then she’s out the door.

Another gift. Wonderful. Every morning for the last week, I’ve woken up to a maple-flavored treat on my doorstep or a delivery with a note from Aleck. I’m impressed he was listening and remembered all those weeks ago, when we picked Sondra and Preston’s wedding cake together. I told him all the places me and my mom went for the best maple treats in town, and he remembered each one.

Monday I woke to maple-glazed donuts from Eddie’s bakery with a note that read, I miss eating ice cream with you at midnight.

Tuesday I found maple fudge from The Chocolaterie. It’s note read, I miss sleeping next to you. It was the only time in my life I felt safe in my dreams.

Wednesday he DoorDashed me a maple-spiced latte from Cavanagh’s Coffee House. That note read, I miss fighting with your stubborn ass. P.S. I miss your ass.

Yesterday he DoorDashed me maple-rum ice cream from Brawner’s Creamery with a note that read, I miss the way you would switch between Sister Winter, Baby Bulldog, and Aleck’s Winter based on your reaction to my antics. Aleck’s Winter was my favorite Winter.

And today, I woke to a box full of maple-on-maple cupcakes from Posh Pastries, a place I’ve never heard of before. They were insanely good. I ate three of them. Then I cried, called in sick from work, went back to sleep, woke, read the note that came with the cupcakes repeatedly, then cried again.