“Don’t. I was a snippy bitch before. Don’t feel guilty about this, Evie. This is your life, and what you said before you left is true. Your friends can’t stand still for you, but you can’t be our sidekick as our lives move forward. I don’t want you to be lonely,” she sniffled. “It kills me that you were lonely here.”

The tears that had been threatening let loose.

“You’re not lonely there, are you?”

“No.” I wiped at my cheeks, a small, fond smile softening my lips. “I’m not lonely here. It’s not like Chicago. This is a small village, Greer. Even when you’re single, you’re surrounded by friends. We meet at the pub almost every night and keep each other company. It’s nice.”

“It sounds nice. It’s also why I’m afraid you won’t come back.”

“My life is back in Chicago,” I said, the words automatic.

“Is it?”

For the first time, I paused.

Was my life back there?

Surely I couldn’t question that after only a month of staying in Alnster?

I gave a huff of laughter. “I’m sure after three months I will be sick and tired of tiny-village life. I’m a city girl.”

“Hmm.” Greer sighed again. “Have you told Josie?”

Josie was my mom.

My decision to stay in Alnster for three more months was based on a few factors. My mom was one of them, and I didn’t want to face her yet. “I left Phil a voice mail.”

“Evie,” Greer groaned. “That’s not fair.”

Feeling defensive, I scowled. “What? I tried to call. It went to his voice mail.”

“Did you try calling Josie?”

Indignation bubbled up within me, and I had to work hard not to sound irritated as I replied, “This isn’t about her. For once. So, no.”

“Okay, I won’t push it. You’re right, this is about you. You do what you gotta do.”

And just like that I melted, grateful to have a friend—no, a sister—like Greer in my life. “It means a lot to me that you would say that.”

“Well, I’m trying very hard right now not to be a self-involved dipshit, partly because it’s the right thing to do and partly because when I get off this phone and tell Andre you’re staying, he’ll give me this really disappointed look if he thinks I’ve been an unsupportive friend.”

I chuckled. “That must be some disappointed look.”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

“I love you, dipshit,” I said, trying not to get overly emotional on her.

“I love you too.” Her voice had started to break. “Okay, see you later.”

She hung up quickly, and I knew it was because she was seconds from bursting into tears. I told myself it was her hormones because Greer usually had a better handle on her emotions than this.