They descended the stairs as a unit, but Luke’s heart pounded with dread and anxiety. Mr. and Mrs. Donovan had never tried to hide their contempt for the lowly dockworker who’d loved their fair-haired only child. Luke wondered if facing them would be any easier as an adult than it’d been as a kid. He doubted it.

The Donovans waited for them in the kitchen, their faces tight with displeasure. Sydney released Luke’s hand to hug and kiss her parents. They seemed to soften as they embraced their daughter.

“What’re you doing back so soon?” Syd asked.

“We were concerned about you being here alone all month,” her mother said with a pointed look for Luke. “But it seems you haven’t been alone.”

“Luke has been a great friend to me, Mom.”

“I’m sure,” Mr. Donovan said under his breath.

Luke knew if he didn’t get out of there—immediately—he was going to say something he’d regret. Because he was no longer nineteen and easily intimidated, he kissed Syd’s forehead. “I’ll see you later.”

Sydney followed him out of the house. “Luke, wait. Please don’t go.”

Turning to her, he hated the anxiety he saw in her expression. “It’s fine. You need to talk to them, and I need to go before I make it worse.”

She put her hand on his arm. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I know you don’t, and that matters, believe me.”

“Will I see you later?”

“That’s up to you.” He ran a finger over her cheek. “You know where to find me.”

“I’m sorry about this.”

He attempted a wry grin, hoping to boost her spirits. “Some things never change, huh?”

“And other things do. I’m not beholden to them anymore. I love and respect them, and I owe them so much for the way they propped me up after the accident, but they don’t run my life.”

He glanced at the house to find Mrs. Donovan peeking at them through the blinds. “I’m not the one who needs to hear that.”

“I know,” she said, resigned.

“This is the last thing you need on top of everything with Buddy. If you want me to disappear for a while, I can do that. Whatever you need.”

“Don’t you dare disappear on me!”

Her fierce tone drew a smile from him. “I’ll see you,” he said, stealing a quick kiss.

“Yes, you will.”

Sydney stood in the driveway until Luke’s truck disappeared from view, then squared her shoulders and went inside.

“Honestly,” her mother, Mary Alice, said, “what in the world are you doing with him?”

“And where’s Buddy?” her dad, Allan, added.