I sank down onto the couch and tried to ignore the destruction I’d barely made a dent in. “Thanks for getting me dinner.”

Ford reached over and grabbed my hand. The warmth of it felt so good, so reassuring, and I hated myself just a little bit for letting it rest there. This man had belonged to my sister for most of our lives. And even though my heart had claimed him, he hadn’t been mine. “Come stay with me for a few days. At least until we can clean all of this up.”

I shook my head and slipped my hand out of his. I couldn’t. For a million different reasons. But most of all, because I knew that if I left now, I’d never come back. I needed to reclaim my space. Exorcise any nasty energy lingering around and make the place mine again. Maybe Caelyn could burn some of that sage she was so fond of. “I need to stay here.”

“Not even my mom could convince you, huh?”

My gaze snapped to Ford’s. “You’re the one who had her talk to me, weren’t you?” Kara had used her best concerned-mom voice and had made me feel awful for refusing to stay with Ford, but I’d known I needed to be here.

He shrugged. “I can neither confirm nor deny those allegations.”

“You’re the worst.”

“No, I’m worried.”

The concern in Ford’s expression had my anger melting away. “I’m sorry. I just—I have to stay. I need to make it mine again.”

Ford sighed, taking dishes out of the bag and spreading them out on the coffee table. “I get it. I really do. I just don’t like it.”

“Kenna and Caelyn are coming over later, and Kenna’s going to spend the night. I won’t be alone.”

“That’s something, I guess.”

My lips curved into the first smile I’d cracked all day. “I’ll be safe, Cupcake. I promise. I’ve got my mace and that bat from when I convinced you I wanted to try out for little league.”

Ford shook his head and grinned. “You always did have a mean swing.”

“This time, I’ll just be aiming for an intruder’s junk.”

Ford let out a choked laugh. “I’ll be extra careful to announce myself before entering this apartment.”

“Smart man.”

We ate, mostly in silence. If we spoke, it was about nothing serious. The food helped, but it also made me realize just how tired I was. I groaned as I pulled my legs up onto the couch. Ford caught one of my feet and then the other, tugging them onto his lap. He took the left one and began digging his thumbs into my sock-covered arch.