Her brother moves me away, taking me by the collar. “Leave, if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.”

“Try, do whatever you want. I don’t give a fuck anymore.”

He can’t kill me.

I can’t breathe. He doesn’t understand what’s happening. She took my heart and she’s leaving.

Twenty-Four

Claire

Six months after leaving Colorado…

Google knows shit. For the past two weeks I researched how to avoid visiting my family, and there wasn’t any sensible answer. According to Mom, the birth of my second nephew (Nikki’s third child) makes it impossible to delegate. At least I was able to avoid the trip for six months.

It’s not about avoiding my family. It's about avoiding him.

Miller fucking Archer. He’s the last person I want to see, and if I want to make sure that it doesn’t happen, I have to avoid all the places where he can be. Like Denver. Up until now, I have been able to avoid everything.

It’s not that I want to forget him. Nope. Actually, I want to erase him from my story. Rip off the chapter we lived together. But even when I know it’s been over, my heart still feels him. My mind hasn’t stopped thinking about him. My soul can’t stop missing him.

The distance and time haven’t healed me just yet. If I could, I would stay in New York. I’ve tried my best.

In late August, Thomas offered to pay my ticket, if I helped him kick his now ex-girlfriend out of his apartment. Thank you, but no thank you. First, why would I want to do such a thing? He screwed up by asking her to move in when he wasn’t ready.

I knew that wasn’t going to last long. Did he listen to my warning? Nope.

Why on earth he moves in with every woman he dates is beyond me. I already told him to stop picking up women who are expecting a ring—or to stop promising shit. Moving in together means shit is getting real for most people.

As my plane lands, I text the family. Since I moved out, we created a family chat and we use it all the time. Even Craig is part of it.

Claire: Landed.

Thomas: Are you sure you don’t want me to pick you up?

Claire: I rented a car but thank you. 

While I’m in town, I want to visit Courtney and Madeline. We haven’t spoken much since they came back from the cruise. The last time I saw them, they were taking a cab to the port where they were going to board a cruise—and left me alone with the asshole we don’t speak of.

Mom: Nikki’s already at the hospital.

Craig: The baby is almost here.

Claire: I’ll be there soon.