As Flynn and I stand looking at each other, the joking from a minute ago is gone, and he looks at me seriously.

“Watch out for her, Forrest, she’s more fragile than we realize.” And I can see the care and compassion in his eyes.

“I know, and as much as we butt heads, I care about her and won’t let anything happen on my watch. She doesn’t understand why I brought her here yet, but she will. Hating me will be the best distraction she has to stop her thinking about the outside world.” And I can tell he totally appreciates my motives.

But then he shocks the hell out of me with his reply.

“Keep telling yourself that, Brother. You care way more about her than you are prepared to admit to yourself. But I’ve been there, and eventually those walls will break. And when they do, I can tell you it’s the best thing that will happen to you.”

For the first time in my life, I feel like Flynn truly sees me deep down behind all the facades that I have up.

Taking a breath, I reply the only way I know how to. “My walls aren’t the problem.”

The sound of the girls coming out of the bedroom puts an end to the discussion, and I’m grateful because this is not a discussion I want to continue.

HARPER

“You look exhausted.” Felisha stands in front of me, pointing out the obvious.

“I’m actually too tired to even argue with you that you’re wrong.” I sit down on the edge of the bed and take time to look around me.

“Do you want me to help you unpack?” She sits beside me on the bed, resting her hand on my leg.

Part of me wants to say yes, but I know she is as tired and stressed as I am, so I don’t want to keep her here. She needs to go home with her fiancé and forget about me for the rest of the night.

“No, it will give me a reason not to have to deal with that grump out in the living room.” Both of us have a little giggle, and I rest my head on her shoulder just for a minute to try to ground myself.

This morning, I woke up to a normal chaotic day on my schedule, threw in a chat with my family and the board meeting from hell, but I had no idea that it would end like this. Me living with Forrest and some guy in the US stalking me online.

After we sit here for a few minutes in silence, Felisha speaks softly. “He’s a good guy, you know,” she says, giving my leg a squeeze.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make him any less of an asshole,” I mumble.