Wow. No one had ever said something like that to me before. “When were you going to tell me?”

“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. But I’ve been back a few times since. And it was because of you.” He sat back to face me, one leg crossed. “I still have bad days, but I’m having good ones too. Ones where I can remember all the good memories of my grandpa and smile.”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d always felt like the one who needed someone to swoop into my life and save me. Powerless, weak. But being with Jack felt like the opposite.

For a moment, the whole world seemed to spin around us, and we were the center of the universe, just the two of us. He touched a hand to my cheek, thumb smooth against my skin, and I leaned into him, into that feeling.

“Elise seems like this strong person, but just because she can hurt people doesn’t make her strong. If anything, it makes her weak, always lashing out, always needing to prove how strong she is. And I know it seems like doing nothing is like admitting weakness, but it’s not. My grandpa used to say survival is a talent. You’re still here, you’ve survived so far, and you’ll survive this too, and whatever else comes your way.” He lifted my chin, cupped my face. And when we kissed, the breeze picked up and it felt like we were flying.

• • •

The house was silent when I came back, no one in the kitchen or living room, the office dark. But both cars were still in the garage, so I treaded lightly.

In the shower, I smiled, my eyes closed at the memory of us alone in the park, of us kissing on the bench, the feeling of his body beneath mine, of us in the water with no clothes on, nothing between us.

That night, I decided to move downstairs into the basement. I didn’t want to be trapped in my room anymore. I took my pillow and my charger, planning to sleep on the sectional and go back for the rest of my things later.

But I wasn’t alone down there. I saw him after I turned out the lights, in the backyard by the pool on one of the loungers, staring blankly at the water—my dad.

Surprised he was still here and buoyed by my talk with Jack, I wrapped a blanket around myself and walked over to him, sitting down in the chair beside his.

“Remy, hi,” he said, looking up.

We both turned back to the water, peaceful and still.

“Why don’t you just leave?” I asked, not looking at him. “Really leave.” It wasn’t exactly a question the way I said it. I’d been scared of the answer for as long as I could remember, but I didn’t care what it was anymore, as long as there was one.

Dad didn’t answer right away and I wondered if he’d heard me, but he finally sighed, acknowledging what I said.