“I talked to Priya. She told me word on the set after you left was that Austin was getting the job over me, and that the reasons for that were completely unfair. There was nothing you, or I, could have done. You’re right. I needed to walk off that set, and I needed to call Sasha and give her a piece of my mind because she more than anyone needed to stand up for me. And she didn’t. I’m glad I had you there to see what was really important.”

Cass leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes for a moment—during which time Charlie felt alarmed, as irrational as she knew that was—but she quickly opened them again. Her light brown eyes were bright and alert, and Charlie knew everything was fine. “Amazing, right?” her sister said. “That in the end, I’m the one who stood up for you?”

“Hey, you are way more assertive than you realize. I mean, that e-mail to Makewell’s? That was amazing. When I first saw it I thought it was out of character for you and I was concerned—but it wasn’t, not really. I’ve had a little time to sit here and think about that. You’re a strong person, Cass. Much stronger than you realize.”

Cass nodded her head, then winced.

“You okay?”

“Just a little tender. And you might be right. I know I’m in the hospital—and I know I’ve made some mistakes. But I feel strong. Meanwhile, I think all this has made you see a new side of yourself, too, right? You’d become so caught up in your life in L.A. I was starting to think you didn’t care about home anymore. That maybe you’d even lost a part of yourself. A part of you I loved.”

“I found that part again,” Charlie said softly. “And it’s thanks to you. Because being in your shoes made me realize the things that are really important to me. I’ve been sitting here thinking, for hours. And I’ve decided I’m going to call my agent later today and take a hiatus. I need to figure out what I really want from my life. I need a break.”

Cass squeezed her sister’s hand one last time, then let go and sat up, pulling her hair away from her face, revealing the dark row of stitches—but somehow, now they seemed less ominous.

Charlie expected her sister to say what she normally said when Charlie had a plan for her life. That’s a good idea, Charlie. You know what you’re doing. “Are you sure about that?” Cass said instead. “I think you need to reevaluate, sure. But a break? I don’t know about that. You’re Charlie Goodwin. You’re a hot commodity in L.A. You can do whatever you set your mind to. You just need to figure out what it is. As much as I wish it could be here in Starlight Peak, I don’t think that’s the answer. Not quite.”

Charlie flopped back in her uncomfortable hospital chair. “Except Jake,” she began.