When it finally shuddered to a stop, they stepped off onto a catwalk that ran for twenty feet until it terminated at a second steel door. Ethan swiped his card again. The lock buzzed. He pulled open the door and they moved outside into a wall of shocking cold.

“What is this place?” Theresa asked.

“Discovered it a few nights ago when I was up and couldn’t sleep.”

The clouds from earlier had blown out.

The stars were stunning.

Bright and sharp.

They stood in a path that had been carved three feet down into rock. On either side, the mountain fell away into oblivion.

He said, “I think people come up here to smoke, to get fresh air. It’s the fastest way to see actual daylight without having to take the tunnel into town. They call this trail the sunroof.”

“How far does it go?”

“All through these high peaks. If you stay with it, I’m told it winds down into the forest west of the cirque.”

They strolled the knife-edge ridge.

Ethan said, “After we beat the shit out of each other, Adam and I talked.”

“That sounds like borderline adult behavior.”

“He said you chose me.”

Theresa stopped, faced him.

He could feel the cold nibbling at the edges of his cheeks.

“It came down to a pretty simple choice for me, Ethan. Would I rather love or be loved?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Adam would do anything for—”

“So would I—”

“Will you listen? I told you I’d never been loved the way Adam loves me, and I meant that. But I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. There are times I hated myself for it. Because I felt weak. When I wished I could’ve just hardened myself to you and walked away, but I could never do it. Even after Kate. It’s like you’ve got some kind of hold on me. It’s a precious thing, Ethan, and you’d better care for it. You’ve hurt me before. Badly.”

“I know I’ve fucked up in the past. I know I haven’t treated you the way you deserved to be treated.”

“Ethan—”

“No, now it’s my turn. I ruined things. Hell, I ruined everything. With my work. With Kate. With not dealing with my shit from the war. But I’m trying, Theresa. Ever since I woke up in this town, I’ve been trying. Trying to protect you and Ben. Trying to love you the best that I possibly could. Trying to make the right choices.”

“I know you have. I see it. I see what we could be. It’s all I want. All I’ve ever wanted.” She kissed him. “You have to promise me something, Ethan.”

“What?”

“That you’ll go easy on Adam. We all have to live together in this valley now.”