My head continued to shake. “I’m not hungry. Enjoy your pizza,” I said, my voice void of all emotion as I turned and started to head toward the basement. After a few steps, I turned back toward Rory. “I don’t know how God feels about you and Rose.” I shrugged. “I just know that I’ve felt lost for the past five years. The lie didn’t protect me. And my reaction the other night wasn’t really to Rose … or you and Rose. I know this because I’ve had time to sort through my feelings. It wasn’t Dad. It wasn’t even your arrest that destroyed our family; the fact that you tried to live the wrong life … that’s what destroyed us. And it might take me awhile to come to terms with everything, but I can imagine it must have been painful to find the right person at the worst possible time.” I kept my attention laser focused on Rory. Had I given Fisher the quickest of glances, I would have lost it.

Rory returned a smile. It was a little sad and a little relieved. “Thank you.” Tears shined in her eyes.

* * *

After I unpacked and tossed in a load of laundry, I grabbed one of Rory’s beers from the fridge and took a seat on the porch, music flowing from my phone and my gaze on the sun setting behind the mountains.

“I fucked myself.”

I didn’t want to grin as Fisher stood at the door to the porch, but I couldn’t help it. I took a swig of the beer to hide my grin.

“I’m pretty good.” He stepped onto the porch and sat in the rocker where Rory usually sat.

“I don’t doubt that.” I rubbed my lips together. “But what do I know? I’m just an asshole.”

Fisher eyed the beer in my hand, but he didn’t say anything about it. “Rory grilled me on what I said to you while she was gone. Thanks for that.”

I nodded. “You’re welcome.” After a long pause of silence, I caved. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her I used a lot of swear words around you.”

“And she believed you?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I guess so.”

I took another big swig of beer, praying for a little buzz to soothe my nerves.

“What are you going to do, Reese? Move back to Texas because your mom is going to Hell?”

“I don’t know, Fisher. Would that make me a total asshole?”

“Probably.”

I rolled my eyes and refocused on the view. “Well, you would know what it’s like to be a total asshole.”

“Why? Because I wouldn’t fuck you?”