The car is waiting, and I get in the back with my mother and father, and Matthew gets in the front behind the wheel. The reporters try to take our picture, but I turn my head, and when we are away, I ask the question again. “Where is she?”

“At your place,” Matthew says. I look at his eyes in the rearview mirror, and I know he isn’t telling me something. The drive home takes more time than I care for, and when I get out of the car, my father calls my name before I take a step toward the elevator. I look back at him, and he stands there with my mother beside him.

My mother has tears running down her face. “Justin, we need to talk,” my father says.

“Dad, it’s really not a good time,” I say and try to turn around.

“I think this is the best time,” he says. “Justin, you have to take a second.” I turn and look at my parents. “I get that you have a connection with this woman, but, Justin …”

“What are you saying?” I look at my parents who have been by my side my whole life. By all of our sides without thinking twice. No matter how many times we fucked up, the only thing that was the same was their support for us.

“I’m saying you need to walk away,” my father says, and now my mother talks.

“You want to save her,” she says, and I shake my head. “I know how much you care for her and Dylan, but, Justin, this situation …” She swallows. “Justin, it’s not safe.”

“What the fuck?” Matthew says under his breath.

“Listen to us for a second,” my father says. “We always have your best interests at heart. Always.”

“Obviously not always,” I say, putting my hands on my hips.

“Justin, the guy threatened to kill you,” my mother says, almost shouting.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” I yell. “He’s crazy.”

“Exactly,” my father says. “What if the next time he comes with a gun? Justin, seriously, you are putting yourself in harm’s way, and I think you need to think about it.”

“I’m going upstairs now to the woman I love,” I say, and my mother gasps. “That’s right. I love her. I love Dylan. I love them both, and I know that if push comes to shove, I will pick them.” I look down. “Even if I have to walk away from my family.”

“Justin,” my father says, and I shake my head. “Maybe you think you love her, but you just want to save her.”

“What are you saying?” I look at them. “I love her. With everything that I have. Until my last dying breath, it will always be her. I will walk with her through fire if I have to, and if push comes to shove, I will.”