“How do you even know if someone means it when they say they love you? How do you know they’re not going to leave you and break your heart?”

Honestly, I didn’t feel qualified to give the answer. The truth was, there were guys like Brett in the world who said they loved you for fifteen years and then up and left you for J.Crew Kimmy one day. How could I explain that to her without giving her trust issues for the rest of her life? Weren’t my own issues enough? Did her father’s actions have to scar us both for life?

“I don’t know, Whit. I could make something up and tell you that you just know, but the truth is, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes what looks like real love turns out to be infatuation. Sometimes real love exists, but people drift apart. Sometimes love is real, but the circumstances are all wrong. Love is tricky. And messy. And hard to explain.”

She shivered and held me tighter. “I hope I never fall in love. It sounds scary and horrible. I’d rather be alone.”

“Give it some time, okay? Maybe you’ll change your mind.”

She shook her head vehemently. “Never.”

Part of me wanted to argue with her, but another part agreed with her one hundred percent. Love was terrifying. It put you completely at the mercy of someone else. You basically handed over your breakable heart and hoped that someone wouldn’t shatter it. Whitney was right—there was never any real assurance you wouldn’t get hurt.

Maybe I was better off alone.

At that moment, we heard shouts coming from outside. I checked the clock on her night table, and realized it was midnight. “I think we missed sparklers,” I told her gently.

“I don’t care.”

“Do you want to go back to the party?”

She shook her head.

“Okay, honey. You don’t have to. But I should go back and get your brother.” I started to get up, but she gripped me tighter.

“No! Just . . . just stay for a few more minutes, okay?”

“Okay.” Fighting tears, I began stroking her hair again. This wasn’t the fresh start I’d envisioned. “It’s going to be okay, baby. You’ll see.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and didn’t answer, and I sat there with her for a little while longer, drying my tears with the sleeve of my blouse so they wouldn’t fall into her hair. Within minutes, she fell asleep, and I carefully removed her shoes from her feet before pulling her comforter over her legs.