I roll my eyes, bending down to arrange everything into a comfy little corner on the balcony. “Grab a cushion or two as well!” I call out.

“And I thought I was the guest here …” she mumbles, placing our drinks down and turning back on her heels for the third time. I can’t help but laugh. She acts tough, but she really is one of the most caring people I know.

Once we are settled, Sophie pins me with a knowing look. I drop my head back against the cushion and stare out into the setting sky. Time to put my big girl pants on.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, things that no one, other than Jesse, knows. These things … Tanner found out about them and I pushed him away. I couldn’t have him fixing my problems, or looking at me with pain in his eyes.” I look at Soph, her brows are turned in with concern, and when our eyes meet she reaches out and takes my hand in hers. “I haven’t spoken with him for three days. I got lost in a pretty dark place. I’m still lost, but I’ll be okay.”

She squeezes my hand, shuffling closer. “He let you push him away? You’re joking right? That possessive hunk of a man just let you say bye-bye and willingly walked away?”

At those words, my chest begins to feel heavy and my lungs work harder to get air. Closing my eyes tight, I begin to count, in 2, 3, 4 – out 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. When I open them again, Sophie kneels in front of me with a glass of water.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Please don’t tell Jesse about this.”

“I won’t tell him, as long as you promise me that one of us is always in the know. I don’t care if it’s me or him, as long as you’re not carrying all of this yourself. You got me?”

I muster up a smile and she helps me stand. “Let’s go jump into bed. We can deal with all of this tomorrow.”

We climb into my bed ignoring the mess around us, we can tidy up tomorrow. Flicking on the TV, I scroll through movies and shows until I pause on Gilmore Girls, sharing a look that says heck yes, we settle in for the night.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kinsley

A cool breeze causes me to stir, oh crap, by the looks of the daylight pouring through the windows it’s at least mid-morning. I must have drifted off to sleep whilst watching TV last night. Propping myself up on my elbows, I notice that I’m alone. “Soph?” I call out.