he laptop screen, the name of the state university clear an

desk. A notification,

tching you. Her h

sofa, scrolling through her phone, a frown etched on her face. She didn' t lo

her

State with you, Liam. Don'

hat years ago, nothing sol

h asked, her voice

ersity. The one o

d at me, her expr

are finalized, I' m moving out. Jake needs

lash of water. No surprise, r

that to protect you. S

my phone across th

pe, I' d stepped in front of Sarah, and she' d just watched as it connected with my arm, then fussed over Jake

ut of a burning apartment building. They owed him thei

ned son of their hero. It

n were always on business trips, leaving us to our own devices

ays kept her dista

ream of commentary only I could see, insisting Sarah was

my head, making me

ight tremor I might have imagined. "He sacrificed his health saving m

hy, I was sure of it. He' d walked away with a co

lies because she' s ter

arcasm out of my voice. "The hero who

e snapped. "It' s devotion. Some

back to her phone. The pop-ups were

ecause Jake threatened you. She'

pplication was gone. My f