Page 165 of Safe With You

I wasn’t sure there would ever be a version of remembering her that didn’t.

But the hurt had changed.

There had been a time when a memory like that would’ve stopped the rest of my night. When I’d sit with it until everything that came after felt wrong somehow, like moving on to something else meant I’d left her behind.

I didn’t feel that way anymore.

At least, not tonight.

Tonight, I could remember Elena sitting on this floor with our daughter and still think about Mila curled up in the reading nook at Chapter & Charm.

I could remember Elena’s laugh and still hear Luna laughing when Mila accused me of cheating at Uno.

One didn’t erase the other.

The realization settled quietly, like maybe I’d been learning it for a while and was only just now paying enough attention to notice.

I leaned forward and picked up the last Uno card from beneath the coffee table.

Luna had said she wanted Chapter & Charm to be somewhere people could walk into carrying whatever kind of day they’d had and leave a little lighter.

Somewhere safe.

I’d told her she’d done it.

What I hadn’t told her was that somewhere along the way, I’d started feeling it too.

And apparently, so had Mila.

My phone buzzed on the couch beside me.

I glanced down.

A message from Luna.

You left something.

I frowned.

Mila?

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.

Unfortunately, you remembered her.

I laughed.

Good. Was worried for a second.

Her jacket.

I looked toward the chair by the front door.

Nothing.

Of course.

Again?