Page 164 of Where We Stay

I go quiet.

“Did Blair tell you what was wrong?” she asks.

“No.”

“Then what did she ask you for?”

“Space,” I admit.

Courtney nods slowly. “And have you given it to her?”

“Three fucking days’ worth.”

“Then keep giving it to her.”

My jaw tightens. “That’s your advice?”

“My advice is to listen to what she asked for, even if you hate it.” She lifts one shoulder. “You can offer to help, Dean. You can’t force her to accept.”

“I sent her one message,” I tell her. “I apologized for pushing and said she didn’t have to answer.”

“Then she knows the offer is there.”

“And what if she never answers?”

Courtney watches me for a long moment. “You love her.”

It isn’t a question.

For once, I don’t hesitate or try to convince myself it’s too soon.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I do.”

Something passes across Courtney’s face, but it disappears before I can decipher it.

“Then if she comes to you, listen before you start trying to fix everything,” she says.

Courtney stands and pulls her coat tighter around herself. “I should go. We can talk to Aspen about the schedule tomorrow.”

“Yeah. I’ll call you.”

My phone buzzes against the counter.

I reach for it, and my heart nearly stops when I see the name on the screen.

MY GIRL: Can we talk tonight?

Courtney pauses beside the front door. “Is that her?”

“Yeah.”

Her gaze drops to the keys already in my hand. “Then go.”

I don’t hesitate.

Courtney follows me outside, and I lock the house behind us before heading straight for my truck.

Blair is finally ready to talk.