Page 193 of Where We Stay

“She had a busy afternoon with Aspen. She must’ve forgotten.”

“Sounds like her.” His voice relaxes. “Did you catch the Bruins game the other night?”

“Parts of it. Aspen had other plans.”

Jerry laughs. “How’s Blair been?”

“Good, I think.” I run my hand slowly along her back. “She seems more settled.”

“She’s good at looking fine when she isn’t,” he warns gently.

“Don’t I know it.”

“Just make sure she remembers she doesn’t have to carry everything alone anymore.”

I look down at Blair, thinking about her saying almost the exact same thing to me.

“I will.”

“I know you will,” Jerry says before ending the call.

I place my phone back on the table and pull Blair closer.

After everything she’s survived, she still shows up for everyone she loves. Every fucking day.

I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she never has to wonder whether someone will show up for her too.

Thirty Nine

Blair

I’m back in the apartment.

I know before I even open my eyes.

The smell gives it away first.

Stale beer. Cigarettes. His cologne.

My stomach drops. How am I back here? Did he find me?

I open my eyes, and the walls begin to shift. My apartment disappears, stretching into the hallway at Dean’s house.

Aspen calls my name from somewhere upstairs.

“I’m coming!”

I run toward her voice, but the hallway keeps getting longer. When I finally reach the staircase, my legs give out beneath me. Every time I try to climb, I fall.

Why can’t I fucking get to her?

“You thought changing your name would keep you from me?”

I freeze.

I haven’t heard that voice in five years, but my body reacts exactly the same.

Ben.