I want to be outside, he goes on. I want to be in a tree. I want to be wet. I want to be on the forest floor as the rain hits the leaves above. I like that sound. I want to be warm. I want to hold something. I want to talk to my dad. I want to be tired, so I can sleep more, and I want to walk. I want to be in love. I want to be safe. I want to be over. I want things in my head to be gone. But then all of that is scribbled over, leaving one simple line. I want to be everything she sees.

Moans, cries, and "Wow" by Post Malone carry out from Noah's room into the hallway, so I rush and swing open the door to the bathroom, seeing my uncle standing there at the sink, a towel wrapped around his waist

They knew, and my mother had decided not to let him leave without her. She decided that there was nothing else without him.

And then she disappears with Griff through the falls, and I smile at all the nights ahead of us.

I shoot my eyes left again, seeing Mirai exit his tent, see us, and quickly dive into her own, as if we’re all stupid. It’s amusing, though. “She’s wearing your shirt,” I tell him. “Better go get it.” He shoots me a smile. “I will.”

“You want to have a few more, I wouldn’t mind a sister.” He chuckles, and I cast a glance at the blue tent, knowing who he has tucked inside, even though she continues to try to conceal what we all know has been going on for years now.

“Keep talking,” I beg. I love his voice. He chuckles, low and heady. “What should I say?” “Anything.” I smile. “Read to me, I guess?” He grabs the backs of my thighs and lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his body. “Show me your books,” he murmurs against my mouth.

“After you left, I went to the cabin for a long time and started reading it from the beginning.” I listen, loving the sound of his beautiful voice. Velvety and soothing, but his words still thick. These words are all new to him. “Out loud,” he adds. He practiced speaking the last six weeks by reading out loud. I wipe the corner of my eye.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I tell him just above a whisper. “You actually left Colorado.” “It was time,” he says. I suck in a breath, his words hitting me like truck. What? I slide off the tire and turn to face him not believing what I just heard. Deep but soft. Clear and strong. He spoke. Kaleb spoke. Walking around the tire, he steps toward me. “My home is where you are,” he says quietly.

I lean down. “Let’s go get Kaleb.”

You scare me. I scare you. Don’t let me hurt you anymore. Why can’t I stop wanting to hurt you? Just fuck them, okay? Keep fucking them, so I won’t want you so damn much. I’m a mess, because wanting you feels good, and I don’t know what to do when things feel good. Everything is a mess, and I’ll make a mess of all of it, but… I’m going to miss you. I’ll miss you.

They’re such deep sleepers, they don’t hear you at night. Just me. When I touched your face, you quieted. When I tried to leave, the nightmare started again. So I stayed. I come in every night. You tuck your cold feet between my legs, and I hug you to me, resting my hand on your back and feeling your body calm as it nestles into me. Do I make you feel safe? I like taking care of you.

Found candy in the trash and kale on my pizza. She’s fucking weird.   I laugh through my tears.   God, she feels good. She looks like she’d be pudding in your fist. Soft. Too soft. It was so good, though. Those seconds on the car that she let me bury my face in her body. Her skin is like water. I want her smell in my bed. And in my hair. And never far away from me.

Was Robson a teacher?   I want to be outside, he goes on. I want to be in a tree. I want to be wet. I want to be on the forest floor as the rain hits the leaves above. I like that sound. I want to be warm. I want to hold something. I want to talk to my dad. I want to be tired, so I can sleep more, and I want to walk. I want to be in love. I want to be safe. I want to be over. I want things in my head to be gone.   But then all of that is scribbled over, leaving one simple line.   I want to be everything she sees.

“Tiernan,” Noah whispers, and I taste salt, but I’m not sure if it’s his tear or mine. “I love you. You’re so fucking ours. We love you.”

I watch as she immediately falls in, burying her head in his neck as the cries subside and her breathing starts to calm. He yawns, pulling her sheet and blanket up over them like this is normal. “Does she do this a lot?” Nightmares aren’t supposed to sound like that, are they? As Kaleb settles in, though, she falls completely quiet, nestling into him as her slumber continues, peaceful and quiet. Kaleb lies on his side, holding her and fitting her head under his chin as both of them go back to sleep.