“It’s me, Sophie. I’m here.”

How did he know? “Kipton?”

“Yes, baby. It’s me.”

“Kipton,” I cry.

Clutching onto him, I fall into his lap, my legs still stuck inside the sleeping bag. But I don’t care because he holds me tightly, whispering words of comfort in my ear. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, beautiful.”

I struggle to find my voice. It’s thick with emotion and clogs my throat. “How? How did you find me?”

He reaches his hand out to push a few messy pieces of hair out of my eyes. “Caleb called me. He saw your car sitting in the lot, but couldn’t find you. God, Sophie. I panicked and drove straight here. What’s going on? Why are you in the treehouse?”

“I got home and it all went to hell. Dean was there. He’s not my Dad, Kipton. He never was and that’s why he’s always hated me. But my mom didn’t divorce him like she said either. It’s all been one big lie. My entire life has been a sham. And now my Mom loves Dean more than she loves me.”

“That’s not true. She’s your Mom. She loves you.”

“No, Kipton. I don’t think she does. Not the way I thought anyway. I’ve held her back from her dreams; took away her happy marriage when I was born. She had an affair while married to Dean. Coach Evans, Kipton. He’s my Father.” I sob.

Kipton holds me in his arms, comforting my shaking body. Admitting it makes it that much more real. Hearing the words aloud rather than stuffed inside my tired brain, make it the spoken truth. “I’m so sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry you were alone.”

“He’s destroyed me all these years because I’m the proof she cheated. A constant reminder. I’d hate me too.”

“No, Sophie. You don’t deserve anyone’s hate.” I wish his words were true. “I knew something wasn’t right when you called me earlier.” He shakes his head and sighs. “Have you been here since you called me?”

“It all happened Monday. I was only at my house for a half hour before I left.”

Kipton pulls me away from his embrace, holding me in his outstretched arms. His eyes look angry, but he doesn’t raise his voice or show me any other emotion besides compassion. “Monday? But you were busy. With your Mom. You said-.”

“I lied.” I hang my head not wanting to see the anger morph into pity. “I was ashamed and embarrassed. I’m sorry I lied to you.”

He hugs me tight, kissing the top of my head over and over. “Where have you been?”

“In a hotel. But I ran out of money. I didn’t know where to go so I drove here. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry, Sophie. I can’t believe you’ve been all alone. Have you eaten? Are you hungry?”

I nod my head yes. “I had snacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning.”

“Sophie, it’s almost Thursday.”

“I know. I ate a few things from the vending machine, but Dean closed the bank account. I didn’t have a way to get more money out.”

“That asshole,” he grumbles. “Come on. Let’s go eat and then I’ll get you settled in my room.”

“But your family.”

“We can go back in the morning. Tonight, we’re staying here. They know why I left. Don’t worry about them.”

“Okay.” As long as I have him. I just want him.

“Come on, beautiful. I’ll help you down. Go slow, just like last time.” I let him pull me up and out of the sleeping bag. Before we go down, I roll it back up.

“Sophie, you don’t have to do that. Leave it.”

“You have no idea how glad I was you left it up here. Almost like you could predict the future. You always give me what I need—even when you’re not with me.”

“If I could predict the future, I would have never let you go home.”

“As much as it hurts, I’m glad I did. I found out the truth. I finally got the answers I’ve always been searching for.”

He nods his head. “True. But that doesn’t mean it makes it any easier.”

I hang my head. “The truth really hurts, Kipton.” I don’t want him to watch me cry, but a few tears leak from my eyes and fall onto the bare floor boards. The thirsty wood absorbs them before the wetness has a chance to spread.

“You have me, Sophie. I’ll be your family.”

SOPHIE CLUTCHES MY HAND THE entire ride. I use my left hand to turn and shift, not even caring about the inconvenience. She needs me, and I won’t let her down. My heart fucking broke when I found her inside the treehouse. That was after I put it through the most uncertain half hour of my life. Not knowing where she was scared the ever loving shit out of me. But I found her, and although worn down and starving, she’s in my arms again. Exactly where she belongs.

“Where are we going, Kipton?”

“The diner. Is that okay?”

“Yes, but I’m a mess. Maybe I should wait in the car.”

“You’ll still be the most beautiful girl in the place.” She tries to let go of my hand, embarrassed by my comment, but I grab it back before she moves it too far away from me. “I was scared tonight, Sophie.”

“You were?”

“Yeah. I was. I still am.” I need her to realize how much she means to me; to know that I’d be devastated if she gave up on herself or on us.

“Why?”

I find a place to park and turn the car off. This particular conversation will have to wait until I get some food inside her stomach. That’s my top priority right now. “Eat. And then we’ll talk.”

She follows me out of the car before I can make it around to open her door for her. I hate when she does that, but I don’t try to correct her.

We settle into a booth in the back of the restaurant—the one we had our first date in. “Do you know what you want?”

“You can order for me again. You did well last time we were here.”

I smile, happy she’s willing to trust me with something as silly as ordering food. After ordering breakfast for two, I put the straw in my orange juice and do the same for her.

“Thank you,” she whispers. Her voice is as tiny as her body—frail and fragile.

“About what I said in the car. About being scared.” She stops drinking, staring at me in confusion. This might make me sound like a punk, but she needs to be honest with me, and I need to always be honest with her. That’s the only way what we have will work. She has lived a life of secrets and I don’t want that for us.

“Why are you scared? You have everything, Kipton.”

“I have been very fortunate. But none of it means shit unless you’re with me, Sophie.” There’s too much distance between us, and I don’t want her to feel bombarded, so I get up and slide next to her on her side of the booth. She scoots over next to the window and angles her body to face me. Here’s goes nothing.

“I’m scared because I don’t want you to give up. You’ve made so much progress and are working hard to beat your depression. I couldn’t be more proud of you. But I’m selfish, Sophie. I need you in my life and I can’t lose you. Please don’t stop fighting. I don’t ever want you to hurt yourself because you feel alone. I’m here. I will always be here. You make my life better.”

I notice the slight trembling of her hands and wait patiently for her to work through her anxiety. Her foot nervously taps the floor underneath the table. I only know because she’s making the bench bounce ever so slightly. Working up the courage one nervous second at a time, she confesses. “I’m scared too, Kipton.” Thank fuck. I’d be even more worried if she wasn’t.

She meets me in the middle, her head finding my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and rub her arm softly. “What scares you the most?”

“I don’t want to be that girl anymore, but I hurt so bad inside, Kipton. It kills me over and over—every time I’m reminded that I was a mistake. Even the woman who gave birth to me finally had enough of me. How do I stop loving her after all these years?”