“You will after today. And I apologize for yanking you in here right away, but I couldn’t sit through dinner or wait another minute. You’ve been through enough. ” Lynn closes her eyes and breathes deeply. When she opens them again, a few tears of her own trickle down her cheeks. “You remind me a lot of myself, Sophie. I grew up in a volatile home myself so when I say I understand your pain, I mean it. But it does get better and it will get easier over time.”

“It’s so hard to give up on my Mom. And I tried to make Dean love me, but couldn’t. As far as Coach goes, I haven’t even processed the idea of him yet. I’ve been too busy mourning everything I lost.”

Lynn sits next to me on the carpet. “Doug and I don’t want to overwhelm you. We won’t pretend to be anything other than what you’re willing to accept. But this is a safe place. You’re not alone anymore, Sophie. It’s all here for you if you want it.”

“Thank you.”

“So you’ll stay?” She’s hesitant with her request, but in need of an answer nonetheless.

“It’s a strange concept with dating Kipton and all. I mean I’m an adult. But if you’ll have me.” My shaky voice gives away how overwhelmed I am. I’ve just been given my greatest wish. Acceptance.

“We’ll get all of your info changed as soon as possible. I never want you to live in a hotel or sleep in a damn tree again.” She laughs through a sob of her own and wipes the tears from my face. It’s a motherly gesture.

“Thank you, Lynn. The words hardly seem like enough.”

“They’re plenty.” She stands up from the floor and brushes the wrinkles out of the fabric of her pants. “You take all the time you need. I’ve walloped you with a lot just now. Come out and meet my husband when you’re ready. I’m sure Cara would like to show you your room too.”

I stay seated on the floor, processing our conversation. Despite the ache in my heart, I’ve been given a second chance. Praying that I’m strong enough to live up to their standards, I need to discuss all of this with Kipton before I get too comfortable.

Sophie: Can you come in here.

The text barely finishes sending before the office door opens. “I was in the hallway. Are you okay?”

“Hey.” He’s tiptoeing around the elephant in the room, so I put him out of his misery and address it. “Are you on board with this crazy plan?”

He kneels in front of me, taking my hands. “Of course I am. You’re my home, Sophie. Wherever you are is where I want to be. You said yes, right? I’m sorry you walked into that blind, but I was afraid if I said something, you would panic or get upset.”

I can tell he’s nervous about my decision. “I’m not mad. I’m too grateful to be upset. But I am old enough to do it on my own. I’m over eighteen and a legal adult.”

He sighs. I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m simply stating the obvious.

“But you shouldn’t have to. Yes, we’re both adults, but until we graduate and get on our feet financially, you need a place to call home. Hell, I’m a year older than you and I still need it. So don’t get caught up in a numbers game. I don’t want you to quit school and settle for a dead end job for the rest of your life.”

“I don’t want to quit school, or live a miserable life either. It would be a repeat of their lives.”

“You’re already more than they’ve ever been, beautiful.”

“Thank you, Kipton.”

“For what?”

“Everything.”

Before we can discuss anything else, Cara’s rattling the door knob. “Sophie? Kipton, it’s my turn. Give her back.”

I snort, laughing at the way she’s turned me into a prized possession. Kipton rolls his eyes as a brother would. “She always was a pain in the ass.” He helps me up off the floor and walks me to the office doors. “Love you.”

I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him but he easily lifts me off my feet. I lock my legs around his waist and deepen his kiss. “Give. Her. Back!”

Kipton reluctantly sets me back on my feet. Slowly opening the door, Cara reaches inside like a caged animal that’s been set free. “Bout time, come on. Let’s go see your room. It’s connected to mine!”

“Wonderful,” Kipton murmurs. He mouths the words later to me. Like I’d ever be able to forget his promise.

I’m seriously living in a fairytale right now. From tree houses to mansions—I feel like Cinderella.

THE WEEK WITH KIPTON WAS amazing. The days were uneventful, yet absolutely perfect. We stayed up late watching movies, played board games around the kitchen table, and laughed. Laughter can easily be taken for granted, but never again will I wonder what it’s like to laugh so hard you give yourself the hiccups.

I thought it might be awkward pretending to belong to a family that doesn’t share any of my DNA. Much to my surprise, it’s fairly easy. Worried Kipton would end up feeling suffocated having me around nonstop, he never once said or did anything to lead me to believe he regretted the decision. Sucking up every second of happiness, I had a restless night last night as our vacation came to an end. If it was up to me, I’d put off going back to school for another week. But I have to face the facts and bow out of gymnastics. I dread the conversation with Coach Evans, but I can’t stay on the team knowing what I now know. I’ve had plenty of time to self-reflect on my decision. After lining up the positives against the negatives—the negatives took the top prize without a shadow of a doubt. It was time I left.

“You okay, babe?”

“Nervous, but I’m good. I really love your family, Kipton.”

He rubs his hand back and forth on my thigh. “You’re exactly what we were missing. I’ve never seen Mom happier.”

“It didn’t seem like you were ever missing anything.”

“Things seem complete now. Like you were meant to find your way to me.”

Complete.

Resting my head against the back of the seat, I decide to rip the Band-Aid off before I change my mind. “Can you drop me off at the gym. I’m sure Coach is in his office.”

Kipton hesistates. “Now? Don’t you want to get settled in your room first?” His dad was on the phone with the school the second campus reopened. He managed to get all the paperwork straightened out with financial aid for my loans to kick in at the start of the new semester. For now, I’d be given a grace period considering the special circumstances of forfeiting my scholarship. I’ll be able to stay in the dorm with Cara and life can go on as planned.

“Now’s as good a time as any. I’m dreading it, but it has to be done. All the paperwork with the Bursar’s Office is in the works.”

“Do you want me to go inside with you?”

“No.” I have to face him on my own. Just the two of us. Father and daughter.

Kipton forcefully exhales and squeezes the bridge of his nose. The same thing he does every time I stress him out. “Sophie, this is about more than just leaving the team. He’s your blood.”

“I know he is.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? Just in case.”

“What do you think is going to happen? He can’t hurt me anymore than he already has.”

“I don’t want him hurting you any more either.”

I can’t go into his office upset so I don’t bother responding. Instead I wait for the car to come to a stop in front of the gym. “I’ll text you when I’m done, but I’d like to walk back if you don’t mind.”

“Sophie.” He definitely minds.

“Please, Kipton. I’ll meet you back at the dorm. I need to do this my way.”

“Fine. Call me if you need me and I’ll pick you up.”

“Thank you.” I close the car door with shaky hands. My legs carry me inside, but my mind is busy going over the speech I’ve been rehearsing for the past week. It’s all in there; I just hope I can get it all out without him stopping me.