Page 31 of Dagger

“I don’t know what to believe,” I admit softly, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. “All I know is he left. He made his choice.”

Jenny, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, finally speaks, her voice measured but tense. “That doesn’t sound like the Dagger I knew.” She looks up at me, her expression conflicted. “But I guess a lot’s changed since then.”

Carlie leans back in her seat, shaking her head in disbelief. “Man, this is... a lot. Like, soap-opera levels of drama. I don’t even know where to start with this.”

Sophie reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re doing the best you can, Chloe. That’s all that matters.”

Carlie nods. “Yeah, Chlo. You’ve got us, no matter how messy this gets.”

Jenny’s quiet for a long moment, then she nods too, though her expression is still tight. “We’ve got your back,” she says softly. “But you need to figure out what you want—whether that means Dagger or not.”

I glance between them, my chest tight with a mix of emotions. “Thanks,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

When we get back to Sophie and Tank’s, Sophie lingers at the front door, glancing at me as I step up onto the porch.

“You okay?” she asks, her voice soft but firm, like she’s not letting me brush her off.

I shrug, trying to play it off. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

She gives me a look, the kind that says she knows I’m full of it. “Chlo, come on. You’ve been weird all day. Is this about what the girls said at lunch?”

I hesitate, looking down at my feet. “It’s just... a lot. Everything with Dagger, the baby, Hawk...”

“Hawk?” Sophie repeats, raising an eyebrow. “What about him?”

I fidget with the strap of my bag, still not meeting her eyes. “The girls think there’s something going on between us. And honestly? Now that they’ve said it, I can’t stop thinking about it.”

She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “And? Is there?”

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “We’re just friends. He’s been around a lot, you know, checking in, helping out. But that’s it. At least... Ithinkthat’s it.”

Sophie tilts her head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Youthinkthat’s it?”

I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Don’t start. I don’t need this from you too.”

I groan, rubbing my temples. “Don’t start. I don’t need this from you too.”

She chuckles but then softens. “I’m not starting anything. I’m just saying... Hawk’s a good guy. And let’s be real, Dagger hasn’t exactly stepped up to the plate. But,” she pauses, her tone turning more serious, “if you decide you don’t want either of them—if you just want to do this on your own—that’s fine too. You’ll always have me and Tank to lean on. You’re not doing this alone, Chlo.”

Her words make my chest tighten, and I blink back the sting of tears. “Thanks, Soph,” I whisper.

She steps closer and pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly. “You’ve got this, okay? Whatever you decide—whether it’s Dagger, Hawk, or just you—you’ll be okay. You’ve got people who care about you, who’ve got your back.”

I nod against her shoulder, my voice shaky when I finally speak. “I know. I just need to figure it out.”

She pulls back, giving me a reassuring smile. “And you will. I know you will.”

“Thanks,” I murmur again, the lump in my throat making it hard to say much else.

She gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Alright. Get some rest. I’ll see you later,” she says before heading inside.

I linger on the porch for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then I take a deep breath and head around the house toward the she-shed, my mind still a jumble but feeling just a little less alone.

The she-shed comes into view, small and cozy, but today it feels suffocating. As I step inside, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I sink onto the loveseat and pull it out, glancing at the notification—a new rental listing.

I open it and start scrolling, my thumb flicking across the screen. My chest sinks as I read the details. Too much space and way out of my budget.

I groan and swipe to the next one, but it’s more of the same—too far, too small, or too pricey. Still, I keep scrolling, hoping I’ll stumble across something that actually works. Something that feels like a real home for me and the baby.

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