Page 166 of Nash

Now, I understand our tradition. Jace is truly her second king. He’s fighting for us. He’s fighting to keep me and Vale together.

“That’s it!” But it’s the eighth day, and Alena storms out of her bedroom where she’s hidden with Vale, her camping backpack slung over her shoulder. “Peace out, everyone. I’m going back to work.”

I rise from the sofa, and Loch jolts from his chair. “I’m going with you,” he insists, and she shrugs.

“Go to hell. Go to work. Your choice.”

“Alena!” I bark. “He’s here, fighting for you.”

“No, he’s here because you command it.”

“My brothers can’t command me to do a damn thing I don’t want to,” Loch seethes, grabbing his keys. “You go. I go. Always.”

Alena struggles, her eyes welling with tears. “But I can’t breathe when I see you,” she chokes. “You make me remember everything, but it was all a lie. And I don’t want the guys at work to know, to see me cry, and if you’re there, you make it too hard.”

“But what about our cabin?” He pleads, “Alena, I love you. It’s not a lie. Just give us a chance.”

“It becamemycabin when you decided to lie,” she answers furiously. “Go find your own.”

I shrug at Loch and let him read my eyes.“Put on your big boy boxers. She’s going to give you a helluva fight.”

She turns back, rushing to hug Vale, standing by her packed luggage. They whisper, and I’d pay anything to know what they share because Vale sadly shakes her head before Alena softly pecks her cheek.

Then, she crosses the room toward me. “See ya, Dad.” Her arms snare my waist.

Kissing her russet waves, I wrap around her and beg, “Please let Loch go with you. He needs to protect you.”

“I can protect myself,” she mutters. “I don’t need him.”

“But he needsyou.”

She rises on her toes, whispering in my ear, “Like you need Vale, and I need a little sister. Get her back, Dad, then I’ll forgive you.”

It’s the hardest thing, letting my daughter go. It’s the warmest thing, watching Loch follow her.

After they leave, the apartment door yawns open. The sunlight spilling in illuminates the awkward silence between Vale and me.

Without a word, she collects her phone and handbag.

“Where are you going?” Because I’ll follow her, too.

“Atlanta.” Her tone is dead. “I’m going with Stacey. We’re helping my sister move.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She whips my way. “You’ll give me space. You’ll leave me alone.”

“Space? Yes. Leave you?” I vow, “Never.”

“Great.” She rolls her eyes, grabbing her suitcase. “You’re going to be a hemorrhoid. Like a giant pain in my ass.”

Oh, what I want to say about loving her ass,but I like breathing.

So, I trail behind her, admiring it while she storms down the stairs, clunking her suitcase behind her.

I followVale and let her see I mean it. For days, I shadow her from Charleston to Atlanta and back. And for days, she flips me off every time she sees me.

I give her space for another week while she returns to work.