Page 74 of Letting Go

She swallows hard. “What if I mess it up?”

“You probably will. Once or twice. Maybe more.” I give her a crooked smile. “But messing up doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to try.”

She nods slowly, then whispers, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” I say, firm but kind. “Living with me will be better than where you were, but it won’t be a party.”

She quirks a brow, trying to smile.

“There’s going to be a curfew. I know you’re in college, but I need to know you’re safe. You are never to drink and drive. Ever. I don’t care what time it is, if you’re drunk, if your friend’s drunk, you call me. Anytime. Anywhere. No questions, no judgment. Just safety.”

Keira blinks, surprised, but nods.

“I’m going to expect you to keep your grades up, yeah. But more than that, I want you to figure out whatyoulove. What excites you. I changed my major six times, so believe me, I get the indecision.”

She lets out a soft, watery laugh.

“And lastly,” I add, “I want you to get a job. Nothing full-time maybe waitressing, fast food, bookstore, whatever you’re comfortable with. Just something to give you a sense of your own money. Your own rhythm.”

Keira takes a deep breath. Her face is blotchy from crying, but her posture is straighter. Stronger.

“Okay,” she says.

I tilt my head. “Now, is there anythingyouneed from me?”

Keira hesitates, chewing her lip. Then, almost too quiet to hear, she says, “Will you… teach me to drive?”

My heart stutters. “Yeah,” I say, voice thick but steady. “I’ll teach you.”

A smile flickers across her face. Real. Hopeful. “Really?”

I nod. “Really. Just promise me you won’t run us off the road.”

She laughs, a full, startled laugh. “No promises.”

Before heading home, I decide to swing by the apartment again,theapartment, the one I can't stop thinking about. Keira's quiet on the drive over, still digesting everything from lunch, but the moment we walk through the door, something shifts.

She steps inside and just... breathes. Like her ribs can finally expand. Like maybe, for the first time in a long time, she’s imagining a space that could be hers.

“You like it?” I ask.

Her answer is almost reverent. “I love it.”

I smile, a real one. “Me too.”

The realtor meets us in the entryway with the same chipper professionalism as before. I pull him aside, lowering my voice. “Just to be upfront, I’m going through a divorce right now. Will that be a problem for the lease?”

He shakes his head. “Not necessarily. Happens all the time, actually. We’d just need a cosigner, your sister could do it if she’s willing, or we can look at your financials. A couple of character references would help too, but honestly? You're not an outlier.”

Keira raises an eyebrow when I relay the cosigner bit. I can already tell she's turning it over in her head like she’s afraid to mess up something perfect.

“Don’t worry,” I say before she can spiral. “We’ll make it work. Together.”

And just like that, something starts to feel solid again. Not fixed. But possible.

Chapter 28

My first day at Marx Corp smells like printer toner, cold brew, and danger.

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