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“Neither am I. It’s three in the morning, my hair looks like a bird’s nest, and I’m wearing socks that could double as sleeping bags.” She pats the mattress beside her. “Sit down.”

“You’re bossy.”

“Learned from a very irritating man.”

I stare at her.

She stares back.

Finally, I sit.

Not because she told me to.

Because my fucking leg hurts.

“Does that happen a lot?” she asks.

“Sometimes.”

“Nightmares?”

“Yeah.”

“About Eli?”

I rub my hands over my face.

“Usually.”

She nods.

No pity. No horrified expression.

Just a quiet nod.

“Tell me what happened that night.”

I go still.

“You know what happened.”

“I know there was an accident. I know Tyler Jensen crossed the center line. I know Eli died.” Her voice softens. “I don’t know what happened to you.”

I stare at the floor.

The old wooden boards are scratched near the fireplace. I meant to have them refinished last month.

Funny what a man’s brain focuses on when he’s trying not to fall apart.

“Eli was seventeen,” I finally say. “Thought he was invincible.”

Autumn smiles faintly.

“He thought you were invincible.”

“Yeah. That was the problem.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.