Page 153 of Only Be Mine

“They may reach out again,” he said casually. “The detective.”

I stiffened. “He said that.”

“And if he does,” Trevor continued, “we’ll handle it the same way. Together.”

I stared at my glass. “He mentioned wanting to speak to me alone.”

Trevor didn’t react right away. Then he sighed, “Procedurally, that’s not unusual,” he said. “But it’s also not something you’re obligated to do immediately. Or without counsel.”

“I’m not in trouble,” I said.

“No,” he agreed. “You’re not.”

The way he said it, firm and reassuring, made it sound settled. Closed.

“You don’t owe them access to every part of you,” he added. “Especially not while you’re grieving.”

I thought of John then. Not the body, not the confirmation, but the version of him that still lived somewhere intact in my memory. The man who’d laughed too loud. Who’d held my hand like it was an anchor.

“I didn’t lie,” I said suddenly.

Trevor turned toward me. “Of course you didn’t.”

“I just…” I swallowed. “Some of the answers felt… practiced.”

He studied me carefully, then smiled in understanding.

“That’s what happens when you’ve lived with something for a long time,” he said. “Your truth becomes streamlined. It doesn’t mean it’s false.”

I nodded slowly, letting that explanation settle.

“Cate,” he said gently, “you did exactly what you needed to do today. You survived something that could have broken you. That matters more than perfect phrasing.”

I leaned back against the couch, exhaustion finally seeping into my bones.

“I think I want to lie down,” I said.

“Of course,” he replied immediately, standing. “I’ll bring you some tea anyway. Just in case.”

He walked with me to the bedroom, then paused at the doorway. “Try to rest. I’ll be right here.”

I closed my eyes once he was gone, letting the quiet wrap around me. My mind replayed fragments of the day - not the questions, not the answers, but the way Trevor had moved through it all with such confidence. Such ease.

When he returned, he set the mug carefully on the nightstand and brushed my hair back from my face.

“Sleep,” he whispered. “We’ll deal with everything else tomorrow.”

I drifted under with his hand resting lightly on my arm, his presence anchoring me.

Chapter 57

Cate

Present

The house felt louder after Trevor left.

Not in any obvious way; there were no slamming doors or rattling windows. But in the absence of him, the quiet seemed to stretch. It echoed differently, made room for things I hadn’t been able to hear with him moving through the space.