Page 156 of Only Be Mine

“I don’t know if I want to know,” I admitted. “Part of me is afraid that if I know, it’ll make it real.”

Seth nodded. “That makes sense.”

“But I also don’t like feeling like everyone else knows something I don’t.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “I haven’t even called work.”

His brows pulled together. “What do you mean?”

“I was supposed to go back yesterday.” I exhaled slowly. “Trevor said I didn’t need to rush. That a break would be good.”

“And?”

“And I didn’t argue.”

The admission felt heavier than it should have.

My inbox was probably full. My projects reassigned. Clients handed off - or worse, waiting.

“What do you want to do?” Seth asked.

That question again.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “Everything feels like too much and not enough at the same time.”

“That’s fair.”

The quiet that followed felt different now. Sharper. Awake.

“Cate,” he said gently, “you’ve fought your way through worse than this.”

I didn’t answer.

“Don’t forget who you are,” he added. “That’s the part he loved the most.”

My throat tightened. “I don’t know if I remember how.”

He didn’t argue with that. He just checked the time on his phone.

“I should get back,” he said quietly. “I’ve already stretched my lunch longer than I should have.”

Lunch.

The word startled me a little. I’d completely lost track of the time. Again.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Of course.”

He stood, hesitating just long enough to make it clear he didn’t want to leave me alone, but wasn’t going to stay unless I asked.

I didn’t.

At the door, he paused. “You don’t have to decide anything today,” he said. “But you are allowed answers. Whenever you want them.”

“I know,” I said softly.

He gave me one last searching look, then stepped outside.

The door closed gently behind him.

The house felt different again. Not louder. Not quieter.