Jaylyn leaned back in her chair, studying Tina’s face. “And what if she doesn’t want you to choose her? What if she’s moved on? What if she’s built a life that doesn’t include you?”

“Then I’ll deal with it. But at least I’ll know I tried.”

“And Carson? What happens to him if this all blows up in your face?”

“Carson wants this too. He misses her, Jaylyn. He keeps asking when she’s coming back.”

“Carson is eight years old. He doesn’t understand the complexities of adult relationships.”

“Maybe that’s exactly why his perspective matters. Maybe adults make things more complicated than they need to be.”

Jaylyn was quiet for a long moment, then leaned forward. “Tina, I’m going to say something to you, and I need you to listen carefully.”

“Okay.” Tina gulped at the seriousness etched on Jaylyn’s face

“I will support you. If you decide to do this crazy thing, I’ll help you however I can. I’ll write recommendation letters, I’ll help you find housing, I’ll even help you move. But…” She paused, her voice taking on a harder edge. “If you hurt her again, if you get scared and run, if you break her heart a second time, I will personally hunt you down and beat you so badly that no one will be able to identify the body. Do you understand me?”

Tina’s eyes widened. She’d never heard Jaylyn use that tone before.

Jaylyn saw the horror in Tina’s eyes but she was being serious. It was harsh but necessary. She really wanted this for both of them . She thought they had belonged together for years but they were both too damn stubborn to admit it….But then the heartbreak happened. She saw how it had destroyed Bette just as devastated when she lost her parents and as much as she loved Tina and valued their friendship she loved Bette more and would protect her at all costs

“I understand.”

“Good. Because Bette isn’t just my cousin. She’s my sister, period. And I protect my sisters.”

“I won’t hurt her. Not again.”

“You can’t promise that. You can promise to try not to, but you can’t promise you won’t. Life is complicated, feelings change, people get scared.”

“Then what do you want me to say?”