EMBER’S POV

“I can’t say I fully understand why you’d want her here,” he murmurs. “But I know you wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important to you. And whatever led you to that decision… I trust it wasn’t an easy one.”

The understanding in his voice makes something loosen in my chest.

“It wasn’t.”

“Then we’ll figure it out. Together.” Then after a beat, he asks. “Are we still good?”

The question echoes back to hours ago. To the couch and the promise of thirty days and pretending to be the most nauseating couple in the world.

“We’re still good,” I whisper back. “Still disgustingly in love. Still making...