Noah's gaze stayed fixed on the spot where Jossy had vanished. "Right now, she just needs a friend," he said softly. "She just came out of an intense marriage, Hazel. It's barely been three months. I love her enough to let her go. She needs to be with herself, to heal, and to do the things she loves. When she's ready, if ever, I'll know. If not, I'll settle for being her friend."
Hazel studied him, the weight of his words sinking in. "Forever?" she asked.
Noah's jaw tightened slightly. "Yeah. If that's all I can be, it'll still be enough."
Hazel shook her head, smiling gently. "She's lucky to have you."
Noah didn't reply. He just looked one last time toward the boarding area, then turned back.
***
Jossy stood on the porch of her childhood home, breathing in the fresh morning air. The fields stretched beyond the fence and there was a soft breeze that felt like home. She hadn't felt this sense of freedom in years, not since she left for UCLA at seventeen. The two summers she had spent in Alpine since then felt like memories from another life. The other summers, spent in LA with Damien, were overshadowed by stress and control, by silent dinners and secret bruises.