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“Hey,” he said gently, dusting a thumb over my knuckles. “I’ll be in the van while you say your goodbyes.”

“Okay.”

“Unless you need me.”

I shook my head. The only man I needed was holed up in his apartment, far away from my knee-buckling departure. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”

“Sure thing.”

He let go of my hand and I was on my own. I slogged up the driveway, shoulders sagged and legs wobbling. The moment I looked back up, tears flooded my eyes with a waterfall of grief. My face crumpled, and I clasped a hand over my mouth to keep the wail from pouring out.

Tara jumped up and ran to me. She pulled me into her arms and buried her face against my shoulder, sobbing her heart out. Pushing my bitterness aside, I held on to her. This was more important, this sad goodbye, and she was still my best friend. She was still the girl who held my hand through the worst years of my life and dusted off my crumbly heart.

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“I’ll miss you, too,” I choked. “I’ll keep in touch.”

Inching up, Tara swiped the water from her eyes and nodded. “You better.”

I sniffled, my hair stuck to my cheeks. “Can you promise me something?”

She crooked her pinkie finger and secured it with mine, nodding. “Anything.”

I held up the scrapbook and handed it to her.

“What’s this?” Her blue-tipped fingers danced over the peach cover that featured a singular photo of us sitting by the lake. Whitney had taken it the prior summer as we sucked on red-white-and-blue popsicles, staring at each other with goofy grins and drowning in laughter. “A photo album?”

“Sort of. I’ve been working on this scrapbook for a while. I want you to have it.” She went to open it, but I stopped her. “Later. After I’m gone.”

“Okay.” Her eyes flicked up to mine as she asked, “But what’s the promise?”

My eyes watered as I pictured Reed.

His handsome face skipped across my mind in full color, a permanent photograph in my mind. His voice, his laughter, a precious melody.

My favorite song.

I smiled sadly, more tears trickling from my eyes. “Try.”

It took a moment for the statement to process. When it did, her eyes flashed. “I?—”

“Promise me you’ll try.”

Try to understand. Try to see him as the man he is; the good, noble, loving man who raised you right. Try to put love above all else. Please try. For me. For him.

For you.

My silent plea crackled between us as our eyes locked and Tara fisted the scrapbook with two hands. More tears spilled down her flushed cheeks as she glanced away and gave me a single nod.

It was a promise I would forever hold her to.

“I love you, Hals.”

“I love you, too.”

Soft smiles tipped our lips as Whitney approached us from the walkway. Tara stepped aside as Whitney moved in, pulling me into a warm embrace. She smelled of cinnamon and cake. Sweet, comforting. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her tight, unleashing my eternal gratitude into her ear. “Thank you for everything,” I said. “For giving me a home. A real home. For two beautiful years that I will never, ever forget.”

“Oh, Halley.” She broke down, her body vibrating against me. “You’re precious to me. It’s been my greatest honor having you here with us. You made our house a home.”