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“Paisley—”

“Ihateit. It’s not fair.”

I swallowed, my throat tight, but Paisley didn’t give me a chance to respond. She reached for her pocket—a pocket she didn’t have—and slapped at her leg.

“Uh… crap.”

“Just realizing you left all your things in the clinic.”

She laughed nervously, scratching her head. “Kind of just remembered EM was going to swing by and check on me… she’s gonna be a little worried if I’m just gone.”

“Jesus, Pais.” I stood up. “Woman’s going to think you’re dead.”

“Ugh.” She stood up slowly, and I didn’t even question the urge—I put my hands on her shoulders, guided her back to the couch.

“Sit. Rest. I’ll go get your things, tell Doctor Hardy I’m looking after you.”

She scowled. “I can walk—”

“Please, Paisley.” I squeezed her shoulders, and my voice came out softer than I’d meant. “I’m worried about you.”

Her expression softened, and maybe it was the low light from the table lamp casting a flame-colored glow over her face, but I swear she had a shimmer in her eyes. Misty. “You’re such a sap,” she said, her voice a little thicker than usual.

“I’m really not.”

“You are for me,” she said, her voice light, almost teasing. I looked away, turning back to the door.

“Just… don’t want you passing out and falling down the stairs. Do you want me to brew you more tea before I go?”

“I can dothatmyself—”

“Ah—stay there.” I caught her with a raised finger as she moved to stand up. “I’m doing it.”

“Oh my god. My legs still work.”

“Uh-huh. I’m not listening.”

“You’re the worst!” she called after me into the kitchen as I set the kettle on to boil, and I just…

Well. I was a little weird in the head, because apparently I could get sentimental over a girl I had loved calling me the worst. A girl I still loved calling me the worst.

Guess I’d missed it.

Chapter 24

Paisley

Sunlight streamed in through the sheer, blush-pink curtains, casting squares of light stretched long over the bed. I stirred groggily against the morning haze, and my heart did flips when I turned and saw Harper sitting in the bed next to me. My thoughts scattered like a toppled house of cards seeing her, scrolling through her phone, wearing a casual shirt and pants now, and she glanced over at me when I moved, setting the phone down.

“Hey,” she said, her voice soft and sweet and actually honest-to-god her. So she hadn’t just been a fever dream. “Get some good sleep?”

“Harper?” I rubbed my eyes, covering a yawn.

“The one and only.”

“Mm… I had a dream I was trying to ride a horse but the horse kept wanting to walk on two legs and I’d fall off…”

She ruffled my hair. I felt like I died a little when she did. I hated how right Emberlynn was. The second Harper was here, it was like that dark haze was gone, like every little bit of lifesparkled, felt right. “Well, lucky it was just a dream, and you don’t need to ride any creepy bipedal horses.”