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Despite everything, the two weeks of silence, the way she’d slipped out of his bed without a word, the walls she kept building he still wanted to be her first call. Wanted to be the name that rose to her lips when she prayed, the shelter she sought when the storms came. Second only to the God she worshipped, and sometimes, in his most honest moments, he wasn’t even sure he could accept second place.

Brooks switched the call to Facetime. He was surprised she accepted it. Her beautiful face appeared on the screen and he smiled until he saw the sadness on her face.

“What happened?” His voice softened, the concern now breaking through.

She hesitated, inhaled then let it go slowly. She’d been holding that breath since the last goodbye.

“I told my parents. I told them I filed for divorce. I just laid it all out.”

Brooks’ whole demeanor shifted. He knew what telling her parents meant especially about the divorce.In her community, divorce wasn’t just a legal proceeding. It was a scandal, a failure.

“How bad did they take it?” His voice softened. She was still his assignment. Not in the way people meant it. Not as a project. But as a responsibility he chose. One he was willing and ready to make every day.

“Bad,” she whispered. “My daddy wouldn’t even look at me. Momma just keeps saying we should go to counseling. Like she didn’t hear what I said.” She trailed off, and he could hear and see the tears she was fighting back.

“And I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m frustrated. We are past counseling.”

He respected her parents, always had. They were good people church folks, traditional, the kind that had looked out for their family when their father passed. But they had him fucked up if they thought Taylor deserved anything less than their full support.

Brooks took a slow breath through his nose, working through the anger sitting hot in his chest.

“I’m so sick of this shit,” she muttered, voice shaking.

“Sick of being the only one who has to stay strong, act right, take everything folks throw at me like I’m built for it.

I’m not fixing shit this time, Brooks.

I’m not praying it away. I’m not pretending I’m fine.”

She paused, breath shallow.

“I just… I need…”

She watched his jaw flex.

“What do you need, Tay?” His voice was low. Steady. Serious.

“I don’t fuckin’ know, support, a hug. A second tocatch my breath” she admitted, voice rough.

“Come to me. I’m in Denver. I’ll send you a plane ticket right now.”

The words were out before he could think twice.

“You serious?” She asked, her voice smaller than she intended. Not just because he’d answered while away, but because he’d offered her escape without question or judgment. Just open arms when she needed them most. She didn’t even deserve it.

“Dead serious,” Brooks said, already pulling up the airline app up on his second phone.

He paused, hearing the shift in her breathing.

“Denver? Brooks, I can’t fly to Denver. That’s crazy.”

Her heart thudded so loud she could hear it in her ears. She didn’t know how to stop bracing for disappointment, even with a man who only showed up to catch her. With Tyree, she’d lowered herself for crumbs. Brooks was offering a feast, and she still didn’t know how to eat.

“Brooks, I have work. I can’t.” But even as she said it, she knew that wasn’t the real reason. It never was.

“Why not?” His voice dropped, teasing. “Fuck that job. I’ll buy you a hospital.”

“Brooks, be serious,” she said through her laughter and sniffles. She smiled that was the first real sound of joy she’d let out all day. This was why she had called. Brooks always knew what to do.