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Of course, it wasn’t gambling, because that was his mother. Just a family card game.

But they all joined in, and he felt content in a way he hadn’t in a long time.

His mother and father had always liked to have a card game after a family meal, and he could remember being restless about that. Wanting to get on with the next thing. Wanting to get out of there so he could go hang out with his friends.

He didn’t want that now.

He wouldn’t trade in the slower-paced family game for much of anything.

Except for maybe another moment alone with Rory.

Lydia beat everybody and was obnoxious about it, which she appreciated about his little sister, and he offered to clean up the card game to applause from that same sister, who he now wanted to throttle a little bit. But in a good-natured way. A way that felt normal.

He was back at the game closet when he closed the door and Lydia was standing right there behind it.

“Be careful with my friend,” she said.

“Everybody seems to be very concerned with that,” he said.

He’d already been warned off by Fia, and that was before anything even happened.

“Because she’s sweet. And I think a little bit naive.”

“And you aren’t?”

“Not as much as she is.”

What struck him was how much his relationship with Rory—whatever it was—felt like a first time to him.

He didn’t feel like he had any idea what he was doing, or like he could anticipate what would happen next, or control his feelings.

It was fucking weird.

But he could see why his sister would think he was the one that had to be warned. Like he was the one who had the experience. Like he was the one who might be experimenting or playing around.

“If you want to know what’s going on, just ask. But, Rory is leaving. You know that.”

Lydia frowned. “Well, maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe she wouldn’t if...”

He realized that his sister wasn’t mad.

She washoping.

“You want her to stay,” he said.

“Of course I do. She’s my best friend. If she leaves, then I’m not going to have anybody. I know that Rory felt like she was this big geek in middle school and high school, but I thought she was the greatest. And I never needed another friend. I don’t want her to go.”

“I can’t make her stay,” he said. “Rory has to do what’s best for her. And I am not going to hold her back. I’m not even asking.”

“She... She’s in love with you, Gideon.” That made him feel like he’d been stabbed through the chest. “You have to know that. She has been forever.”

“Maybe she thought she was. With the version of me she knew back then, but I am not the same man, and the one I am now has only been around her for a week. Yeah, there’s a spark there, but that’s not love. Believe me. I know.”

“Gideon...”

“I am not asking her to stay for me. Not for me. She has plans. She’s going to make a new life for herself, and I’m proud of her.”

“So am I. I just am going to be so lonely.”