Page 35 of Hale Yeah, It’s You

I exhale, forcing myself to stay calm. “You’re probably right.

I should’ve told you I’d been thinking about it for a while.

But, Clay, it’s been eleven years since I moved in.

Don’t you think I deserve a life of my own?

I love you both and I always will—but it’s time for you to be a parent to your daughter, and for me to be the best aunt I can be. Just… not under the same roof.”

Clay’s jaw tightens. “But I love you—”

The words hit like a slap, and I recoil. Alayna pulls away, shock flashing across her face. How many times do we have to go over this ?

“No, Clay. You love Tasha. And you always will.” My voice softens. “There are some loves you don’t recover from. And that’s okay.”

I’m still in love with Roman—a fact that becomes clearer every time I’m with him.

If Clay’s feelings for Tasha run deeper than mine for Roman, complicated by the fact that they share a child…

I can only imagine the kind of mark that leaves.

I don’t blame him. But I know he can never love me in the way I need to be loved.

And I can’t pretend anymore that I could love him back in that way, either.

Alayna’s gaze bounces between us, realization dawning. “Wait—you were trying to be together-together?”

Clay crosses his arms, jaw ticking. “It was clearly a mistake.”

Alayna lets out a breathy, almost hysterical laugh. “Dad, you’re an idiot.”

“Excuse me?” Clay’s tone is sharp, but his arms drop slowly to his sides. Some of the fight drains from him. The slightest hint of a smile tugs at his lips.

“I get it—Keke is gorgeous and smart, and a staple in our lives—but you don’t love her like that.”

Clay lets out a long sigh. “You’re a teenager. What do you know about love?”

“I know enough.” Alayna’s chin lifts with her declaration and Clay stares at her, weariness etched into the deepening lines of his face.

“We have to fix this. This”—he gestures around the office—“can’t become our normal.”

“Absolutely not.” I add, as I wipe a stray tear from Alayna’s cheek. When did she grow up so much?

Clay’s shoulders sag, his expression softening. “I miss you.”

Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I nod. “Can I come back to Sunday dinners?”

Alayna grabs my shoulder, pressing me toward her dad, pulling us all into a tight group hug. “Let’s make them mandatory, okay? ”

“Done,” Clay says, holding us close. “And I’ll try to stop being such an idiot.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

“No, kid, you’re right. I needed to hear it.”

For the first time in a long time, things feel right. We’ll have to heal from this—but at least now, we’re trying. And that’s a start. Our foundation is solid; we have good bones. We can survive this renovation.

“My girls need me to be better—I get it.” Clay rubs a hand over my back before stepping away. This time, when he calls us his girls , it doesn’t feel wrong. “Alright, kid, get yourself to class before they change their minds and kick you out of that play you’re so excited about.”

Alayna stretches up on her tiptoes and kisses her dad’s cheek. Some of the color has returned to her face, and she looks lighter, like a weight’s been lifted. I can only hope that seeing her dad and me communicating eases some of the anxiety she’s been carrying.

“And maybe after school today, you can come see my new place?” I offer cautiously. “I’ll drive you home after. But only if you’re up for it.” I hold my breath, waiting.

Alayna hesitates for only a moment before nodding. “Yes. I’d like that.” She kisses my cheek, then slips out of the office.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Clay claps his hands down on my shoulders.

His touch is familiar, grounding. A sense of relief washes over me, like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.

We still have healing to do, and I’m not sure Clay’s fully admitted to himself that he isn’t in love with me—but for the first time, it feels like he could get there.

“I owe you an apology,” he says, exhaling. “Apparently, I’ve been an idiot, and it took a fourteen-year-old calling me out to make me see it.” He gives my shoulders a small squeeze.

He’s one of my oldest and closest friends. For a minute, I think we both forgot that. Things got complicated—but that doesn’t mean we can’t un complicate them .

“We both made mistakes,” I say. “Let’s just agree to communicate better moving forward—especially for that girl.”

Clay nods, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “She’s important. But so is your happiness, Frankie. I was selfish with you, and that wasn’t fair.”

His words catch me off guard, a fresh wave of emotion rising in my chest. “Thank you for saying that.”

“I should’ve said it a long time ago.”

He leans in, presses a soft kiss to my forehead, then steps back. Taking his hands from my shoulders, he gives me one last lingering look, then turns and walks out, leaving me alone in the office.

I stagger back into one of the chairs, letting my heart rate settle. Less than an hour ago, I walked in here with anxiety clawing at my ribs, unsure of how this would play out. But now, a quiet peace begins to settle over me.

Things are going to be okay. I’m not sure how I know. But I do.