Chapter 6: The Line Drawn

His gaze was open and intense, fixed on me.

I felt a little awkward, about to answer, when hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Alex Lane rushed up, a little out of breath. “Anna.”

He stopped, caught his breath, saw Jason Carter, and his anxiety faded, replaced by coldness. “Glad you’re home safe.”

I’d been at the restaurant so long, and only now did he come looking for me. That realization hit hard.

I answered with a simple “Mm,” not bothering with the old warmth.

He seemed to notice, glanced at Jason Carter, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before he masked it and nodded. “Thanks for bringing her back, Jason.”

I instinctively looked at Alex Lane.

Jason gave a faint, almost mocking smile. “Alex, you’re too polite. Why would I need your thanks for bringing Anna home?”

He was blunt, but Alex Lane didn’t seem to catch the sarcasm. He looked down and told me, “When you get back, have your mom light the lavender candle I gave you. It’ll help you sleep.”

I didn’t answer, but thought about how Jason Carter’s gifts were starting to take up too much space in my room.

In the air, the commentary scrolled by:

“Something’s off. When Alex Lane realized it was Jason Carter who brought Anna back, why did his face look so bad?”

“Does Alex Lane have some possessiveness toward Anna?”

“Don’t mess things up. Wanting everything makes me mad.”

“It’s not really wanting everything. Anna’s his childhood friend. It’s normal to care.”

Jason’s face darkened at Alex’s words. He was about to say something, but I cut in and turned to Alex. “Can you stay over tonight?”

Alex looked surprised. He pressed his lips together, then smiled slightly. “Sure.”

He nodded at Jason. “Jason, you should get home early. Take care.”

Jason’s chest rose and fell. He couldn’t hide his disappointment. His face was gloomy, and his gaze at me was full of something heavy.

I told him, “Jason, you should go back first. See you another day.”

The light in Jason’s eyes dimmed. He nodded, voice a little hoarse. “Yeah.”

My brother couldn’t wait any longer and went inside. Alex Lane walked beside me, chatting about his week. I tuned him out, thinking about all the stuff Alex had given me—how each thing made the years of feelings harder to erase.

Not making a decision would be death by a thousand cuts, tormenting myself.

Tonight, I’d return every single thing Alex Lane ever gave me.

Alex stayed in my brother’s guest room. I asked Mike to stick around and bring Alex to the living room.

With my brother as a witness, I could make things clear—a line drawn, once and for all.

I let them sit and wait, then told the housekeeper, “Bring out and count all the things Alex Lane’s given me.”

My brother paused, mug halfway to his mouth, raising an eyebrow at Alex Lane—

This was it. No more almosts, no more maybes. I was choosing myself this time.