He left her in the morning. If there was one thing Ethan could say he was adept at, it was avoiding mornings after. But that certainly wasn’t why he crept out of Harper’s apartment before she woke.

Ethan hadn’t slept much the previous night. Instead, he lay awake watching Harper slumber fitfully, wondering what the hell he was doing. He didn’t date people. He didn’t stay the night in women’s apartments. He was pretty much the worse candidate that existed for emotional comfort.

And yet, there he was - doing all of those things for Harper.

Before her, they had never really existed. While Ethan had always respected women, he had never really taken the time to get to know any of them. They scratched his itch and he continued with his life.

Perhaps it was for the best. Ethan quickly found out just how dangerous sleeping next to a woman was. He tended to watch Harper sleep more than getting any actual rest - which was blasphemy, considering how much he prized his sleep. The only time Harper ever let her guard down was when she was unconscious. It was a beautiful thing that he wished he could see more of.

Thus, the lack of sleep.

Staying awake to watch someone sleep, however, sounded like something right out of a bad romance novel... but that didn’t make him do it any less.

When Ethan left Harper, he justified his actions by telling himself that she would need time alone with her sister. There was a mountain of work he needed to do anyway, and he was hoping Toshiro would call so he could figure out exactly what the hell had happened.

But really, he was fleeing a deep seated, unshakable need to never leave her side at all.

**

When Alistair called, he was glad to be distracted. “Tell me things are going well. Because I’m sure as hell not coming down there to bail your ass out again.”

Alistair snorted. “As I recall, you didn’t do too much bailing, really.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “Only because you took matters into your own hands.”

“I hope that wasn’t meant to be a sexual joke, because you’re fucking horrible at those.”

Ethan couldn’t help but smile at the banter. As he’d left Harper after the morning rush, traffic was clear all the way uptown and he could actually appreciate the commute. “Is there any actual reason you called?”

“What, I can’t check up on you?” Alistair put on a pained air that didn’t suit him at all. “I thought we bonded, Ethan. Don’t shut me out.”

“Yeah, yeah. What do you want?”

“How are things going with your matchmaker?” Ethan honestly found himself slightly taken aback by Alistair’s bluntness - even though he himself had requested it. As Harper had requested, they were discreet enough to keep the media outlets guessing, and Ethan had thought that no one in his family knew she was in the picture either.

But wasn’t that what they planned. “Between her and me? Fine. We’ve a very nice little arrangement. One that was a little strained when Toshiro went AWOL.”

“What?” Alistair’s incredulity was apparent. “What the hell d’you mean AWOL? He doesn’t fucking know the meaning of the word.”

This was, of course, coming from an expert in the matter.

Though Ethan didn’t know too much about the situation himself, he did his best to explain what had happened to Alistair. Athena worked for Toshiro, they were involved, and somewhere along the line, something had gone wrong.

“Fuck.” Alistair groaned. “Should we be taking him into fucking witness protection?”

Ethan sighed. “With Toshiro, there’s always some deeper explanation. Any chance you’ve talked to Vlad lately? He might have details.

A frustrated emission escaped the elder man. “You know he doesn’t talk to me. I’m the difficult one.”

“You’re the oldest,” Ethan returned wryly, “If anything, you should be reigning him in.”

“Like anyone but Dad could control Vlad.”

“We’re not talking about Vlad. We’re talking about Toshiro. Try to get in contact with him for me, will you?” Ethan hated to ask Alistair to help when he still had his hands full with the land acquisition, but this was important to him.

Because it was important to Harper.

Alistair expelled a long sigh. “I’ll do my best. No promises.”

That was all he could ask.

When Ethan arrived at the office, he was surprised to find his father absent. Usually the man liked to remind him of responsibility and duty when he was late, but upon his arrival on the top floor, the secretary announced that Jackson had called out for the day.

Ethan couldn’t ever recall his old man calling out without explaining why at least a month beforehand. The development made him a little uneasy, and he resolved to call his mother once he had bulldozed his way through his workload to check on things back at the manor.

Vlad had just solidified things on a new building for a subsidiary he was working with in Russia and was apparently on his way back to California with architect Charlotte Gardner. That meant that he was going to have an ass-load of work to do in the next few weeks.

And then, in three months… their father was going to retire permanently.

Though Ethan had no doubt that Vlad was ready to fill the old man’s shoes, it was hard to picture coming to the office without him. Jackson Kensley had been a fixture in New York since before Ethan had been born - before he’d been a Kensley. His entire childhood had been based around the man’s work in the company - in the pride he had in the firm he’d built from the ground up.

The name Kensley was more than business. It was more than family. For Ethan, it was everything. The Kensleys had saved him from being lost in a system that might have ruined him. They had given him every tool he might ever need. If it weren’t for his family, he might never have met Harper - and Jackson Kensley was the purveyor of it all.

It would certainly be strange to see him step out of the office for the last time.

Ethan did his best not to dwell on the matter. Instead, he set to work - and when he had a spare moment to himself, he wondered how Harper was faring with her sister.

Since the blonde told him something went down between Athena and Toshiro, Ethan had been trying to reach his brother. Neither Toshiro nor Vlad was picking up - and they were supposed to be the sane ones. They would have to come back to the office eventually, however, and then everything would come out for certain.

Whatever everything was.

There was, unfortunately, no call from Harper to distract him from his workload, and without his father or Vlad on premises, Ethan found he had a lot on his plate. There was no time for a lunch break, and he barely got a chance to leave the office until well past five in the evening.

By that time, the light-haired man had a headache and was seriously contemplating beheading the next person that came to him with a request. More than anything, he wanted to return to Harper’s apartment, but he knew better than to intrude.

It was a longing for the comforts of home that drew him to leave the city as soon as he got a chance. It must have been months since Ethan had last visited the manor. At least since he’d come at the behest of his mother when they were planning the charity ball. Ethan had an apartment in midtown Manhattan, but Long Island was home; the place that had given him a normal childhood and taught him what it was really like to live.

Even though going home often meant getting smothered by his parents, sometimes it was worth it. Ethan was prepared to answer any questions they might have about his love life or otherwise. Wasn’t it a son’s duty to humor his folks every now and then?

By the time Ethan began up the drive to the manor, healthy anticipation swelled his chest. He would let his father rib him a little, let his mother feed him up. Maybe if he were lucky, he’d even run into Lucas.

But then, all at once, the bubble within him burst. Halfway up to the drive, Ethan caught flashes of red, blue, and white. His blood ran cold.

Why the hell were there emergency vehicles at the house?

Immediately, Ethan floored the gas petal. The engine revved and gravel crunched as he came around the corner to a sight from his worst nightmares.

The manor was surrounded by a few cop cars, a firetruck, an ambulance, and even some news trucks. For a moment, Ethan thought something might have happened to the house itself, but then he realized that all the medical personnel were in a frenzy.

And his father had called out that morning.

Ethan couldn’t park fast enough. As soon as he turned the car off, he was rushing towards the front walk. A few policemen made to stop him but held off when they realized who he was. Even still, with everyone swarming over the property, it took Ethan a good five minutes to get inside. They were, without a doubt, the longest five minutes of his life.

All the activity in the house was centered in the east wing, and when Ethan skidded to a halt outside his parents’ bedroom, he forgot how to breathe. His father was on a stretcher on the bedroom floor, unmoving, as a number of paramedics moved frantically around him.

“Mom!” At his shout, Olivia Kensley jerked to attention from where she’d been wringing her hands over her husband. Her eyes were red with crying, and she all but flew into Ethan’s arms.

His mother was one of the strongest women Ethan had ever known. She had shown him what true motherhood was all about - raised five boys with a skill, strength and poise he hadn’t even known it was possible to possess. Despite her grace, she was firm when she needed to be, and compassionate whenever he needed a sympathetic ear.

He had never seen her like this.

“Mom, what happened?” Ethan held her close, his heart hammering crazily against his ribs. Was his father unconscious? Please just say he was unconscious “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” Olivia Kensley’s voice shook uncontrollably. “One minute he was fine, the next he was on the floor and unresponsive. I called nine-one-one and now... I don’t know, Ethan. I don’t know.”

Seeing his usually strong mother in such distress was enough to raise every protective instinct Ethan possessed. He wanted to take her away from the sight of the medics swarming her husband, but knew better than to try to drag her from his side. Ethan himself was transfixed. He was convinced that his father, stubborn man that he was, would suddenly sit up as if nothing had happened at all.

Instead, he was taken away in an ambulance. The medics that sought Ethan out spoke much too quickly for him to make out much more than unresponsive and breathing. They needed to take his father to the hospital for more tests, and Olivia insisted on going with him, begging Ethan to call his brothers and let them know what had happened.

It was a heavy task that Ethan agreed to only with solemn reluctance. More than anything, he wanted to enter the damn ambulance himself. He wanted to be there when Jackson Kensley opened his eyes and demanded to know what all the fuss was about - but he’d been slapped with a greater responsibility.

One he wasn’t looking forward to.

Ethan spent the night at the manor with his phone next to his ear. Ideally, he’d have a better idea of his father’s condition before he started to call his brothers - as such, he barely slept a wink. He attempted to call his mother several times and did his best not to panic when she didn’t answer. She would be involved at the hospital - it didn’t mean anything.

Except anxiety, of course - and the overwhelming fear that there was something horribly wrong with his father.

It seemed like when shit hit the fan, it did so royally - and Ethan was at a loss for what course of action to take. He nursed a cup of coffee for a good hour before he worked up the balls to begin calling everyone.

And it was an absolute shit show.

He called Lucas first, and barely managed to get the words out before his youngest brother vowed that he was on his way that very instant. With Alistair, there was a long string of curses that sounded more desperate, even, than his reaction in the wake of facing down a shotgun-wielding Chloe Trellis. Vlad had only just hopped off a Russian plane, but told Ethan that he would be on the next flight to New York, no questions asked. Toshiro still seemed to be MIA, but Ethan left no less than four messages on his voicemail, each more desperate than the last.

Ethan didn’t know which was worse - being alone in the manor when his father should be puttering around, or having to be the bearer of such bad news all around. When everything was said and done about an hour before dawn, he was almost exhausted enough to sleep.

The only thing he was missing was Harper.

Ethan was struck with a sudden, powerful longing - so intense the need was almost painful. Harper. He wanted Harper here beside him - her arms wrapped around him, that knowing smile of hers chastising him. He wanted her to tell him that he had nothing to fear - no matter how untrue that might be.

It was a strange notion. Whenever Ethan went through trying times, his first impulse was, of course, a woman. Depending on the nature of the trial, his second desire was usually to ask Lucas or someone equally versed for guidance. But, in that moment, his needs were very specific.

Harper. With him - around him. Beside him.

He reached for the phone to call her and hesitated. Would she even be awake at this hour? And if she was, Ethan was sure she’d be busy with her sister.

Before he had the chance to call her, Isabella arrived to work. The older woman immediately came to him, her face pale and concerned. “Ethan, where are your madre and padre? Have they left on a trip? I wasn’t told.”

Ethan took one look at her face and braced himself for waterworks. Isabella had been working at the manor for the last twenty years. She might as well be a part of the family herself - she wouldn’t take this well.

When Ethan explained what happened, Isabella groped for the nearest armchair, sinking down into it as she paled even further. Selfishly, Ethan found himself glad that she would most likely be the only person he had to tell face to face. He couldn’t imagine any of his brothers reacting any better.

It took him about twenty minutes to calm Isabella down - which was hard, considering that he didn’t have any more information than she did. As terrifying as it was, the only thing that Ethan could be certain of was that his father was still alive. At the very least, the hospital would have called if there’d been any news otherwise.

**

She had never seen her sister like this.

All their lives, Harper had been the one to suppress her emotions. She’d do anything to keep her sister smiling, and that often meant burying her own unease to show Athena a stiff upper lip. The dark-haired girl was always smiling - always laughing. Harper did everything she could to protect her from the cruelty of the world, and into her sister, she poured the very best of herself.

But Athena wasn’t smiling now.

When Harper picked her up from the airport, Athena had embraced her tightly for a long time without speaking. Her sister’s usually bright blue eyes were dull and tired, and she looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. She said little on the drive home, and the moment she entered the apartment, she went to her room and shut the door behind her.

Harper waited for a good two or three hours until her anxiety got the better of her. She wanted to give Athena space, but couldn’t stand the thought of her sister alone and miserable if there might be something she could do to help.

The first time she knocked, Athena didn’t answer. “Thee…” Harper kept her voice soft as she leaned against the door. “I know you’re awake. Are you ok?”

Nothing.

Sighing, Harper pressed her forehead against the door, her throat tight with worry. “Thee?” She waited perhaps another minute before she opened the door.

Athena was inside the room she’d left vacant for months, but the lights were still off. As far as Harper could tell, the young woman hadn’t even touched her luggage. Athena lie on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, her eyes wet with tears.

For a long beat, Harper just stared, startled to feel her own vision blurring. In that moment, she might have murdered Toshiro Kensley. She had no idea what had happened between the man and her sister - no idea what might have hurt Athena so deeply - but there was no way the younger woman deserved it.

None.

“Thee.” Harper hurried to the bed to sink down next to her sister, taking her hand in hers. “Talk to me, hon. I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

In response, Athena merely turned to her, burying her face in her sister’s lap. “You were right. You were right about everything, Harper.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?” Slowly, she stroked through Athena’s hair in an attempt to soothe her, her heart sinking somehow lower in her belly.

“All this time,” Athena’s words came muffled against her sister’s abdomen, “You tried to tell me about men and love and manipulation and I never listened to you.”

“Athena, I only wanted to protect you,” Harper murmured lowly. “I didn’t mean to make you think-”

“That love is a joke? An excuse to shove your heart through a meat grinder?”

Fuck. Even Harper had to wince at that one. This didn’t sound like Athena at all. Once upon a time, Harper might have hoped against hope that her sister would adopt her very wary view of the world and the men in it. But now, the timing was off. Harper was just beginning to discover for herself that, perhaps, her very skewed idea of love and emotional connection wasn’t quite as accurate as she might have believed.

Even if she was loathed to admit it.

“Athena, you have to talk to me. If you don’t tell me what he did, I won’t know why I’m going to jail for murder.”

That, thankfully, was enough to draw a shaky titter of laughter from the girl in her arms. Athena looked up at her with large, wet eyes. “It’s a long story.”

Harper smiled down at her baby sister. “Good thing I’ve got nothing but time.”

**

The blonde couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept in the same bed as her sister - probably when they were kids after watching some scary movie their parents had banned. Harper felt no shame then and she didn’t feel any now. If Athena needed her, she was there - without question.

After her sister finally fell into an exhausted sleep, Harper found herself wrestling with the feelings that warred within her. There was a part of her that was secretly glad that Athena was home. With her sister in her apartment, Harper could concentrate solely on her. She wouldn’t allow herself to get side-tracked by any distractions.

Particular distractions of the tall, dark and Kensley variety.

But there was another part that desperately wanted to call Ethan; not because she wanted to question him about Toshiro - there would be plenty of time for that. Simply because it hurt Harper to see her sister in so much pain and the notion of hearing Ethan’s flippant manner of encouragement raised her spirits.

She almost wished he were there.

But that came with its own set of problems. Athena didn’t know that she and Ethan were seeing one another, and now was hardly the time to mention such a thing. Atop that, how the hell was she going to maintain her image as a staunchly anti-romance hard-ass when Ethan all but had her in the palm of his hand.

Harper supposed that she could cross that bridge when she reached it. For now, Athena needed all her attention. She could call Ethan when her sister finally cracked a genuine smile that Harper had so missed.

It was a challenge to coax Athena out of her room the next morning, but Harper managed with promises of a hearty breakfast from her sister’s favorite diner. Though Athena still looked exhausted, when Harper brought her favorite egg sandwich, she earned something that was halfway toward to the smile she had been looking for.

And everything was almost alright with the world.

Of course, Athena didn’t want to talk much about what had happened between her and Toshiro. She talked more about the places she’d been and the things she’d done - veritable circles around the actual relationship she’d left behind. She speculated on going back to her old job, looking for a new one, and moving forward the best she could.

If it kept Athena from crying, Harper supposed she was alright with neglecting the elephant in the room. It certainly wasn’t going anywhere - and if Harper was going to see Ethan again without busting a gasket, she needed to figure a few things out.

At least, that was the plan.

“So, you’re not going to work today?” Athena looked much happier after her coffee and an extra donut Harper brought her.

A soft, surprised laugh escaped the blonde. “You know, I hadn’t even thought about it.”

Athena arched a brow teasingly. “The workaholic thinking about something else? Will wonders never cease.”

“I’m thinking about you.” Harper took a sip of her own coffee, her gaze lingering on the younger woman. “And what we can do to make you feel better today.”

Athena smiled, reaching out to take Harper’s hand and squeeze it warmly. “I’m not going to drop dead of a rare disease, Harper. Life has just caught up with me.”

The blonde’s expression turned quizzical. “Caught up with you?”

Athena expelled a long sigh, taking another swig of her coffee. “It’s just like you said, remember? If I had been more careful... if I hadn’t mixed work and pleasure…”

Immediately, Harper frowned, sinking down in the seat next to her sister. “Athena, there is nothing wrong with you. None of this is your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” A bitter laugh escaped the dark-haired girl. “I’m constantly throwing everything out there - putting my entire self on the line. It makes sense that someone would eventually take advantage of it.”

“Athena, your putting yourself on the line is what makes you such a gorgeous person,” Harper insisted, her tone fierce. “You’ve always been what I can’t be. Never think that’s wrong.”

“Harper, do you know how many times I’ve wished I could be like you? That I could view things in terms of value - plus and minus - instead of just thrusting myself into the goddamned void?” Athena shook her head with a rueful smile. “I envy you... that you don’t give everyone a piece of yourself.”

Harper could have groaned aloud. Was it some sort of sick joke that you always envied the person you couldn’t be? How many times had she admired Athena’s carefree nature - longed to be able to enjoy life like she did. Harper knew she was a hard ass - that she was difficult to get to know and even harder to please, but she lived vicariously through Athena, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Thee,” Harper took her sister’s hands between hers, looking her in the eye so the younger woman could feel how earnest she was, “You are beautiful, just as you are. I know I can come off as... callous when it comes to matters of the heart. But that’s me. The fact that you don’t let anyone dull your shine is you. And despite all the crap I spout, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You shouldn’t change... especially since some overblown rich guy has made the mistake of taking you for granted.”

Harper was more than a little alarmed when Athena began to tear up again. “God, Harp, you would say something like that when I’m at my most vulnerable.”

“Oh God, I didn’t mean to make you cry more. I feel like I’ve done enough of that already.”

“Just shut up and hug me, Harper.”

That she could gladly do. With a fond smile, the blonde enfolded her sister in her arms. She hated that Athena was hurting, but she supposed it wasn’t all bad if her little sister came home to her.

They spent a lazy morning lounging on the couch as Harper went through the things Athena brought her back from abroad. Her sister hadn’t lied - there was a whole extra carry-on full of souvenirs. Harper’s reactions to her gifts had the effect of both cheering Athena up and proving to the younger woman that she was, after all, more versed in the real world than her older sister.

“It’s a knife.”

“I can see it’s a knife!” Harper sucked at a deceptively small but deep cut that said knife had inflicted as she examined it. “It’s huge.”

It was at least the length of her briefcase, and so sharp that she could probably get more lacerations just from looking at it. “I thought a good knife might encourage you to cook more.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “Actual cooking skill might encourage me to cook more.”

Athena smirked. “Practice cultivates skill. A domestic habit or two might do you some good, Harp. Plus, that knife cost me a mint, so you’d better use it.”

The blonde groaned, long and low, before setting the dangerous weapon aside and reaching for the television remote. “Well, if I’m going to be cooking, might as well find a decent channel to teach me something.”

She meant to find some fairly mundane show on the food network just to please Athena, but instead, the news report that popped up on the screen caught her eye before she could change the channel.

“...billionaire construction and real estate mogul Jackson Kensley was rushed to the hospital after collapsing in his Long Island home last night. No report yet on whether Kensley’s condition is life threatening. The family is keeping details of the matter very private, and no statement has yet been issued.”

For a moment, Harper merely stared at the screen, certain she had misheard the impeccably coiffed woman who delivered the news. Jackson Kensley was in the hospital? That couldn’t be right. If something had happened to Ethan’s father, she felt the man would have told her. The Kensleys were a notoriously tight-knit group. There was no way he would have gone unaffected.

“Harper?” She was jerked back to the present by Athena’s concerned inquiry. The blonde looked to see her sister glancing at the news report before addressing her once again. “Are you Ok?”

“...Fine,” she managed, groping for her phone where it laid on the side table. Was it possible that she’d missed a call or text? Unlikely. She’d checked after she showered that morning to see if there were any work calls she needed to make. There was nothing from Ethan.

“It’s pretty awful...” Athena was frowning as the newscaster continued to speculate on the Kensley patriarch’s health. “Mr. Kensley... he’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I hate to imagine him in the hospital but... I suppose it’s none of my affair anymore.”

For a long moment, Harper merely stared at the longing expression on her sister’s face. Even if she was angry and hurt by what transpired between her and Toshiro, it was evident that Athena wanted nothing more than to support the man who had hired her. In her heart, it was still wholly and completely her affair, even if she was doing her best to hide it.

Harper commiserated completely. In all honesty, the fact that Ethan hadn’t called worried her. Made her want to get in touch with him right that second and make sure that he was alright. That he didn’t need her.

“You want to call him, don’t you?”

Harper started, looking back to her sister. “Who?”

At that particular act of innocence, Athena graced her sister with a wry smirk. “Ethan.”

Immediately, Harper’s face flamed. She shook her head frantically, denial leaping to her tongue. “Why would you think that? I mean... I always care for the well-being of my clients-”

“Oh, come off it, Harper.” Athena grinned. “Just because I’m half a world away doesn’t mean I don’t watch the news. I’ve seen all the speculation about you two... and a couple of incriminating photos too. But, more than that,” she continued quickly, before her sister could even work up a suitable defense, “The look on your face.” Athena’s gaze softened as she reached for her sister’s hand. “You really think I don’t know that look?”

And just like that, she was caught. Harper never intended to make this about her problems. She wanted to bring Athena home, pamper her sister and make sure she had some rest and relaxation. Then, she planned to give Toshiro Kensley a piece of her goddamned mind.

But now, all that was shot to shit because Athena was looking at her like she was the one who needed comforting. Harper should have told her sister that it was nothing - brushed aside that sympathetic look and focused solely on Athena. Her sister was, after all, the most important thing in her life.

Instead, she found her breath hitching, her heart in her throat. The need to speak to Ethan was almost overwhelming - to hear his voice and make sure he was alright. If she could just talk to him for a few minutes…

“You should call him, Harper.” Athena’s smile was genuine and warm. “Be there for him.”

“I should be here for you,” her sister countered immediately, guilt churning in her belly. “You’re the most important thing in the world to me, Athena.”

The dark-haired girl laughed softly. “And you’re important to me... which is why I know you need to call him.”

This was supposed to be Athena’s time to get emotional, but Harper found herself blinking back a few tears. What the hell had she done to deserve someone like Athena? Her sister was too good for her in almost every way. “I just need a second, ok?”

Athena’s returning smile was loving and indulgent. “Take as long as you need.”

Harper gave the dark-haired woman a quick squeeze before retreating to her bedroom. Once alone inside, she hesitated for only a moment before dialing Ethan’s number. As it rang, she self-deprecated. He was probably having a family moment. He’d need privacy. There were a whole bevy of reasons he might not have called her, and she shouldn’t take offense at any of them…

But Harper just wanted to hear his voice.

Ethan answered on the third ring. “Harper.”

There was such pain in his tone - such raw need that Harper shuddered. “Ethan, I just saw the news. Is everything ok?”

She knew the moment that she asked that such a question was moot. His father was in the hospital! How the hell could anything be OK?

He hesitated before answering, and Harper hoped she wasn’t prying where she wasn’t wanted. But then, Ethan said the very last thing she expected. “Can you come to Long Island, Harper?”

There was a beat in which Harper was shocked into silence. He wanted her there? With his family? Surely, that was the last place she belonged. She was a matchmaker - his father had tried to hire her for God’s sake. What right did she have to be anywhere near his hospital bed?

“Ethan... I... wouldn’t want to intrude. I know this must be a private time. A family time.”

“Harper, I need you. I’d... like to have you here. Please come.”

It was probably the highest compliment any man had ever paid her. Ethan was asking for emotional support at crucial time in his life…

“Alright.”

Harper went through the motions of leaving her house as if in a daze. Of course, she told Athena that she would stay if her sister needed her. She even went through the motions of sitting back on the couch until the younger woman urged her up again.

“Harper, go. I’m fine. I’m home. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You need me here.”

“He needs you.” It was criminal that Athena could be so goddamned understanding when she was going through her own difficulties. The dark-haired woman squeezed Harper tightly before releasing her with a reassuring smile. In that smile, Harper sensed the pain of her own secret longing. But Athena didn’t let her dwell on it. “Go.”

For once in her life, Harper listened. She didn’t think about what she should or shouldn’t feel - what this might or might not mean. If Ethan needed her to be there for him, she would be.

And she’d worry about the repercussions later.