James is all I have. I chose James. He has to be right. Please let him be right.

I chose him. If I chose him, he had to be the right choice. I wouldn’t love him if it weren’t right.

I’ll take care of her.” “She’s not yours to take care of.

You are going to bed,” James snaps. “Ooh, James,” Fia whispers dramatically. “Not in front of my sister. She hates you.

Ah, but that’s the glory of not being Eden. She can feel bad all she wants and we never have to feel it!” “You, beautiful girl, are mean.” I smile and pull my sunglasses down. “You love me.

Whatever else he is, James is my one safe place in the world.

I’m his. It’s such a relief to be someone’s, to not have to be my own.

I can’t figure out whether the idea of seeing James or never seeing him again hurts more. I don’t want to talk to him until I can decide. We walked the path together, but he almost took me so far down it I would have fallen off the edge. Not even he could have caught me then.

His eyes search mine, more serious than his tone would indicate, and I know he’s looking to see whether or not I’m falling apart. He doesn’t need to.