“I know.”
He studied me for a long moment.
“Do you think she’s happy?”
I thought about Karen standing beneath the bookstore sign, smiling at customers.
“I think she’s learning how to be.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Then don’t make her regret trusting someone again.”
The words struck me harder than I expected.
“I won’t.”
He extended his hand.
I stared at it.
“Seriously?”
“Don’t make me regret this, either.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug.
For the first time in months, I felt as though I could breathe.
But when we separated, Daniel raised a finger.
“One more thing.”
“Here it comes.”
“If you ever hurt her, I’ll break your nose.”
I nodded solemnly.
“That’s fair.”
“And if you ever make me sit through a conversation about your romantic life, I’ll break both of your arms.”
“That’s less fair.”
“Life is complicated.”
I laughed.
And for the first time since everything had fallen apart, it felt as though my best friend might still be my best friend.
