“Why—” “Because it’s you!” The words were already out there, turning to ice in the frosty air, and Ethan couldn’t bring them back. And worse, he didn’t want to. “It’s always been you, Maggie. Losing my job? It was nothing. I was glad to be rid of it. Losing my mom? It sucked but it was a long time ago and I’ve made my peace. But losing you? It would break me.” He felt his pulse change rhythms, like his heart had found a gear he didn’t even know it had. “It would break me in ways that would never, ever mend.”
