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“No, it wasn’t. I know that even if I was aware of it, I would’ve let you continue,” she told me, her words determined.

I wasn’t sure she realized how wrong it was for me to use her that way, but before I could ask her about it, she spoke again.

“Everything you’ve ever made me feel were things I wanted to feel. I would’ve stopped you otherwise. I knew I wanted the things you did to me. They made me feel alive, and they showed me how much I loved you then. You’re not the bad guy here, Fennec, but if you were, I’d be just as bad as you.”

Her words were honest and true, but it took me a moment to accept them.

To me, I was the one turning her into the person she was now.

“Please don’t bring yourself down,” she whispered, cupping my cheek with her hand while keeping the other in mine. “We’re healing, and although the past shaped us, I want us to look ahead.”

I nodded, keeping my eyes on her as an overwhelming emotion came over me.

“I don’t deserve your love, but I’m too damn selfish to ever let you go.”

“Then don’t,” she said, smiling softly. “Because I’ll be just as selfish when it comes to you, Fen.”

*

“Not sure Papa’s gonna agree to that,” Mama said after I told her about the idea I had after dinner.

Her behavior toward us had changed slightly, and her passive aggressiveness was something we’d gotten used to over the past weeks.

Seeing as she couldn’t break Vespyr and me up, she had to accept it and move on with her life.

She could’ve easily kicked us out, but that would’ve caused more issues, seeing as this town quickly found out whenever a family had shit to deal with.

She had no other choice, which was obviously a good thing for Ves and me.

“Asking doesn’t harm anyone. Worst thing he could tell us is no.”

Mama shrugged and got up to place the plates into the sink, and Vespyr got up to help her clean the table.

“I think he’ll say yes,” Ves said optimistically, and I smiled at her before getting up and putting the bottle of water back into the fridge.

“I think so too. Let’s go ask right now.”

I waited for her to pass me before looking at Mama and then following Vespyr into my bedroom where I grabbed my phone to dial Papa’s number.

“Do you think his phone’s on?” she asked, looking at the phone I was holding in my lap with the speaker on.

“He said he’d leave it on until we know what’s next.”

And sure enough, he picked up. “Hello?”

“Papa, it’s Vespyr and Fennec,” I said.

“Hey, you two doing okay?” he asked.

He sounded happy.

Camp was his home, and we invaded it and ruined his safe place for a short period of time.

I started to feel bad for him, and I often wondered if moving there after graduating was the right thing to do.

He could’ve said no, but I was only eighteen, and maybe he thought it would be a good idea to have me there with him.

“We’re good. Tomorrow’s our last time in therapy,” Vespyr said with a bright smile.

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