Page 3 of Scar Tissue

I still didn’t fully understand it, but hearing her side of the story helped me appreciate how complex their relationship was. They weren’t just two people who had been brought together by circumstance—they had both fought for each other in ways that were hard to fathom. Sure, Fletcher had been reckless, but he had also been fiercely protective of her in a way that only made sense after hearing Dylan’s perspective. It wasn’t just about love for him; it was about redemption. So in the end, I let it go. Fletcher was my friend, the closest I had now, and even if his past was a bit murky, I saw how much he had transformed for her in the recent months. Watching them now, the way he looks at her with this quiet, unwavering devotion—it was clear that, for better or worse, they had both made it through their darkest moments together.

They had been broken separately, but somehow, they had found a way to piece themselves back together. They aren’t perfect, but they are real, and that makes me wonder if I’ll find something like what they have one day.

“Nathan?” Dylan asks, and I realize they must have been talking to me as I got lost in my head. She’s turned around in her seat with curious eyes.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I clear my throat.

She rolls her eyes. “Thea doesn’t exactly know we’re bringing a third wheel, and I don’t know how she will react since she hasn’t been exactly in the right frame of mind, so when we get there, it might be better if you just wait in the truck for a little bit until I have a chance to talk to her. You and Fletcher can keep each other company.”

“Does that mean she doesn’t know Fletcher is coming, either?” I raise a suspicious eyebrow at her.

“No, she does. But it isn’t either of your business until she decides to tell you on her own. Unfortunately, neither of you carry the best friend badge.” Fletcher releases a frustrated grumble from his spot in the driver’s seat, his eyes glued to the windshield. He still doesn’t like letting Dylan out of his sight, not that I can blame him. But she has to learn to fly on her own again eventually.

I nod in agreement. “Understood.” She gives me a sharp look but then softens as she turns back around, clearly trying to control a smile. A much better sight than the hollowed-out look on her face she wore for weeks. “Good. Just don’t make this any harder on her than it has to be, okay?Eitherof you.” She makes a pointed look at Fletcher.

I meet her eyes in the rearview mirror, confused. “I don’t know Thea, Dylan. Not really sure how I would make it harder. I barely know what’s going on.”

She hesitates, then shrugs slightly, trying to convey something without saying it directly. “I know you don’t, and I don’t expect you to. It’s just…I need you to be patient. I don’t want her feeling cornered. You two have a tendency to run head first into situations when you think someone needs saving.”

Fletcher glares at her from the corner of his eyes, but she isn’t wrong. We are both fixers because we haven’t been able to fix thingsin the past, especially when it comes to people we care about. Dylan glares right back at him, not giving him an inch, but there’s amusement playing on her lips because she knows the only person he will yield to, is her. “Got it?”

“Yes, we got it. We will hang back,” he says as he focuses back on the road.

“Good. I just want to make sure she has a chance to breathe before she gets overwhelmed again. I haven’t exactly been as accommodating of a friend recently as she has to me, and…”

Fletcher cuts her off. “Don’t go down that road, Dylan. You went through shit, too, and she knows that.”

She takes in a big deep breath before releasing it. “I know. My point is, when you meet her, just be mindful.”

I nod slowly and she finally relaxes, knowing she got her point across. I close my eyes as Alaska settles across my lap and before I know it, I drift off into a light sleep.

The soundof a door slamming wakes me up, and Fletcher looks back at me, a hand over the headrest of the passenger seat. “We’re here. Dylan’s already headed inside.”

I nod, pushing Alaska off of my lap as I try to stretch in the back seat, but it’s awkward due to the lack of space and my size. “I’m gonna hop out, I need to stretch my legs.”

“That makes two of us,” he responds, but Alaska whines. “Actually, make that three.”

Chuckling, I open the door and step out, stretching my arms high above my head as the cool morning air hits my skin. Fletcher follows suit, running a hand through his hair as he shuts the door behind him. Alaska hops out with us, her tail wagging furiously as she races around in circles, eager to get her energy out. I put my hand over mybrow, noting that we’re on a base. I look at Fletcher, a question in my eyes. “Her husband serves. This is where she met Dylan. It’s where…it’s where I’m from, too.” His response is clipped and I know he’s thinking about Riley, his sister who went missing from this very base.

I redirect my line of sight until it lands on the house. The blinds to the living room are open and I can see Dylan standing there talking to who must be Thea. I only see the backside of her as it looks like they’re caught up in a heated discussion before Dylan pulls Thea into a hug and looks at Fletcher and I through the window. Alaska barks, snapping both of us out of the moment, and Fletcher whistles low to call her back. “C’mon, girl, let’s not make a scene,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. I follow his gaze back to the window and Dylan is still looking at us as she holds Thea. She says something before heading toward the door and I take that as our cue.

“Looks like it might be time to make our entrance,” I say, giving Fletcher a nudge.

He nods but doesn’t move until Dylan pushes the door open and steps out, coming toward us. “We’re gonna need to make more room, she’s coming back with us. See if you guys can go rent a trailer to haul behind for her stuff while I help her start packing.”

Fletcher nods, turning around to get back in the truck, no questions asked. I linger for a moment, eyes dancing back and forth between Dylan and the house where Thea has disappeared from sight. Is a moving place even open this time of evening? “Thanks for coming. This wasn’t…the plan, obviously.”

I tilt my head, trying to read between the lines. “Is everything okay?”

Her lips press into a thin line as she shakes her head. “It will be. But not here.”

I glance back at Fletcher, who’s already started the truck back up. “We’ll get the trailer and come back. How much are we hauling?”

Dylan’s eyes flick toward the house, her expression softening. “Enough to make sure she doesn’t ever have to come back.”

I nod, not pushing for details. I’m sure we will get them soon, since she’s coming back with us. But where is she going to stay? It isn’t like Dylan’s place has enough space, seeing as the extra bedroom is an office space and library. But I have a few extra bedrooms I could probably offer if it comes down to it.

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