Page 129 of My Family

"Hey!"

"We're engaged. What's yours is mine."

"We are absolutely getting divorced."

"Already?"

"Give me the wing!"

He laughs and holds it out.

We take turns biting it, getting barbecue sauce on each other's fingers and faces until we're both laughing too hard to eat properly.

Then we clean everything up.

The paper plates go in the trash. The containers go back into my hoodie. I fold the stolen tablecloth as neatly as I can and decide I'll figure out how to return it tomorrow without getting killed by Lu.

A perfect night.

Chapter 38. Ethan

I'm shaking.

I can't stop shaking.

My heart is going a thousand miles an hour, and no matter how many techniques I try to calm myself down, nothing is working. The last half hour keeps playing on a loop in my head.

Griff's office.

The news.

You're being released in three months.

I couldn't breathe right when he said it.

"Dr. Nouha has already confirmed a position for you as a nursing assistant," Griff said. "We'll move your competency exam up so you can finish your certification before release. The clinical shifts you've already been doing can become paid shifts once you're cleared. That means you can start saving immediately."

I'd stared at him.

"You'll need a place to live. Whatever address you register will be your base during the first two years of supervision, so you won't be able to just move around whenever you want. Travel won't be possible at first either, but in time, as long as you stay employed and out of trouble, you'll get more freedom."

He'd paused.

"You will continue using Aspire's support system. First year you got mandatory therapy. And then, ongoing mental health support, employment assistance, whatever you need. You can always come to us. You won't be alone."

He said it in that technical way he probably uses with a dozen guys every year.

His green eyes were on mine, but I could barely process any of it.

Not when my heart was beating so fast I thought I might pass out right there in the chair.

How could I not?

My whole life is going to change.

I waited so long for this.

And I'm terrified of the exact thing I've been waiting for.