Chapter 1

Kal’s long sigh was one of total exhaustion, both physical and emotional. The weeks since his return had helped mend his body, but even a short outing could still tire him. And this particular outing hadn’t gone how he’d imagined it in his head.

Even after all that had happened, what little he could remember of it at least, Kal had still wanted to see Inna. He’d hoped that they could pick up where they had left off, perhaps with a lot less mountain climbing, but those hopes had all been dashed when she’d joined him at the coffee shop with Ben.

Inna had wrapped Kal in a soft hug, as though she were afraid that she might break him if she squeezed too hard. Her eyes had been red, and she’d teared up at nearly every other word as she had apologized again and again for leaving him there.

Kal couldn’t blame her though. Everyone had thought him dead. He’d heard that rescue workers had swarmed the area, looking for him for days. Eventually, Inna had returned to the States, where she had forced herself to see his family and give them the news. That had gone about as well as could have been expected.

And throughout it all, Ben had been there for her. Even at the coffee shop, he’d squeezed her hand and given her the support that she had needed. As much as Kal wanted to be that rock for her, he could see every flinch of hers, as though she were afraid to hurt him anymore than she already had.

Things would never be the same.

The walk home had been long and grueling.

Kal wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed and sleep away the memories of his first love leaving hand-in-hand with another man. Unfortunately, the stomp of angry feet rapidly dispelled that hope.

“Why did you meet her again?” Melissa demanded from the door. Kal hadn’t been back ten seconds before his sister had flown down the hallway in a rage.

“Mel, she didn’t know. It’s not her fault.”

“Not her fault?” Melissa asked, her voice growing dangerously high. “She left you for dead!” she spat, her greens eyes flashed as she bit the words.

Kal sat heavily on his childhood bed, his head in his hands. All he recalled of the accident was the fear and panic, followed by bone-shattering impacts. That was it. He had awoken in a Finish hospital months later with no memory of the disaster.

“Mel, please. I don’t want to fight about this. She deserved some closure.”

He hadn’t thought her voice could go any higher, but he’d been wrong.

“Closure? Closure?! She deserves another foot in her ass! That bitch had the gall to come here and tell us that you were gone! That you were dead! That she had killed you!”

“Mel, please—”

“No! She did this! It was her fault! She took you from us!”

Melissa shook with barely contained rage, blinking rapidly as tears began to fill her eyes again. She’d been on edge ever since he’d returned, shifting from sobbing hysterically to screaming in anger, adrift in a sea of her own emotions.

“For God’s sake, Mel. She didn’t take me. I fell. I know you need to make her the bad guy here, but it wasn’t her fault.”

“It’ll always be her fault,” she said between clenched teeth as she glared daggers. “And yours.”

The door slammed, cutting off Kal’s response.

Kal sighed, falling back onto his bed. Their relationship had always been strained; one filled with traded barbs and snarky comments. To an outside observer it probably looked like barely concealed contempt. But that was just how they were. She was as stubborn and pig-headed as he was. And while she’d never admit it, she loved him as much as he loved her. It wouldn’t be a home without her.