The next day, Eva and Audre wait for Shane at brunch. He never shows, and even though Eva texts him, he doesn’t respond. Trying to keep it together for her daughter, she makes an excuse for him, but eventually, Eva inwardly decides that Shane must be gone—that he’s left again because he couldn’t handle commitment or giving up his sexual freedom. She’s angry at herself for ever trusting him.

However, Shane is in Rhode Island because he received a 7:00am call that Ty had been shot and was in intensive care. Shane remembered how scary it was to be in the hospital alone, and he bought a flight to see Ty, ensuring he would be back in time for the awards tonight. Mid-flight, he remembered that he was supposed to be meeting Eva and Audre. He’d forgotten the brunch date because he wasn’t used to being needed and loved—he wasn’t used to things like brunch dates where people like family were waiting to see you—but he knew he had messed up.

After brunch, Eva sends Audre off to her father’s in California and returns home to work on her draft for the 15th volume in her Cursed series.