At the store, the salesperson guided me quickly but effectively, and I felt ready to enter Rowan’s house.

I identified myself at the gate, and to my surprise, he didn’t resist letting me in. The driver didn’t take me to the house, so I walked, knowing it’d take a few minutes.

As I approached, I saw Rowan waiting, arms crossed, leaning against the wall by the front door. My heart raced, and my legs trembled as I got closer. I remembered what Gabe did to him when he found out Rowan had ...