Chapter 420: Facing the Facts, Part 1

Blanket wrapped around my shoulders, I sat on the back porch, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in my hands. The temperatures dropped into the single digits last night, and the early morning fall air was crisp and fresh.

I sipped the hot chocolate, careful not to burn my mouth, and stared down at the pool. Without me knowing, Sean had covered the pool and hot tub for the winter. I was grateful he'd taken care of that for me, because honestly, it hadn't even crossed my mind.

Knowing it was no longer swimming weather made me sad, but more than that, seeing the cover stretched across the pool was a reminder of how much things had changed over the past few months, how, like my life, things that were once exciting and welcoming were now depressing and closed off.

Behind me, the sliding glass door opened, and Sean stepped out onto the porch. "It's freezing out here," he said, claiming the empty chair beside me.