Aloe's POV
I cleaned my apartment three times before Blake's visit, which was ridiculous considering he'd literally lived in prison for twenty months and wouldn't judge my modest Portland two-bedroom. But nervous energy demanded outlet, so I scrubbed and organized until everything looked perfect.
"You're panicking," Sofia observed over video call while Evelyn napped. "It's just Blake. You've been writing to him for almost two years."
"Writing is different than seeing someone in person. What if the person in the letters isn't the same as the person who shows up? What if prison changed him in ways that don't translate to real life?"
"Then you'll figure it out together. Aloe, you've survived worse than an awkward visit."
True. But somehow this felt more terrifying than escaping Wakes or
