Cliff’s POV
I get her back late, but not late enough to worry them. She spends the whole car ride going on and on about Brooke, trying to convince me how great she is, but I still see what no one else seems to be able to: Kate is the brave one. Kate is the beautiful one, inside and out—the one who’s going to make a difference someday.
“Come in,” Kate tells me. “I want you to talk to her.”
I don’t protest. I’d pretty much do anything she asks at this point. This has been, hands-down, the best night of my life, and it’s all thanks to her.
Brooke is the only one in the foyer when we get back, which works perfectly fine for Kate’s master plan. I realize with a pang of guilt that she’s been waiting up to make sure Kate was okay. Maybe Kate was right, after all.
“Hey,” Brooke greets us with
