Homecoming

Lina

Returning to Haven, North Carolina, was supposed to be temporary-a quick stop to arrange care for my estranged father, who's done little to deserve it. But instead of closure, I've reopened wounds I thought years of therapy had healed...

It hasn't.

And then there's Julian. The boy I gave everything to in a single week-the boy my father kicked me out over, twelve years ago. He's still here, and the sparks between us are just as volatile.

I'd hoped to manage my past without getting burned, but Julian remembers that night just as vividly as I do.

Learning to navigate the delicate balance of care and confrontation with my dad is hard enough, but when the boy I left behind has turned into the man I can't resist, every moment with him feels like finding my way back home. So, how do I leave when it's starting to feel like exactly where I belong?