The pair of us against the two of you was more than enough work. I think the only reason we ever succeeded was because you were both so preoccupied with her recovery.

[ And even then, Nate didn't manage to work up the nerve to stay with Elena. It was, more than anything else, disheartening. Not because she'd hoped for a future with him (that ship had long since left the harbor without much regret) but that it was the last bit of proof that people like them just didn't end up with simple, fairy tale endings.

Restlessness would always win out in the end.]

You holding up all right? You know, without him around.