25
TRAVIS
“Hey.” I lift a hand to wave hello to Hannah and her sister. They’re both staring at me wide-eyed. The heat of the house is a welcome comfort. The temperature really dropped after the snow stopped and the tow truck took forever.
I smile at Wren. She looks a lot like Hannah, but with darker hair and a rounder face. She’s grinning at me like she’s heard stories and can’t wait to grill me. I’d expect nothing less from what I’ve heard about her.
When neither Hannah nor I speak, Wren takes control.
“You must be the husband,” she says.
“Sorry.” Hannah blinks a few times like she’s coming out of a daze. “Wren, meet Travis. Travis, this is my sister Wren.”
“Nice to finally meet you,” I say to Wren. Then to Hannah. “Your Jeep’s out front.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it was an easy fix, and they were able to get it done before they left for the night.”
Hannah’s gaze narrows slightly as if she knows I’m simplifying the scenario. He didn’t say it was an easy fix butwhen I told him I’d pay double if he could turn it around quickly, he had it up on the jack within minutes.
I look to the TV to avoid her stare. “What are you watching?”
“Hannah’s favorite movie,” Wren says. “Has she made you watch it yet?”
“No.”
“I only makeyouwatch it,” Hannah says to her, stretching out one leg and nudging her sister with her foot.
“She cries at the end every single time,” Wren tells me with a conspiratorial smile.
I already like her, not that I had any doubts.
“At Tinkerbell?” I ask, finally recognizing the little green fairy on the screen.
Hannah shakes her head. “The beast saves the day and then sleeps for a thousand… you know what, never mind. You just have to watch it.”
“Yeah. I might have to do that sometime.” Probably tonight in bed when I can’t sleep because I’m replaying that kiss over and over. I start for the kitchen. “I’m just going to heat up some food and head upstairs so you two can catch up.”
“You don’t want to watch it with us?” Wren asks.
I pause and look to Hannah for some indication if that’s a real offer or just her sister being polite. Except when I look at her, all I can think about is the feel of her lips on mine and the taste of her mixed with the cold air, and that sort of scrambles my brain.
“Uh…” I pull my gaze from Hannah back to Wren. It’s easier to think that way. “You sure you want me to crash your party?”
“Absolutely. I have so many questions for you.” Wren sits straighter, hugging her knees. “Hannah hasn’t told me anything about you and you are my brother-in-law now.”
“I’ve told you things,” Hannah admonishes with a small laugh.
Wren keeps looking at me as she shakes her head. “Barely anything.”
I find myself smiling back at the youngest Walsh sister.My sister-in-law. What a trip. I never thought I’d have a sister, but I kind of love it. “What do you want to know?”
It turns out, what Wren wants to know iseverything. Once I sit down and she starts firing questions at me, she doesn’t stop. And I love it.
We’ve covered where I grew up, how I got into hockey, where I’ve lived, favorite movies, kinds of music I like, and even my go-to coffee order. She has this kind of frenetic energy that’s so bubbly and free. I know what they’ve been through and how Hannah has protected her, and I think I get it now. Why Hannah has fought so hard for them and what doing that has allowed for her sister. It’s a gift in the way all family relationships should be, letting people be themselves and loving them enough that they never question that they should be any other way.
When the movie ends, none of us notices.
