But backing out would raise questions I don't want to answer.
So I go.
The clubhouse kitchen is already warm when I arrive at six, Magnolia pulling ingredients from the industrial-sized fridge.
She looks up when I walk in, grinning.
"There you are! I was starting to think you'd bail on me."
"Wouldn't dream of it." I set down my bag, wash my hands. "What are we making?"
"Lasagna. Three pans' worth. Should feed everyone plus leftovers." She hands me a knife and a cutting board. "You're on vegetable duty. Onions, peppers, mushrooms. Chop 'em small. If the mushrooms are small enough, the kids won’t even know they’re in there."
We fall into easy rhythm—her at the stove browning meat, me prepping vegetables, both of us moving around each other like we've done this a hundred times.
Because we have.
Magnolia's been part of the club since before I was born, married to Kraken, adoptive mother to Everly, and oddly enough, the mother to Bjorn and Njal.
She's family.
Safe.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she speaks.
"So. You and Gunnar."
I nearly cut myself.
"What about us?"
"Don't play dumb. The entire club's seen how you’re avoiding each other like the plague. Everything was fine, and now you’re being awkward as all hell."
"We're not?—"
"You are. The question is, are you finally doing something about it?"
My hands are still on the cutting board.
"It's complicated."
"It always is." Magnolia adds spices to her meat, the scent of garlic and oregano filling the kitchen. "Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Gonna tell you something anyway." She turns, leaning against the counter. "You know why Kraken and I work?"
"Because you're perfect for each other?"
"Because I stopped running from the fact that I loved him." Her voice is gentle. "Took me a while to admit it. Know what finally changed?"
"What?"
"He told me he wasn't going anywhere. The chemistry exploded between us, and eventually..." She shrugs. "I got tired. And he was there. Just like he promised."
Tears prick my eyes.
"What if I'm too broken for that?"
