Lou:That’s different and you know it! When are you coming for another visit? I’m still sad I missed you before and the ranch feels too quiet without any Walker boys around.
I glanced toward the pool again. She’d taken off her cover-up, the blue of her bikini catching the light. I licked my lips.
Me:Not sure yet. Depends on a few things
Lou:Well don’t be a stranger. Penny keeps asking when she gets to meet you properly. I’ve told her so much about you.
Me:Tell her I’ll bring her something from California
Lou:You don’t have to do that. Just come home soon, ok? We miss you.
I stared at the last message, Lou’s safe and uncomplicated warmth radiating through the screen. It felt familiar, comfortable—like slipping into well-worn boots—everything I should want after months of uncertainty and upheaval.
Through the patio doors, the woman was adjusting her position on the lounger. The way she moved was something else—all grace and control as she reached for her coffee. She crooked one knee up as she leaned back again, wrapping her lips around that damn lucky straw. I forced my attention back to my phone.
Lou gave me nothing like the electric confusion from asking the wrong question to the woman by the pool. The woman who was clearly devoted to someone else—someone I’d apparently been an ass about without even meeting—she had no time or patience for me.
“Mr. Finn?” Camila’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “¿Café?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, Camila.”
The sound of car doors slamming in the driveway announced Dom and Enzo’s return, their voices carrying through the house as they entered.
Camila handed me a mug of coffee, and I nodded my appreciation before taking a long sip—the black, bitter liquid seeping into my bones and pushing back against the ache in my neck. The two men appeared around the corner. Dom’s hair was still damp with sweat as he pulled a water bottle out of the fridge. Enzo grabbed a banana from the counter and started peeling as he hummed to himself. Camila picked up a tray of breakfast that made my mouth water and headed in the direction of the pool. Talk about service.
“There you are,” Dom grinned, twisting off the cap of the bottle. “How was your run?”
“Fine.” I took another sip of coffee, still processing the pool encounter. “Finally met your sister, Enz.”
“Oh good!” Enzo perked up. “What did you think of Sasha?”
Sasha. Finally, a name. “She’s...” I paused, trying to find words that wouldn’t reveal how infuriating she was or how much I’d been thinking about the way her bikini fit her curves. “Interesting.”
Dom raised an eyebrow at my tone. “Interesting how?”
“What’s her deal?” I asked instead of answering.
“Sasha?” Dom exchanged a look with Enzo. “Why? What’s going on?”
“I asked where Alex was, and I swear the temperature of all of LA dropped twenty degrees,” I set my mug down harder than necessary. “All I want to do is meet the guy. Size him up a bit after everything I’ve heard.”
Enzo nearly choked on his banana. “I mean, you probably shouldn’t bad-mouth Alex to her face.”
I stared at him. “To her face?”
“Well, yeah,” Enzo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sasha’s pretty protective of people she cares about.”
I forced myself to sound casual. “How long have Alex and Sasha been together? They live together?”
“Oh, they’ve been together forever,” Enzo nodded solemnly. “Practically moved in together from day one. Super serious.”
Dom shot him a look I couldn’t quite interpret before adding, “They’re... very close.”
“Must be nice having someone so devoted,” I muttered, taking another drink—the coffee suddenly tasting too bitter.
“Sasha would do anything for Alex,” Enzo continued, and I thought I caught the edge of mischief in his voice. “Totally protective. Gets upset when people criticize.” He lifted a shoulder. “But who doesn’t?”
The pieces clicked into place with uncomfortable clarity. She was involved with Alex as more than friends, so of course she’d gone cold when I started talking shit about her boyfriend.
